Author: Loring Schultz
Christian Devotional Writer
Do you understand the way you are going?
“The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” Proverbs 20:24 NLT
Photo by Yana Marudova on Unsplash
It should behoove us to plan out our future. Any endeavor we decide to take on should not proceed until perfectly planned out. Skipping this first step will prove unsuccessful. I’m afraid I’ve been a casualty of my own neglect in this area of my life several times. Lessons learned. Hopefully, not to be repeated again!
Proper planning sets boundaries along the path we decide to take. It guides us to stay in our lane and not drift into unproductive areas. With no plan in place we drift from side to side even if we have an end goal in mind. We make adjustments along the way to compensate for lost time and finances but realize we don’t understand the way we are going. It is a helpless feeling.
Our need for planning is essential, that’s number 1. The need to give it to the Lord is number 2. Feel free to reverse that order especially if it is Lord laying it upon your heart. There are a couple of things we need to know when we give our plans over to the Lord. “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” (Pr.19:21 nlt) The Lord will direct our plans in the direction of His will, where He desires them to go. A second thing we need to know is that we still may not understand everything in the way we are going and that’s OK because it is the Lord who is directing our steps.
It is better for us to not understand our way with the Lord leading and directing our steps than for us to wander around aimlessly with no plans. Either way we won’t comprehend, but with God in control we don’t need to try to understand everything along the way. He will get us to our destination.
Advent 2025: Let Christ fill the void in your life this Christmas
“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.” Luke 15:1 NASB
What was it about Jesus that drew sinners and the outcasts of society to Him? Tax collectors in Jesus’s day extorted money from people by demanding excessive amounts above the required payment. They were the most hated and mistrusted individuals in that day. They were earning a lucrative living by openly stealing. Note that it was not just tax collectors who were drawn to Jesus for the Bible says “and the sinners were coming near Him.”
And who were the sinners? Yes, drunkards, prostitutes, swindlers, thieves, liars, murderers and the like, “coming near Him to listen to Him.”
And who are the tax collectors and sinners in our day? I’m afraid it’s you and me. In some degree all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). And we all have a void, a deep hole in our souls that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. We were created to have a relationship with our heavenly Father, but that relationship is broken by our sin. It is an empty and nagging feeling that if you admit it; you know it is there. The tax collectors and sinners in Jesus’s day knew it was there. They didn’t want religious rules and regulations, they wanted forgiveness, and they wanted to fill the void, that deep hole in their life.
May you take the opportunity this Christmas to fill the void in your life by accepting Christ as your personal Savior. That is why He came. That is why we celebrate Christmas.
Are We Walking in Paul’s Sandals?
“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 NLT
The apostle Paul was the greatest teacher and example in living the Christian life outside of Jesus Christ Himself. Paul was a vessel chosen of Christ to bear His name before Gentiles, kings, and sons of Israel. (Acts 9:15) Paul was taught by the Lord, the greatest teacher, so he knew what he was talking about. He also wrote one half of the New Testament under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He wrote to several churches and individuals inspiring and teaching them all to live godly and according to their calling in Christ Jesus. Paul also led by example.
Paul’s words of instruction are just as much for us today as it was for those early Christians. In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul encouraged them to, “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Ph.4:9 nlt) As we apply Paul’s words to ourselves in 2025, how are we doing? Are we walking in his sandals?
It is a much bigger responsibility than most of us may realize. It’s not just living the godly life but living in such a way that we are influencing the next generation for Christ. Are we setting Christlike examples for others to follow on a consistent basis? Paul opens up his life for examination to the Philippians by saying to follow his example in everything they heard him say and do. It is a bold statement that is more challenging than I’d like to admit, but it is what Paul is instructing us to do. So, again the question is, are we walking in Paul’s sandals?
Advent 2025: Set Free
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 NLT
“Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” 2 Timothy 2:26 NLT
Like it or not, we are all held captive by the world in one fashion or another. The Christmas holiday is a prime example of being influenced by the events around us that holds us captive. Of course, not all of the festive trimmings and wrappings of the season are a bad influence or have the ability to hold us captive. But when we take our eyes and our minds off the true meaning of Christmas we set ourselves up to fall into the devil’s trap. Satan would like nothing better than to have Jesus placed second or even third on His birthday. The less we inform people of the true ‘reason for the season’ as we say, the more he likes it.
Jesus said to those who had said they believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn. 8:32 nlt) But they questioned Jesus saying that they have never been in slavery to anyone, so how can they be set free. They did not understand that Jesus was not referring to physical slavery, but to the spiritual condition of their souls. They were enslaved to sin and to the father of lies, Satan himself. They needed to know the truth (divine revelation) and that truth says Jesus came to set us free from the captivity of sin and of Satan.
I trust that those of us who know Jesus as our personal Savior will not be held captive by the surroundings of Christmas that the truth of gospel fails to resonate with those around us. The Christmas story is more than about a baby in a manger on a silent night. There was a distinct and necessary purpose for the Christ child’s arrival; to set us free from the captivity of sin.
