Devotionals

Forever Blessings 

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 23 ESV – The LORD Is My Shepherd – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6 ESV

Framed wall art with Psalm 23:6 scripture and floral decorations.

We have come to the end of our week of devotions on the 23rd Psalm. I trust you all had a chance to memorize this Psalm, if not there’s still time. It will be time well spent. What better way to end this week but with forever blessings? The Lord as our good shepherd has every part of our lives under His watchful care. It is comforting to know that He walks with us throughout every hour of every day.

As David was treated as an honored guest at the Lord’s table in verse five, he did not considered that he was only a guest for the day, but for a lifetime and beyond. David fully expected on-going blessings of goodness and mercy to be part of the rest of his life. He also anticipated a future intimate relationship with his shepherd. David is assured of an eternal home with his shepherd as he realized himself that a good shepherd never abandons his sheep. The Lord will not abandoned him.

The Lord Jesus will not abandon any of us who have truly committed their lives to Him. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (Jn.10:9 esv) We will have the protection and provisions for this life by our good shepherd and security of eternal life with Him as he provided the way for us by dying for our sins. Jesus also said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn.10:14-15 esv) Our blessings will continue for they are ‘forever blessings.’

Devotionals

Come to the Table

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 23 ESV – The LORD Is My Shepherd – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5 ESV

Photo by Natalia S on Pexels.com

So far this week in our weekday devotions we have gotten acquainted with the Lord as our shepherd, our leader in whom we follow, and our comforter in our struggles in life. Today we look at our Lord shepherd as our provider. As David provided for his sheep, our Lord provides for his sheep, us, and He invites us to come to His table.

David is still under the threat of his enemies. Even through this David wrote that the Lord was his shepherd who was leading him. The Lord’s leading led him to green pastures and quiet still waters to rest his body and refresh his soul. With David’s enemies around him, his shepherd never lost sight of him giving him the respite he needed. The Lord was also David’ s great comforter as he was truly living in the valley of the shadow of death as his enemies pursued him. Now David finds another gem of protection and provision as the Lord prepares a table for him.

David writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Ps.23:5 esv) The imagery is of David being able to sit down at a banquet feast without a worry of those who wish to attack him. The shepherd is providing both a meal and protection during the meal. Honored guests at banquets in the ancient Near East were anointed with oil. David was received as an honored guest of the Lord and his head anointed with oil. David’s every need is completely satisfied as his cup overflows with blessings.

The Lord is inviting us to come to the table as His honored guests. He is our ultimate provider and protector. Our shepherd will meet our every need in the midst of our struggles in this life even as our cup overflows.

Devotionals

Why we need a comforter        

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 23 ESV – The LORD Is My Shepherd – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 ESV

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

Life is not easy. Sometimes it is downright hard and difficult to manage. Have you ever thought why it is this way? So many of us cannot except the fact that bad things happen to good people, and it is true that bad things do happen to ‘good’ people. But how do we define ‘good’? Let’s see how God defines good. It says in Psalm 14, “The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Ps.14:2-3 esv) It looks like the word ‘good’ does not define any of us.

The reason ‘good’ does not define us is that we all have a sin nature. Like it or not we have inherited this nature from our first parents, Adam and Eve. There is no changing it. The punishment for our sin is death, physical death separation from the body and spiritual death separation from God for all eternity. There is no comfort that can be found in the punishment for our sin.

When David the shepherd, later a warrior, and then king wrote the 23rd Psalm he wrote of the Lord’s (David’s shepherd) comfort all through life. David knew life was hard. He was aware of his sin many times as several of his psalms reflect. When David wrote, ‘even thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,’ it was not only his death he was referring to, but of the trials and tribulations that come upon all of us in this life. The rod and staff of his shepherd provided him with protection and safety.

David knew that physical death was the result of his sin as we should also realize. But more importantly is to know the results of our sin concerning the second death if not dealt with in this life. Jesus came to protect us from that second death and bring us to safety in eternal life Him and God the Father. It is not just physical death, or the struggles of this life in which we need a comforter, it is to save us from eternal separation from God and Jesus Christ in eternity. That is why we need a comforter.

