Author: Loring Schultz

Christian Devotional Writer
Bible Studies

“Don’t Neglect the Spirit” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 6:14-29 NLT – The Death of John the Baptist – Herod – Bible Gateway

“For Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.” Mark 6:20 NLT

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This week in Sunday’s Biblical Insights we have a story not for the squeamish, the brutal beheading of John the Baptist. The tragic event will unfold against the backdrop of bewilderment, superstition, immorality, resentment, and neglecting the Spirit. The gruesome act against John the Baptist is matched by Herod Antipas’ cutting away his soul by not responding to the conflict within himself. Human beings created in the image of God have an innate instinct to know right from wrong. When the spirit convinces us our way of living is wrong and we do nothing about it, we set ourselves up for a tragic end, even hurting other people in the process. Herod Antipas neglected the spirit, and it cost John the Baptist his life, and cost Herod his eternal soul.

We begin with the breaking news around Israel of reports of a man performing miracles of healing, casting out demons, causing concern among officials in the mixed reactions of the people. It didn’t take long for the news to reach the ears of Herod, who was the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Herod’s first reaction to the news about Jesus was “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.” (Mk.6:16 nlt) Being riddled with a guilty conscience and prone to superstition, Herod thought John the Baptist had come back to haunt him. Some of the people agreed with Herod’s assumption about Jesus. Many others thought Jesus was Elijah who was prophesized to appear before the Messiah would appear. Others supposed Jesus to be another one of the many prophets who had come in the tradition of the Old Testament, and still others presumed Him to be another Moses who had come to lead the people.

The seed to John the Baptist’s demise was planted by John himself as he continually called out Herod Antipas for his infidelity. He not only put Herod on notice, but Herodias as well, who left her husband for an adulterous affair with Herod. In fact, the whole Herodian dynasty was the subject of John’s continual rebukes. Herodias married her half Uncle Philip who was Herod Antipas’ brother. Herod was married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, but divorced her and sent her away. John’s rebuke was straight to the point, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” (Mk.6:18 nlt)

Herodias was filled with resentment towards John and wanted him killed for his non-stop criticism of her relationship with Herod. Herod had John arrested and put in prison to satisfy Herodias, but more importantly to protect John. It was here where Herod and John had more hard conversations. Herod respected John, knowing he was a good, decent, and holy man. Scripture says Herod was greatly disturbed (perplexed) when he spoke with him.  The Greek word for ‘perplexed’ is ‘aporeō’ meaning ‘doubt’ or ‘to be without a way.’ Something triggered Herod’s conscience that he kept going back to John and enjoying the time with him. John, no doubt, left Herod with internal moral conflict.

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The grudge against John the Baptist Herodias held did not subside. She cunningly and patiently waited for the right time to put a decisive plan in place to kill John by having Herod order it himself. The occasion was a birthday party for Herod with his high ranking civil and military officers in attendance. Herodias’ daughter performed an exotic suggestive dance before Herod and his guests. It was highly unprecedented for a princess to perform such a dance but was reserved for servant girls to perform. Herod’s moral lapse from his drinking and the dance led him to offer a pledge to Herodias’ daughter, “Ask me for anything you like, and I will give it to you. I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom” (Mk.6:22-23 nlt) Of course giving away half the kingdom is a figure of speech not to be taken seriously, but Herodias’ plan was about to be signed, sealed, and delivered.

“She went out and asked her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ Her mother told her, ‘Ask for the head of John the Baptist!’” (Mk.6:25 nlt) The girl callously came back and said, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” (Mk.6:25 nlt) It was now too late now for Herod to change his mind. It would have been better to give her half the kingdom. With all his guests looking on, Herod would not refuse her and immediately sent an executioner to carry out his order to behead John the Baptist. We question why Herod would go through with her very savage request. Several reasons come into play. An oath was considered binding and unbreakable in those days, no matter how cruel or unsensible. Again, his guests just witnessed the dance and the pledge he made to his satisfaction. And perhaps a bigger reason was Herod’s failure to allow the spirit to work in him as he spoke with John many times.