Perpetual Fire of Forgiveness
“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” Leviticus 6:13 NIV
The third book of the Law of Moses is the Old Testament book of Leviticus. Its theme is God’s holiness, and God’s will for Israel’s holiness. God’s teaching to Israel in Leviticus is how to approach their holy God in worship and in the sacrifices required of them, especially those concerning their sin. Much emphasis is placed on the priests in establishing this reverent and holy approach to God. All animals sacrificed on the altar had to be perfect without defect. “In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.” (Lev.4:35niv)
The Lord gave Moses detailed instructions of all the sacrifices the priests were going to perform. The most significant command was that the fire on the altar was to be continuous. “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.” (Lev. 6:12niv) The people of Israel were assured of God’s readiness to always forgive their sin at any time of the day or night.
The same assurance has been granted us today. God is always there waiting for us to come before Him with our confession. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn.1:9niv) No need to bring a perfect animal to an altar for sacrifice every time we sin. A perfect lamb was sacrificed on the cross at Calvary to take away our sin. Jesus, the lamb of God paid the penalty for our sin ‘once for all.’ But we still sin and for that there is the perpetual fire of God’s readiness to forgive.
Advent 2025: A Pivotal Event for All
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world.” Micah 5:2, 4 NLT
The birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem was a pivotal historic event. The prophet Micah was prophesying of the destruction that would come upon Judah. This devastation will come about due to their continual disobedience to the Lord their God. The people of Judah will be carried off to Babylon as their land would now be occupied by the conquering nations. Although the Jews did go back to the land, restoring worship and rebuilding the Temple, they never had full autonomy, but were a province under foreign kings.
One day Judah and all of Israel will have their land back and full autonomy under the Messiah Jesus Christ during the millennial period. Micah writes of that future king being born in the little town of Bethlehem. ‘A ruler of Israel will come from you.’ Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David and the Messiah will be a descendant of David born in the same city. The remnant of Jews will accept Christ as their Messiah in that future day. Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was a pivotal event concerning the future of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
Christ’s birth was also a pivotal event for the entire world. Micah says the baby who was born that night in Bethlehem has His ‘origins are from distant past,’ meaning He is the eternal God. Jesus Christ, God the Son, left heaven’s glories emptying Himself by giving ‘up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form.” (Ph.2:7 nlt) Jesus did this to offer Himself as the only perfect sacrifice possible to save us from our sins and reconcile us back to God. That holy night in Bethlehem was indeed a pivotal event for all.
Advent 2025: Guest post JESUSLUVSALL
God’s Economy
Read: 2 Corinthians 8:12-15 NLT – Whatever you give is acceptable if you – Bible Gateway
“As the Scriptures say, ‘Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.’” 2 Corinthians 8:15 NLT
There are those who read today’s text from 2 Corinthians 8 and see it as ‘socialism’ advocating for this in the structure of governments across the world from a Christian perspective. The fact is that this has nothing to do with government affairs, but everything to do with Christians and the Christian church.
The apostle Paul was instructing and explaining to the church in Corinth God’s method in giving to those in need. The church had started a ‘fund drive,’ as we would call it today, for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He was encouraging them to complete it. Their good motives must now be brought to completion for what was pledged. Paul was saying one should give according to their means, what they have and not what they do not have. One should never pledge an amount they cannot afford to pay.
The instruction was not to make life easier for others at their own expense, but there should be fairness or equality. This is where some people jump on the ‘socialism train.’ But this is not what Paul is teaching. He is not saying all Christians should have equal possessions, but equal proportion in their giving according to their means to help others. When following these instructions everyone’s needs are met. Paul refers to the example of God’s provisions to Israel in the wilderness with the supply of manna. “So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.” (Ex.16:17-18 nlt)
What to say?
Read: Matthew 10:16-20 NLT – “Look, I am sending you out as sheep – Bible Gateway
“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:19-20 NLT
The world is increasingly becoming more hostile towards Christians both in word and deed. Here in the United States legislation has been passed over the years to stifle the voice of Christianity, while other faiths are left to be or even promoted. Many countries around the world suffer not only the same anti-Christian laws but are suffering violently under physical persecution.
Jesus warned His disciples as he sent them to preach the gospel, “But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.” (Mt.10:17-18 nlt) Jesus doesn’t guarantee us a trouble-free Christian life. Jesus was hated while He walked the earth and He is still hated today. The world hated Him then and the world hates us now. But the Lord promises never to leave us or forsake us. His Holy Sprit is always with us leading us all the way.
We are told not to worry as to what we will say when those days of persecution come upon us. Jesus tells us that God through the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say in that hour. It is a comfort to know we can count on the Lord God during these days of persecution. Perhaps you are one who have had such an experience, or a member of your family. Let us all pray for those today who are under heavy persecution for their Christian faith across the world. May they discover the peace on earth from that baby who left heaven’s glory to save us and to help know what to say.
Word for the Soul 