Devotionals

The Lord Leads and Restores

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 23 ESV – The LORD Is My Shepherd – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2-23 ESV

Green fields with sheep grazing near a river and a small white house in the background
Peaceful countryside scene featuring green fields, a river, and grazing sheep

Is your life flourishing today? Is your life thriving with the joy of success? Are you noticing God’s blessings on you? Are there any blessings on you these days? Yesterday we asked the question, ‘is the Lord your shepherd,’ today we ask, ‘is the Lord leading you and restoring you’? The Lord will not lead you if you are unwilling to allow Him to take the reins over your life. If you are burning out physically and spiritually the chances are that the Lord is not leading you as you going your own way.

David, as a shepherd, did not always have it easy. It wasn’t all laying on the grass during the day and sitting around the fire at night. Shepherding was demanding work and dangerous at times. The reference David makes to ‘green pastures’ is about all that makes life flourish. God is leading David’s life as David follows His lead. ‘Still waters’ or ‘quiet waters’ are literally waters of resting places. Waters that provide refreshment of well-being. When the Lord is our shepherd He provides what we need for physical burnout.

Burnout also affects us spiritually. We can feel the effects of it deep down into our soul. David says that his shepherd restores his soul. If the Lord is not leading you, you will miss out on this because the only one who can restore your spirit and soul is the Lord God. But if you let Him lead you He will also lead you in the paths of righteousness meaning safety and prosperity along with living in God’s will bringing glory to His name. If your life is not flourishing it’s time to allow the Shepherd to lead you and restore your soul.

Devotionals

Is the Lord Your Shepherd?     

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 23 ESV – The LORD Is My Shepherd – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 ESV

Photo by Antonello Falcone – The Wiseman on Unsplash

This week’s daily devotions on ‘Word for the Soul’ will feature the 23rd Psalm. This is the most recognized Psalm of all 150 psalms in the psalter. Most people can recite it in its entirety, or least some portions of it. So, an assignment for this week, if you have not memorized it yet, now is your chance. (There are only six verses)

David, the author, begins with these famous words, “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” (Ps.23:1 esv) David being a shepherd as a boy and young man knew the job of shepherding and the responsibilities it entailed. Number 1 on the list was the protection of the sheep under his care. David spent many long hot days and cold nights watching over the sheep. We do not know how David got paid or if he ever received compensation for his work, but he did his work flawlessly and at the risk of his own life.

The Lord Jesus not only risked His life for His sheep but gave up it up on the cross at Calvary. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (Jn.10:11 esv) David was able to see the relationship between his protecting and providing for his sheep and God doing the same for him, but in a much larger capacity. The Lord God providing for David all his life prompted him to write, ‘I shall not want.’ He was never lacking anything he needed. David’s shepherd provided for him.

David could call the Lord God his shepherd because he knew Him, followed Him, and obeyed Him. As you read the 23rd Psalm and attempt to memorize it this week can you say, ‘the Lord (Jesus) is my shepherd’? Do you know Him? Have you accepted Him as your savoir? Is the Lord your shepherd?

Bible Studies

Deliver us from evil – The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ teaching on Prayer

Loring Schultz

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13 KJV

Open Bible glowing with golden light on wooden lectern inside church
A Bible glowing with light sits open on a wooden lectern inside a cathedral

Our Lord’s final example in praying is often misunderstood by many. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray ‘And lead us not into temptation,’ He was not referring to being tempted to sin by God. God does not tempt anyone to sin. The book of James says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (Ja.1:13 esv) The word ‘temptation’ is better translated ‘a trying, or testing,’ and there are several examples of testing in the Bible. Our Lord Jesus Himself was tested (tempted) by Satan in the wilderness, Abraham was tested by God when told to offer his son as a sacrifice, and Job was severely tested when accused by Satan.

There are occasions when God will test us, or ‘put us to the test’ testing our faith in Him. There may be trials brought upon us by Satan permitted by God in order to prove and test our faith as in the case of Job and the apostle Paul. When we pray, ‘lead us not into temptation’ we are praying ‘don’t put us to the test, protect us from the test and from Satan, the evil one.’ Our Lord does not lead us into any testing or trial in which He is not there with us, and He will also make a way of escape for us in Satan’s evil temptations aimed at us. Paul writing to the church in Corinth says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1Cor.10:13 esv)

Jesus teaches that after praying not to be put to the test, we are to ask to be delivered from evil. This is not evil in general but from the evil one, Satan. Many versions of Scripture do reference it as the ‘evil one.’ We are to pray to be delivered from Satan’s schemes, his temptations, and his accusations against us.

