Word for the Soul

“This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.” Galatians 1:1 NLT

This week in Biblical Insights we begin a new series in the New Testament book of Galatians. Our opening verse tells us the apostle Paul authored this book which was actually a letter written to the churches in Galatia. These were churches Paul founded on his first missionary journey in cities throughout ancient Asia Minor. This is the only epistle Paul wrote addressing more than one city. Here he is addressing those in the Galatia region. The main theme in Paul’s letter to the Galatians is ‘justification by faith,’ which Paul preached when establishing these churches. There are no works involved for one to come to Christ but to accept His free gift of salvation. The purpose for writing to the Galatian churches was to correct false teaching that was being spread after Paul had left to continue his journey. These false teachers were agitators who did not like Paul and attacked him personally as not being qualified to preach let alone refer to himself as an apostle. They accused Paul of preaching a false gospel when he preach salvation by faith alone. The Judaizers, as they were called, were adding works and Jewish traditions to faith, and therefore distorting the gospel message of ‘salvation by grace through faith alone.’

The book of Galatians is sometimes referred to as the ‘Magna Charta of Christian Liberty’ or ‘Declaration of Independence of Christian liberty.’ Martin Luther called Galatians his ‘Catherine von Bora’ after his wife. He loved her and he loved the book of Galatians and said, “I am married to it,” as Luther was married to his wife. The central truth in the book is again, ‘man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ,’ nothing else is needed. This was the core of Luther’s ministry as well.

It was important to Paul but vital for the churches to recognize Paul’s apostleship. He claimed to be a direct appointee by Jesus Christ and God the Father. Paul’s message was serious, simple and to the point but he would speak it with authority. Paul needed to seen as a true apostle with apostolic authority. His enemies did all they could to cast doubt on his credentials. So, Paul starts out by saying, “I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.” (Gal.1:1 nlt) Paul then gives them his greeting which will become his custom in the rest of his letters, “May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” (Gal.1:2 nlt) After his initial greetings Paul jumps right into the gospel message stating Jesus gave up His life voluntarily according to Father’s plan to save us from our sins.

The Galatian churches started well but it wasn’t long before Paul had heard how quickly how the Judaizers were persuading them to turn away from the true gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News as Paul preached. What the people in Galatia were now being taught in Paul’s absence, Paul says, “is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.” (Gal.1:7 nlt) The Judaizers were deliberately twisting or perverting the gospel by adding traditions of the law to it. Part of what was taught was a Christian needed to be circumcised in the Jewish tradition. They reasoned Jesus was a Jew and Christianity has its root in the Jewish religion of the Old Testament. This distorts the simple message of belief in Jesus by faith as all that is needed. Jesus Himself said to Nicodemus, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16 nlt) Jesus did not say anything else needed to be added, including good works to earn your way to heaven. No, only simple faith in Christ as your savior is all that is required.

This was such a serious issue for the churches in Galatia and for churches today in 2026 that Paul boldly states with authority, “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” (Gal.1:8 nlt) There is no other gospel. There is no other way. So many churches today are falling into the trap the early church fell into. People feel there needs to be something else, or good works to get them to heaven. Some are beginning to as we say ‘coexist’ and accept all religions as a way to get to heaven. You have had it said, ‘all roads lead to heaven.’ Well, what does Paul, who was appointed by Jesus as an apostle say? “I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.” (Gal.1:9 nlt)

Stone church marked “ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΓΑΛΑΤΑΣ” amid rolling hills and trees

This is serious business. If you believe the Bible is God’s Word you cannot possibly accept any other form of salvation. If you deny any part of the Bible referring to salvation or you add something, such as good deeds, or aligning with other religions of the world you are as Paul says of those who preach such things, ‘let that person be cursed.’ The word ‘cursed’ actually means ‘doomed to destruction.’ This all sounds frightening and it should, but beneath it all is the Good News Paul preaches about the love of God who sent His Son for us. Jesus Christ provided the way for us, the only way.