Herod Antipas, being grieved deeply regretted his actions of promising to give Herodias’ daughter anything she asked for and then carrying out the request. Spur of the moment decisions are never good, even worse when our heart and mind is not right with God but centered on our own lusts and desires. Herod lived such a self-centered life, but God gave him plenty of opportunities hearing John the Baptist’ rebukes to correct the wrongs in his life. May we not neglect the spirit when He points out anything in our lives that is not pleasing to Him. We can be sure God will make it known to us because it displeases Him and He wants us to make it right. Don’t neglect the spirit as Herod did but listen to His voice when it comes to you from wherever and whoever.

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A Christian Perspective

Israel’s Future, Our Future       

Loring Schultz

Read: Isaiah 54:11-17 NLT – “O storm-battered city, troubled and – Bible Gateway

“You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near.” Isaiah 54:14 NLT

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Scanning the news coming out of the Middle East over the last 18 months, there seems to be little progress to the end of the war between the terror group Hamas and the nation of Israel. The fact is that region of the world has been unsettling for centuries and will continue to be so until Christ returns and establishes His earthly kingdom. There will be peace in Jerusalem one day. Our prayers are not in vain when we pray, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” (Ps.122:6 nlt)

On that future day, Jesus Christ Himself will rule the world from Jerusalem. He will rebuild His holy city. “O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.” (Is.54:11 nlt) Jerusalem, all of Israel, the entire Middle East, and all the world will live in peace. A new real sheriff will be in town. “You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.” (Is.54:14a nlt)

When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we pray for so much more than the present day. We do pray for periods of peace when guns are not firing, and rockets are not in the air. We do pray for all people in the region to live and work together in the midst of their differences. We do pray for leaders across the world to assist in negotiating peaceful resolutions for our day. But we are ultimately praying for the day when we know there will finally be peace in Jerusalem, the Middle East, and the world.

That day is the day of the Lord’s return to earth. It will happen. There are many references to these future events in Scripture. Jesus spoke of His future kingdom while here on earth 2,000 years ago. It is a sure thing. It’s time for us to wrap our minds around the thought of Israel’s glorious future which will be every Christian’s glorious future. The present days may seem dark and without hope, but there is a future day that is bright with the guaranteed hope of peace in Jerusalem and for all the world.

Devotionals

Is God Seen in You?

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 6:11-23 NLT – Then the officials went together to – Bible Gateway

“May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” Daniel 6:16 NLT

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I once read, ‘if Christianity was outlawed in your country, would there be enough evidence to convict you?’ You’re not the only one who can answer that. Others all around you and me would be able to answer that question with no problem. What evidence would be brought either to confirm or debunk the accusations against you? Would you be able to stand by with confidence the truth of the evidence for or against you? Will others see God in you and me, or will they see just ourselves?

King Darius saw God in the prophet Daniel who worked for him as one of his top officials in his administration. The king was faced with having Daniel thrown into a den of lions for breaking one of the king’s irrational laws he signed in his pride and arrogance. Although Darius did not know the God of heaven, he saw Him at work in Daniel. Daniel’s work ethic, honesty, knowledge in business and government affairs match his reputation for his outstanding previous service. Darius saw a man with great faith in his God who was blessed by Him. His words to Daniel as he was about to seal off the lions’ den were, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” (Dan.6:16 nlt) It wouldn’t have surprised me if Darius said after that, ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’ Darius saw God in Daniel.

For others to perceive favorable outcomes in our life due to our faith in God and witness Him in control of our life is what you, me, and all Christians need to strive for. The way others see us handle setbacks needs to be seen as God works through us. I believe Darius saw that in Daniel as well. After all, Daniel was being thrown into a den of lions. We need to answer the question, ‘Is God seen in us? Would there be enough evidence to get us thrown in the lions’ den?’ Oh, and by the way, Darius did see Daniel in the morning.

Devotionals

That’s What Friends Are For    

Loring Schultz

Read: John 15:12-17 ESV – “This is my commandment, that you – Bible Gateway

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 ESV

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The Lord Jesus calls us His friends. If you have accepted Him as your Lord and savior you could not ask for a better, closer friend. Jesus gave His disciples an example of great love and true friendship when He said to them, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn.15:13 esv) History has provided us with stories of people who have sacrificed their lives to save someone from harm or even death. We thank God for their selflessness and remember them for the true heroes they are. They were a true friend when a true friend was in need.