It is important to note that not all temptations (testing), trials, or troubles are evil in and of themselves. It was noted Jesus Himself was tempted by Satan. Our Lord passed the test and is our example in our troubled times. Abraham and Job also passed the test and were blessed for it. But when Paul asked the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh from Satan three times, the Lord did not, but said, ’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ And Paul responded, ‘Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ (2Cor.12:9 esv) Paul passed the test and serves as an example for us to follow.

We are to pray that we be delivered from Satan’s evil temptations and not fall into sin. Jesus prayed for His disciples in His High Priestly prayer in John 17:15, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (esv) A. W. Pink is quoted as saying, “To be kept from the evil of sin is a far greater mercy than deliverance from the trouble of temptation.” We may pray not to be put to the test, but the more concerning prayer is ‘deliver us from evil,’ Satan himself.

A Christian Perspective

Deception in the mid-term elections

Loring Schultz

Read: Joshua 9 NLT – The Gibeonites Deceive Israel – Now all – Bible Gateway

“But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to deception to save themselves.” Joshua 9:3-4a NLT

People waiting in line and voting at polling booths during U.S. midterm election
Voters line up and cast ballots at a busy midterm election polling station.

Desperate people will resort to deception when they are in fear or in danger of not getting what they want. The campaigns for the 2026 mid-term elections in the United States is starting to heat up with the summer heat. People are desperate from both major parties either to retain power or over seat the incumbents. Desperation will cause one to do and say anything that will prevent them from going down in defeat, or more accurately, that their opponent takes a seat in the United States Congress. Political campaigns have not been noted for their honesty and integrity for decades, but as the stakes become more larger and more pressing, we can be sure of a bumpy ride until election day and all the votes are counted whenever that will be.

Deception is as old as our first parents, Adam and Eve. Satan, who had tempted them with deception, is at the root of every lie in any political campaign today. Jesus had this to say about Satan, “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn.8:44b nlt) And the apostle Paul tells us Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2Cor.11:14) That’s the worst kind of deception, appearing to do and say all the right things as a person of integrity only to pull the mask off after election day. American voters have their homework to do in analyzing every statement made and how it compares with previous statements and more importantly previous actions taken by the candidate. Are they feeding us an illusion, being fraudulent, or outright lying, or all three?

Christians have a sure-fire way of determining the sincerity and integrity of a candidate. First, examining how do their statements and policy proposals line up with scripture? Second, we should be in prayer for wisdom to discern if the candidate can be trusted if they are telling the truth. The greatest example of not seeking the Lord in prayer is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. The result of not asking the Lord for guidance caused Israel to fall for the deception from the Gibeonites, who were desperate and fearing for their lives. The United States is in desperate times. The future governing of every citizen is at stake. All candidates seeking office with their campaigns are desperate. They want to win. May we be praying for wisdom to discern the truth and not fall for the deception of Satan’s lies.

Devotionals

Nothing Lasts Forever; Wrong!         

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Peter 1:21-25 NLT – Through Christ you have come to trust – Bible Gateway

“For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23 NLT

We have all heard ‘nothing lasts forever’ and ‘all good things must come to an end.’ The problem with those sayings is our agreement with them. Sure, a dream vacation ends too quickly, your favorite team missed the playoffs (again), your favorite childhood amusement park was torn down, old friendships fade away, and they are many other examples I could think of and you can as well. All good things do not always come to end, but then again they do not last forever either. But there are two things that are guaranteed to last forever, your new life in Christ and the Word of God.

Peter, the apostle, was addressing the early Christians of the first century in his letter of 1 Peter. They were living in days very much like ours. Their society was hostile towards Christianity but accepting of other pagan religions. There was persecution among believers from neighbors and the authorities leading to social ostracism. Yet, Peter had some encouraging words for these dishearten Christians. They were cleansed from their sins having been born again to a new life that will never end.