Next week Paul explains his call to apostleship………

A Christian Perspective

Reformation Day: the righteous shall live by faith

October 31, 2026October 26, 2026 Loring Schultz

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:17 ESV

October 31^st is recognized around the world as Halloween or ‘All Hallows’ Eve.’ The meaning of ‘hallows’ is ‘saints’ in the Christian tradition, All Saints Day is November 1^st. However, Halloween today is nothing about Christian saints and I will leave it there. Today is Reformation Day, the day celebrated by Christians in recognizing Martin Luther’s ‘95 Theses’ nailed to the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door in 1517.

Martin Luther was a German monk and a professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg who became disillusioned with the error he saw in the Catholic church, particularly the selling of indulgences. He posted his ‘95 Theses’ to spark conversation and debate among his colleagues calling for reform in the Catholic church. This, however, led to the Protestant Reformation of the 16^th century.

Luther was convinced through the reading of Scripture that salvation was by the grace of God alone and faith alone in Jesus Christ. It was not by any merit or works on our part that contributes to salvation and entrance into heaven. This was in contradiction to what he had observed within the church. Luther was also a staunch believer that every person should have access to the Bible and be able to read it for themselves. He had translated the entire Bible into German.

Stephen Nichols formerly of Ligonier Ministries writes, “The real main character in Reformation Day is not Luther. It’s the Word of God. What Luther discovered as a monk is that for centuries, the true teachings of the Word of God had been hidden by century upon century of tradition. That’s what Reformation Day is about: it’s about pulling back the cover and releasing the power of the Word of God and the beauty and the truth of the gospel. That’s why we celebrate Reformation Day.” (1)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

(1) What Is Reformation Day? | Ligonier Ministries

Devotionals

Hiding from God

October 30, 2026October 27, 2026 Loring Schultz

“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’” Genesis 3:8-10 NLT

Two people hiding behind a tree in dense tropical jungle foliage

Guilt from sin has a way of creating a desire to run away and hide. Of course for most of us that is not possible, but the feeling is there. Will I be exposed? Will this shame go away? What if ‘so and so’ found out? I will just lay low for a while until time passes you say to yourself. You do not want to be around anyone. You cannot hide so you live with the guilt feelings. Your sin may never be exposed but you cannot get over the guilt.

Just as we cannot hide physically from others without a legitimate reason for our disappearance, we cannot hide from God. We may think by sheltering ourselves from others that also includes God. It does not. In fact, God knows why we are trying to hide ourselves while others do not. The Lord is aware of every sin we have committed. It is in His sight of vision. We cannot hide it or hide from Him. Laying low for a period of time will not keep the Lord from finding out..

Adam and Eve found this to be true after they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They knew they had sinned before God and instantly felt shame. Their first reaction was to run and hide, of course, after they tried to cover themselves. That didn’t work either. Adam and Eve could not hide from God and neither can we. Our shame may be unbearable but hiding from God will only prolong the situation. Perhaps the Lord is calling you in the midst of your garden of shame, answer Him with full confession, no excuses, and have God restore you to full fellowship with Him and quit hiding from God.

Devotionals

Test Yourself

October 29, 2026October 28, 2026 Loring Schultz

“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.” 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 NLT

The apostle Paul had been challenged several times on his missionary journeys as to his genuine faith and being accused of not being a true apostle. At the end of his second letter to the church at Corinth he told his readers to examine themselves to see if ‘their’ faith was truly genuine. The people saw themselves as true Christians but did not see Paul the same way. Paul was their spiritual father. “For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.” (1Cor.4:15 nlt) Paul presented them with some good old common sense, if his faith was not genuine neither was theirs. Paul preached the same gospel to them that he believed and they had accepted Christ as Paul preached it.