Jesus lived out that example of a true friend while He was on earth right up to the end of His earthly life. Jesus laid down His life for all of us He calls friends, all of us who are in desperate need of saving grace only He can provide by taking our punishment at the cross. No, we couldn’t ask for a better friend. Of all the friends we have in this world, none can compare with Jesus who saved us from eternal damnation and separation from Him and heaven forever. He can help us like no other friend is able with the problems and concerns we have in this world. Jesus is taking care of the here and now and has secured our eternal destiny for those who believe in Him. Jesus has taken care of everything for us. That’s what friends are for!

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

Joseph Scriven

Devotionals

Guilty By Association    

Loring Schultz

Read: Acts 3:1-11 NLT – Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar – Peter – Bible Gateway

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT

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What’s in a name? Well, that depends on whose name it is. Reference to someone’s name will bring a visual picture of them to your mind. Names of well-known people will draw up images both good and bad as to their character, and their achievements or non-achievements. Being associated with a name will likely put you in the same boat of the name in question. It’s called ‘guilty by association.’ So, it is wise to keep our name free from scandals and from associations with those whose names recall bad images.

What about the name of Christ? Luke writes in the book of Acts, “God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (4:12 nlt) His name, Jesus Christ, is the only way of salvation and assurance of heaven after this life. Being associated with that name would be a good thing, and I trust that you are. However, there are people who would disagree that the name of Jesus is the only way to heaven, which puts Christians in a bad light being associated with Jesus’ name. Jesus, Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt) Being associated with Jesus may tarnish your name a bit if you’re totally committed to Him and His Words.

But where are we to go as Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn.6:68-69 nlt) Peter held fast and stayed true being associated with the name of Jesus as we see in our reading today in Acts 3. It was in the name of Jesus, Peter was able to heal the lame man, and it is the same name of Jesus that is the only name able to heal our sin sick soul unto eternal life through faith in Him. It’s OK to be guilty by association in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the name by which we must be saved.  

Devotionals

Don’t miss out what God has for you 

Loring Schultz

“Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 NLT

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How do we serve God with a willing mind? It begins with worshiping Him with our whole heart. King David in his last instructions to his son Solomon, soon to be king, were words of encouragement, “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.” David knew the task of building God’s Temple was before his son, and he wanted to prepare him to be ready not miss out on what God had chosen him to do.

David also warned his son that if he forgets God and goes his own way, it will have severe consequences. The Lord would reject him forever, including his assignment to build the Temple. But isn’t God a God of mercy, you ask, yes, He is, but the one who rejects God, rejects all that God is, His love, His salvation plan, His grace, and yes, His mercy. David didn’t want his son to reject God. His desire for Solomon was for him to know God intimately through worship and serving. David stressed to Solomon to ‘take this seriously,’ and think about who God is and what He had chosen him to him to do above everyone else, build His Temple. I’m sure it was overwhelming for Solomon, but David wraps up by saying, ‘Be strong and do the work.’ The Lord would be with him.

God has a specific assignment for you and me to do. Will we have a willing mind when He reveals His plan to us? To be willing and ready we need to worship Him with our whole heart. The Lord sees and knows what’s in the deepest crevasses of our hearts, so we can’t fool Him. If we wholeheartedly seek God, we will find Him and won’t miss out what He has for us.  

Devotionals

Let Go of Your Pride      

Loring Schultz

“Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” Proverbs 29:23 NLT

“He quickly said to his young armor bearer, ‘Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!’ So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died.” Judges 9:54 NLT

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We have all come across people with excess pride, and not in a good way. There are some people who are just full of themselves. Hopefully your contact with them is limited, especially if you run into that one in the mirror. Make sure that contact is extremely limited. I have written about pride in the past, but there are many tentacles that protrude out of pride as in those flexible unjointed organs extending from certain animals particularly invertebrates. They all serve the purpose of stoking one’s pride, but it’s time to start picking them off.

If we fail to address where a tentacle of pride surfaces and leave it alone, it will become part of our character and be hard to shake off. The longer it is left alone the more we tend to confirm its existence as positive, and it will bring other forms of hidden pride above the surface. A life full of pride undealt with will be carried right through until death.

A case in point, Abimelech, who ruled over Israel for three years after having seventy of his brothers killed, couldn’t die thinking he would be remembered as being kill by a woman. You might say he had a problem with women, but pride played a role. God pronounced judgement on Abimelech for his ungodly actions when he attempted to invade the town of Thebez. A woman drops a millstone on his head and crushed his skull. And in his pride, Abimelech, said in his final breath, “to his young armor bearer, ‘Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!’” (Jud.9:54 nlt) Against women perhaps, full of pride until the end, definitely! Don’t let pride hang around, let it go.

