Author: Loring Schultz

Christian Devotional Writer
Devotionals

Advent 2025: Set Free

Loring Schultz

“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

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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.

Devotionals

Perpetual Fire of Forgiveness

Loring Schultz

“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” Leviticus 6:13 NIV

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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.

Bible Studies

Advent 2025: A Pivotal Event for All   

Loring Schultz

“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

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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.

A Christian Perspective

God’s Economy

Loring Schultz

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

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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)

Devotionals

What to say?        

Loring Schultz

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

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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.

Devotionals

Advent 2025: Preparing a Place

Loring Schultz

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 NASB

Jesus’s love for us is such that He wants us to be with Him throughout all eternity. He has been preparing a place for us for two thousand years. His love for us is such that He left His heavenly place in order to make it possible for us to be in that place with Him. Sound confusing? It’s not really! Jesus, God the Son, left heaven’s throne coming down to earth to redeem those who will put their trust in Him for Salvation. Let’s just say the necessary arrangements needed to be made for us to enter eternity with the Lord Jesus.

The incarnation of Christ is part of God’s plan of Salvation for mankind. We are all in a lost state, sinners from birth, and cannot stand or live in the presence of God. Our society today tells us that God is a God of love and He would not condemn anyone. It is true God is a God of love, but He is also a Holy God who cannot accept sin. Sin against a Holy God must be dealt with and there is nothing we can do to make it right. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous nesses are as filthy rags.” (nkjv) As much as we try and as careful as we are to live a clean life doing what is right, the Bible says that our very best is as ‘filthy rags.’

So where is our hope this Christmas? Our hope is in Jesus, the Christ child, who lived a perfect life, and laid down that perfect life for us to accept Him for Salvation. We can then stand before God in Christ’s righteousness and live in eternity in the place He has been preparing for you and me these past two thousand years.

Devotionals

How to lose a guilty conscience

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 32:1-7 ESV – Blessed Are the Forgiven – A Maskil of – Bible Gateway

“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Psalm 32:5 ESV

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The three most common words used in the Old Testament for evil thoughts and actions are sin, iniquity, and transgressions. Although these words are not so common today, evil thoughts and actions are still quite popular. Perhaps a reason why these words are not used is because they are never considered applicable to us. They are words in the Bible that condemns and we want no part of them, for we are not like that. We may make mistakes and mess up, but evil thinking and evil acts, well, that’s not us.

 Well, if that is the case, have you ever had a guilty conscience? Has there ever been a feeling you just can’t shake off no matter how hard you try? You trace it back to something you said or did or both. You may not want to admit it, but it was wrong even in your eyes. Your feelings are feeding your conscience and vice versa. You are able to say with David in Psalm 32, “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (Ps.32:3-4 esv) Your words or actions were also wrong in the eyes of your creator, the Lord God. That’s why you feel the way you do.

But there is a sure way to lose that feeling, that guilty conscience. Admit your guilt (sin) before the Lord, and don’t try to hide your (iniquity). You are able to fool some people, but not God. Confess your (transgressions) to the Lord. These words do apply. They bring a realization to our fallen state, but we don’t need to live in it. When we confess our sin, the Lord forgives us. He cleanses us, restores us to a right relationship with Himself and gets rid of our guilty conscience.

Devotionals

We didn’t get there 

Loring Schultz

Read: Romans 15:23-29 NLT – Paul’s Travel Plans – But now I have – Bible Gateway

“I will come to see you on my way to Spain. And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.” Romans 15:28-29

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In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he told them to expect a visit from him on his way to Spain. Paul had confided to them how eager he was to spend some time with them. He first needed to make his way back to Jerusalem to deliver a gift to the poor Christians that was collected for them by the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. His plans where then to set out for Spain by way of Rome.

Paul’s good intentions didn’t work out as he thought. He did make it to Rome, but not in the manner he had planned. He went there as a prisoner when he made his appeal to the emperor after being brought up on charges by the Jewish leaders. (Acts 25) Paul was able to meet with many people during his first imprisonment in Rome, but he never made it to Spain.

We all can relate when our plans don’t materialize as we thought. My wife and I had planned to visit family over a period of time but do to circumstances we were not able to do so. It may not be we won’t get together, just not in the way we had anticipated. Proverbs 16:9 says, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (nlt) Paul found this out as he planned to visit the church in Rome and then the people of Spain. Paul made his plans, but the Lord directed according to His will.

Let this not hinder us from making plans, we should continue to be engaged in planning our future events according to God’s will, just remember we may not get there.