How could Paul’s readers test themselves to see if they were true faith believers in Christ? How can we do the same? Paul gives us a couple of surefire ways in his letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 6:6-10, Paul teaches the law of sowing and reaping. You plant what you sow. Sow good seed, get good fruit. If a person has truly received Christ eventually good fruit will be evident. Good deeds will become evident. Paul encourages them, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Gal.6:10 nlt) And in chapter 2 Paul writes a true Christian is aware of the change that has taken place in them, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal.2:20 nlt)

Christians are saved by grace and we are not perfect. We will fail at times but can ask for forgiveness and we can test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. If Christ is in you through the Holy Spirit you have passed the test. Have you tested yourself?

Devotionals

Be infants in evil not in your thinking

October 28, 2026October 27, 2026 Loring Schultz

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” 1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

An innocent baby knows nothing of the evil in the world today. Soon enough that little one will realize this is a fallen world into which they were born. But there is something about that innocence that protects them from evil in their early years. They do not know evil exists and they are not being capable to think about it or get involved with it. As adults we have lost that innocence long ago, but there is a time to go back to that way of thinking.

The apostle Paul was writing to the troubled church in Corinth knowing they lacked wisdom and had a difficult time recognizing evil. He wrote to them, “do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil.” (1Cor.14:20 esv) Their thinking was misdirected and immature. Evil was having an effect on them. They were allowing evil to influence their lives by not thinking as mature adults as to its danger. Paul’s readers were acting as children, not infants, in rationalizing the effects of sin and evil. Paul encouraged them to think in a mature manner.

Today mature thinking is not only needed but essential in every Christian’s life. As adults we now know that evil is around us. To be infants in evil is for it to have no effect on us. In order for evil to have no effect on us we need to be mature in all our thinking. Mature thinking in the ways of God and proper Christian living come about by constant prayer and reading His Word. Living in a sinful world will have some sort of effect on us, but it is an indirect effect. What we do not want is for it to affect us in a way that we engage in it. Let our thinking be mature.

Devotionals

It’s Harvest Time

October 27, 2026October 26, 2026 Loring Schultz

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” Galatians 6:7 NLT

The seasons have changed once again; this time the warm days of summer have given way to the cooler temperatures of autumn. Along with the change in temperature comes the changing of the leaves depending on which part of the country you live. It is also harvest time for the professional farmers, home garden enthusiasts, and the novice like me. A sure thing even a novice knows is the law of sowing and reaping, what you plant in the spring is what you get in the fall. If you plant peppers, you will get peppers, if you plant tomatoes, you will get tomatoes. Guaranteed, what goes into the ground will come up at harvest time.

Our lives are much like the seasons of the year that are consistently changing. You have heard of such expressions as, ‘this is but for a season’ and ‘seasons of change.’ We have all experienced the dark, cold days of winter only to have it birth anew into the warmth of spring. The heat of the summer sun brings joy, and the fall seasons reveal God’s rich blessings upon us. In each season of our lives, if we look closely, we will see God’s faithfulness in bringing us through each one. As He is faithful in the changing of the earth’s seasons, He is faithful and with us as we go through seasons of change.

Referring back to the law of sowing and reaping, sometimes our lives reach a dark and unpleasant season due to what we planted a season ago. What is being harvested today is bitterness, hatred, jealousy, selfishness, financial difficulties, broken relationships, addictions, and all the consequences of planting ill fruit. The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” (nlt)

An advantage to the seasons changing is they always come around again. If you did not have a bumper crop this year or you miss-planted a section of your garden, there is always next year. And whatever season you are in spiritually it is not too late to start planting good seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and all those that will yield a spiritual bounty. It’s harvest time.

Devotionals

In All Points Tempted

October 26, 2026October 25, 2026 Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 4:3-11 NKJV – Now when the tempter came to Him, he – Bible Gateway

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 NKJV

Have you ever felt tested by the Lord? Have you experienced something that is going on in your life driven by a divine nature? Is this a test you ask yourself, more precisely is this a test from God Himself? There are times in our lives where the Lord will test us, never tempt us, but He will surely test us. The results of our testing is either a pass or fail grade. God does not grade on a curve or allow for extra credit for going over and above what He requires of us, our faithfulness. So how are you doing when tested? Do you pass each test with excellence, or do you fail miserably or even miss it by the skin of your teeth? How can you live in faithfulness to God throughout all your trials and testing in your life, even those of a divine nature by the Holy One.