Bible Studies

“Rejected by those who knew Him best” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 6:1-13 NLT – Jesus Rejected at Nazareth – Jesus left – Bible Gateway

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” Mark 6:4 NLT

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There have been many hometown heroes throughout the centuries. Famous artists have painted their priceless artwork in familiar surroundings of their neighborhood. Renown composers from Bach and Beethoven to Lennon and McCartney started composing the world’s masterpieces in their small rustic villages and small towns. Many Presidents and foreign leaders have been memorialized in their hometowns. People from all walks of life who made a name for themselves have been recognized and hailed in their communities as achieving great success. Not so with Jesus of Nazareth. He was rejected by those who knew Him best.

Last week in our Biblical Insights in the book of Mark, Jesus was back in Capernaum where He performed two miracles. After raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead, “Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.” (Mk.6:1 nlt) Jesus was about to begin His third and final tour through the Galilean region. He returns to His hometown of Nazareth 20 miles southwest of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee. This is not a planned family visit but a preaching ministry event. It is the start of Jesus’ and the disciples preaching tour through Galilee.

As was Jesus’ custom, He observed the Sabbath by attending worship services in the local synagogue. While there Jesus began to teach, and the on-lookers were astonished. Never did they hear such teaching and from someone who they knew but knew Him as a local carpenter. Even though they heard Him with their own ears, they found it hard to believe. “Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.’ They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.” (Mk.6:3 nlt) The people took offense that Jesus would elevate Himself to such a high position with no formal religious or academic training. He was on their level, a local layman, ‘how dare He raise Himself above us.’

The peoples’ reference to Him as the ‘son of Mary’ could very well have been an insult to Jesus. It could be possible that Joseph passed away, as he is not mentioned, but it may also be a shot at the legitimacy of His birth. To say that one is the son of the mother is to say we don’t know who the father is. The townspeople in their ignorance and snippy remarks missed an opportunity to get to know the Jesus they thought they knew. Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and did no miracles in Nazareth except for a few people He healed. (Mk.6:5) It was not that He couldn’t perform any miracles, but in an atmosphere of such unbelief Jesus didn’t have many opportunities as most people were offended by Him. John MacArthur notes, “Miracles belong among those who were ready to believe.” There were many who simply would not believe. It must have hurt the Lord Jesus to announce, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” (Mk.6:4 nlt)

Jesus did not let this interrupt His mission or the mission He was about to send the disciples on. Neither should we let the way we are received by those closest to us to influence whether we continue to live the Christian life. Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected by His own family for the sake of the gospel, so He knows how you feel if it happens to you. Jesus continued going from village to village reaching out to people. We shouldn’t allow anything to slow us down, but to continue with the mission He gave us.

 “And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.” (Mk.6:7 nlt) Jesus gets His disciples involved to go out on their own and preach the gospel. He has taught them as they gathered around Him. They have observed His preaching and the miracles He performed on the road, now it was time for them to get some on-the-job training. This was a big step for them, and the Lord emphasized how big a step it was in the instructions He gave them.

Jesus told them to take nothing along with them except the common walking stick in case attack. That alone calls for tremendous faith. Whatever God calls us to do requires faith on our part to be successful for the task. We shouldn’t doubt thinking we can’t do it. If the Lord is sending us out, we can do it. The disciples were also told not to take any food, no overnight bag or extra clothing, and no money. Jesus did allow them to wear sandals for their feet. The Lord Jesus was training them to increase their faith for future days when they would go out preaching the message of salvation after His death, burial, and resurrection. They were to trust God completely to meet their needs.

The disciples were instructed not to be fickle with the accommodation provided for them, but to show appreciation and stay in that one place as long as they were in that city. Jesus gave them one final important instruction, “But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” (Mk.6:11 nlt) Strict Jews in that day shook the dust off their feet whenever they left a pagan territory. Rejecting Jesus’ gospel of salvation is equal to a pagan society who rejects the only true God. Shaking off the dust is certainly in order. It also absolves them from any further responsibility after making known the manner of salvation.

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Jesus did not say following Him would be a cakewalk. There will be hard times, long roads ahead to travel, rejection even from loved ones, but it is a life of tremendous joy when following Him in obedient faith. Jesus guarantees it.