So you see all good things do not come to an end. Christians can rejoice that their salvation is secure and everlasting. Our new life is eternal. It will last forever, meaning there is no end. And we also have that guarantee from the very living Word of God itself which ‘remains forever.’ (v.25) If you truly desire something that will last forever guaranteed, there are only two things, the Word of God through which you will meet Jesus, your savior providing you with life never ending.

Devotionals

Theologically Speaking           

Loring Schultz

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.’” Luke 6:20 ESV

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.” John 6:35 ESV

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

I have heard it said from a well-known modern-day theologian that everyone is a theologian. All of us have a theology that we hold to. You may say I have no theological point of view, not even a thought of one. But you do and have thought about it. Simply put, theology is the study of God. You may not study God, but you have thoughts about Him, and even if you say there is no God, you have thought about Him who you believe is not there, theologically speaking.

Even among Christians there are differing theological views concerning God and His Word. Putting a stronger emphasis on certain doctrines will distinguish a theological view not held by all Christians. This doesn’t insinuate error but a disagreement on the subject matter. There are many such passages presented in Scripture which can be worked out between believers or agreeing to disagree as the saying goes.

One example would be the text verses above, two statements by Jesus concerning those who have a hunger for God and righteousness. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Lk.6:20 esv) Jesus is speaking of those who are poor in spirit seeking righteousness. In the book of John Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.” (Jn.6:35 esv) Jesus is not referring to physical hunger, but again a spiritual hunger.

In the above example some people will put a stronger emphasis on ‘poor’ and ‘hunger’ in their theological view in caring for the poor and hungry. No doubt helping the less fortunate is what all Christians ought to be doing. Helping the poor in spirit by feeding them the gospel message not only helps them in this life but saves their soul from eternal torment in eternity. The line between the two must be removed to see the truth of Scripture clearly and know our priorities as Christians, theologically speaking.

Devotionals

Made for Wisdom      

Loring Schultz

“Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Wisdom is, in fact, the practical side of moral goodness. As such, it is found in its fulness only in God. He alone is naturally and entirely and invariable wise.” (J. I. Packer, Knowing God)

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash
 

Wisdom, humanly speaking, is the quality of having or showing good judgement. For one to be wise involves knowledge and a learning experience. Wisdom does not always show itself through extensive book learning, browsing the internet, or asking AI although the right resources are a significant help. But wisdom is more a learning experience, taking notice to the positive and negative events in our lives and acting accordingly by not repeating the failures and pursuing the methods of the good outcomes. But as J. I. Packer noted above, ‘(God) alone is naturally and entirely and invariable wise.’ As none of us possess entire wisdom, or moral goodness, James, the brother of our Lord advises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (Ja.1:5 esv)   The Lord Himself says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:9 esv) This gives us assurance that what we ask for is coming directly from the source of wisdom, God Himself. We should not be afraid to ask God for wisdom; He encourages us to ask because we are made for wisdom.

Yes, the God of wisdom who made us in His image also made us for wisdom. Wisdom comes only from God and His wisdom it is seen through His attribute of wisdom. First is God’s wisdom in creation. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (nkjv) Take note how the earth hangs in space and rotates at a perfect angle with the sun at the exact distance needed to prevent it from burning up or becoming a frozen piece of rock, and we all can concur with the changing of the seasons to the glory of God and His wisdom in maintaining His creation.

Secondly, God’s wisdom is on display in His providence through our lives. God always has in mind the highest end. The time in history when we were born, where we were born, where we have lived and worked, the friends and family we have, the good times and bad are all part of God’s wisdom in directing our lives. Again,  He has our highest end and joy in mind even though as Joseph suffered from the hands of his brothers was able to say, ‘but God meant it for good.’

Thirdly, and by far, the greatest display of the wisdom of God is His perfect plan of salvation. Jesus, God the Son, came to earth as God-Man living a perfect life and offered that life on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. He was buried and rose again after three days to ensure eternal life for those who believe in Him. This is a plan that could have never been drawn up from all the wisdom in the world except by the wisdom of God. So, ask God for wisdom. He created us for it.