In Matthew chapter 4, we read the account of the temptation of Jesus by the devil. As previously mentioned, God will never tempt us, but the devil certainly will. What is noticeable is the fact that “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Mt.4:1 nkjv) Jesus was indeed tempted by the devil, but it was through the leading of the Spirit that Jesus submitted to a forty day and forty night’s stay in the wilderness. Jesus being tempted by the devil for forty days without food or drink is presented with three more challenging temptations. It is through these last three temptations, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life that Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb.4:15 nkjv)

We may find it hard to understand how Jesus was tempted in every way we are today. How could He be tempted in the same way? We find the answer in He is fully God and also fully man. The temptations were real. He withstood every one of them by relying on the Word of God.

We are never beyond being tempted in our world. The devil and his cohorts are active and pursuing. In all our temptations we are to look to the Word of God. Let us not confuse the testing of God with the temptation of the evil one, but to understanding the Lord’s desire to lead us to faithfulness and all righteousness. May we look to our example Jesus Christ who being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, overcame ‘in all points tempted.’ .

Bible Studies

The Story of Ruth the Moabitess: Part 6

October 25, 2026October 23, 2026 Loring Schultz

Read: Ruth 4:13-22 NLT – The Descendants of Boaz – So Boaz took – Bible Gateway

“This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.” Ruth 4:18-22 NLT

Smiling couple holding a laughing baby in a rustic stone home

When we began our look at the book of Ruth six weeks ago it was noted that the story of Ruth is much more than her story. Ruth is an Old Testament book having three major theological themes. God’s redemption plan is for both Jews and Gentiles. God’s sovereignty and providential care, and Boaz, Ruth’s kinsman redeemer, as a type of Christ. Redemption being the key word is found over twenty times in various forms throughout the book. Boaz was Ruth’s kinsman redeemer who married her and restored the land of her late husband and preserved the family line in her husband’s name. God not only provided for Ruth but also for her mother-in-law, Naomi, through Boaz. But the most important underlying theme of the book is God’s redemption plan of salvation that came through His Son Jesus, a descendant of Ruth and Boaz.

“So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.” (Ruth 4:13 nlt) The Lord bless Ruth and Boaz for their faithfulness to Him. Ruth became a convert and trusted in the true God of Israel and Boaz fulfilled his obligation of Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. A son was born to them. It was a happy beginning for them both and a happy ending for Naomi. It was also noted in the beginning of our study that Naomi could be considered the main character. She is just as important in this story as Ruth and Boaz. The theological theme of God’s sovereignty and providential care is seen in Naomi’s well-being. The family name will go on, the land was restored, and there will be grandchildren to help support Naomi in her old age. In returning to Bethlehem after her stay in Moab Naomi said to her friends, “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty.” (Ruth 1:21 nlt) The Lord God watched over her and now she is full once again. The Lord brought her from emptiness to fullness.

Concerning the child born the women said, “May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” (Ruth 4:15 nlt) The women named him Obed which means ‘a servant who worships.’ This is the only time in Scripture where someone other than the parents or family have ever named a child. Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of King David. Scripture is clear that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David and would be called the Son of David.

God had this all planned in His sovereignty. God uses those who He chooses for His own purposes. There are both Jews and Gentiles listed in the genealogy of the Messiah. This shows salvation is open to all people who accept Christ as savior. Jesus came to redeem all people, both Jew and Gentile. (Gentile meaning anyone not Jewish) Jesus came for all people. In God’s kingdom there will be representatives from every nation, of every language, and every ethnicity and race. This is part of the story of Ruth the Moabitess, born as a gentile woman in a heathen nation, Ruth went on to trust God having faith in Him proving salvation is open to all people.