A Christian Perspective

Spending More to Win Big      

Loring Schultz

“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT

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Starting today April 5th, a Mega Millions lottery ticket will cost you $5 instead of $2 here in the U.S… The title of this week’s Christian Perspective, ‘Spending More to Win More’, was a headline last week in our local Sunday newspaper. An article from Kurt Snibbe of the Southern California News Group provided the full-page article including graphs and statistics. Justifying the increase, Snibbe writes, “Officials who run the lottery say there will be bigger prizes won more frequently, along with slightly improved odds. Among the key changes are that the jackpot will start at $50 million instead of $20 million.” (1) The slightly improved odds increase your chances to ‘1 in 290,472,336’ from ‘1 in 302,575,350.’ Sounds like a sure bet to me.

This isn’t a piece endorsing state run lotteries that help create revenue for needed programs, nor is it a reprimand to Christians who place a few dollars in the state’s coffers each week. It is a piece to help us re-evaluate and think through where we spend our money. Are we investing it wisely? How can it be used more wisely to help others? Is God please where it is going? Do we care more about those in need than we do ourselves? Granted state lotteries fund a major portion of education and other needy programs. California for example provided $2.1 billion for education in 2024 from $9.2 billion in lottery sales. From a Christian perspective would it not be better to invest the entire $9.2 billion in education and other much needed services. This would be more beneficial not only in California but in every state in the country. That’s a hard sell but think about it.

The idea we take a vice as gambling and defend its use by giving some of the proceeds to the poor, the very people who are buying most of the tickets and can least afford it needs to be re-evaluated. The ‘Focus for Health Foundation’ reports, “The lottery preys on vulnerable people. The people most likely to habitually play the lottery are typically poor, largely minorities, and often addicts. The Journal of Gambling studies found that lowest fifth in terms of socio-economic status has the highest rate of playing the lottery. Despite the terrible odds of winning money through the lottery, people in financial trouble think the lottery is the only way to accumulate money.” (2)

Christians today need more discernment concerning this issue than in years past. Gambling has been increasing dramatically as almost every state in America has a state lottery and recently added legalized sports betting. This is not only an American problem, but many countries around the world are experiencing the same trends. The poorest among us are being taken advantage of and then there are those who never have enough. Both want to get rich quick. Both are willing to spend more to win big. May we be wise and good stewards with what the Lord has blessed us and help those in need directly rather than through a lottery ticket.  

(1) https://www.ocregister.com/2025/03/28/lottery-the-mega-millions-ticket-is-going-to-be-5-soon/

(2) The Lottery: The Poor are Playing, and the Wealthy are Winning – Focus for Health

Devotionals

Daniel’s Exemplary Prayer      

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 6:1-13 NLT – Daniel in the Lions’ Den – Darius the – Bible Gateway

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem.” Daniel 6:10 NLT

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Christians struggle today as to when is it appropriate to disobey the government. What would be a legitimate reason to ignore certain laws and encourage others to do the same. I’m sorry, I’m not about to give you an approved list which enables you to defy the government, but I will give us all an example of what is right when the time is right.

The prophet Daniel lived his entire adult life in captivity. Captured as a teenager and brought to Babylon during the destruction of Jerusalem, Daniel proved to be an example of one who completely trusted and obeyed God whatever the circumstances. He never wavered, and the Lord used Daniel to work out and reveal His purposes. Now in his eighties, and still well respected by those who now held him captive, Daniel was about to put his faith and obedience on display.  

Daniel was one of the top officials in the new kingdom of Medo-Persia serving Darius the king. Darius’ favoritism of his highly regarded official brough envy among his colleagues so much they concocted a plan to get rid of him. They convinced the king to sign a law stating that “for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human— (except Darius the king)—will be thrown into the den of lions.” (Dan.6:7 nlt) They knew Daniel would not comply, seeing him three times a day praying towards Jerusalem, they got him, well, sort of.

If you’re familiar with the story of ‘Daniel in the lions’ den’ you know it has a happy ending. Daniel knew that if he obeyed the king’s law, he would be disobeying God. So, he did what he always did, he reached out to God for help in his daily prayers. Daniel had no assurance that God would deliver him, but he knew that He could, and he was not going to disobey the Lord God who had blessed him all his life. Let the same be said of us.