Finally, Boaz is seen as a type of Christ in our story. Boaz redeemed Ruth. She became his bride and married her. Jesus redeems those who accept Him as savior and Christians become the bride of Christ. And there will be a day when the wedding will take place. “Let us be glad and rejoice and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear. For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.” (Rev.19:7-8 nlt)

There are many things to glean from the book of Ruth, the story of Ruth the Moabitess. Just as Ruth gleaned the grain that had fallen there is plenty for us to feast on when we read the Bible but let us pay attention to what is intentionally pulled out as Boaz’s men pulled out extra grain for Ruth. The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ and God’s plan of redemption. Every book has additional grain to be pulled out and noticed about Christ. May the book of Ruth be good training ground for us to see Christ as we read all of Scripture.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

A Christian Perspective

Satisfying Hunger for Knowledge with Scripture

October 24, 2026October 21, 2026 Loring Schultz

“A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.” Proverbs 15:14 NLT

Solomon wrote, ‘a wise person is hungry for knowledge.’ A desire to learn all you can is wise and beneficial in life. Educational institutions from pre-school through college must continually provide opportunities for those with an inquiring mind to advance and grab as much knowledge as possible. But they do not always succeed, and we have been seeing the results of their failure throughout society. When hunger for knowledge is not met or redirected by school administrators a failed education system is guaranteed. Soloman also wrote, the opposite of the wise person who is hungry for knowledge is the fool who feeds on trash. Unfortunately, there is a lot of trash being passed off as education through schools and so-called educating the public venues through biased journalism and news broadcasts, and the ever-expanding social media.

If anyone should be interested in increasing knowledge and having a complete understanding of the world it is every Christian. Christians should have the desire to increase learning and keep up with current events. The problem is where do we go to get current, trustworthy news and information. Which institutes of higher learning would provide the best non-biased education. These decisions will not come easily, but the place to start is with the Bible, the Word of God.

Our hunger for knowledge begins with our hunger for God. Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?” (nlt) We can be sure what we learn from God is true knowledge and it is His holy agenda. The Bible is trustworthy, the very words of God Himself. Immersing ourselves in scripture daily will give us insight as we seek sources for our continued education. Looking for a reliable platform to research and learn more about the current events in our world will come through observing through God’s eyes. You will start to analyze and know the difference between true and false information. Satisfy your hunger for knowledge with the Lord through His Word. He will teach you through His Word and will guide you to make the right decisions in increasing your knowledge.

Devotionals

Eyes Wide Open

October 23, 2026October 21, 2026 Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 3:1-7 NLT – The Man and Woman Sin – The serpent was – Bible Gateway

“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:7 NLT

Having eyes wide open is usually a good thing. Operating a motor vehicle requires having both eyes on the road. Keeping your eye on the ball in any sport is crucial if you want to have success. A surgeon must have keen vision while performing a delicate operation. There are countless other examples of needing both eyes open in our daily lives, but sometimes what is not seen is just as beneficial.

Adam and Eve were living in a perfect environment. Last Friday we referred to it as ‘paradise.’ They were also perfect in every way. Adam and Eve had perfect 20/20 vision and had their eyes wide open. They saw the beauty of God’s creation, the garden He had placed them in, and the attractiveness of each other. Everything was perfect and holy. The Lord was their constant companion in the world He had just created. All was good.

The story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit is well-known to most people either through sermons, Bible stories, or references made to it in a jest manner. The truth is when they ate the fruit something changed forever. Their eyes were opened, wide opened. Their perception of things had changed. They saw the same things, but something was wrong, it did not feel right. They saw sin for the first time in the way they felt, naked and ashamed in front of holy God. When we sin that feeling comes over us, or at least it should. Our eyes are wide open to whom we are in front of, a holy God. May we make it a habit to keep our eyes pure and wide open on the road of life in God’s blessings and not have them wide open in revealing our sin before God.