Author: Loring Schultz

Christian Devotional Writer
Devotionals

Select Believability    

Loring Schultz

“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’” Psalm 110:1 NLT

“Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?’” Matthew 22:45 NLT

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A survey conducted by Ligonier Ministries in 2020 found that 52% of adults in the United States believe that Jesus is not God. Taking the results of that survey at face value, it mirrors 52% of U.S. adults do not believe in the Bible or have what I call ‘select believability.’ It is tragic to fall into the trap of considering certain portions of scripture as subject to debate or simply not true. I would hate to think John 3:16 or Romans 10:9, or even 1 John 4:16, “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (NLT) would fall under select believability.

The very basis of our salvation is found in the truth of Jesus Christ being God. Yes, fully man and fully God. A perfect sacrifice was needed to redeem us from our sin and Jesus being only a man would not qualify. There needed to be perfect, sinless lamb to take away the sins of the world. (Jn. 1:29) Sadly, those who believe Jesus is not God have no hope of eternal salvation. Their hope lies in what they believe or disbelieve in scripture. It comes down to what makes the most sense and is logical. Jesus Himself assures us that he indeed is God.

Jesus was constantly being bombarded with questions from the Jewish rulers during His day. All their questions were to trap Him and disprove His claim of deity being the Messiah. Jesus finally got His chance to submit a question to them, which cleared up the whole matter and silence them once and for all. Jesus was able to do what the Jewish rulers could not do, He trapped them with their own words. They couldn’t answer accurately without acknowledging Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus asked them whose son is the Messiah. The answer was well-known by all Jewish people, the Messiah would be the son of David. Jesus then quoted David’s prophecy in the book of Psalms, “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’” (110:1 NLT) Then He asked the rulers, “Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?’” (Mt. 22:45 NLT) If the rulers answered correctly, they would have said the Messiah is the divine son of God and existed before David from all eternity, but they could not. “No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.” (Mt. 22:46 NLT) Don’t fall in line with the 52% suffering from select believability when the truth is plain to see in scripture. Jesus is God!

Bible Studies

“Handwriting on the Wall” LIVING IN BABYLON: The Book of Daniel

Loring Schultz

“So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.” Daniel 5:3-4 NLT

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The statement ‘Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it’ is attributed to American philosopher George Santayana. To quote him in ‘The Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense’ he wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The Babylonian empire had a rich history which was well-known within and outside the empire. But George Santayana’s statement rings true for King Belshazzar, he did not learn from history, and he was about to repeat it in a big way. Doom is sure to follow.

As we approach chapter 5 in the book of Daniel, we find a new king as head of the Babylonian empire. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. and the events of chapter 5 take place 23 years later in 539 B.C. Babylon had been under siege by the armies of Medo-Persia who were just outside the walls of the city. King Belshazzar, to boost morale for his nobles, gave a great feast for them to enjoy. During the feast he gave orders to bring in the cups of gold and silver that were captured from the temple in Jerusalem to be used to drink from. Perhaps a part of his strategy was to flout the destruction of Jerusalem years earlier presenting the cups as evidence of a mighty conquest. But his real objective was to use them to praise their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone in hopes of being delivered from the Medo-Persians. Belshazzar mocked the God of heaven as his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had done years earlier.  

Living in Babylon today there are plenty of leaders who are mocking God praising and leaning on their idols of power, money, idealism, greed, military strength, the cultural revolution, and the three ‘isms’, fascism, socialism, and communism. These leaders fail to accept there is a God in heaven who is the ultimate authority, and He has entrusted them to governed in order that we may live peaceful lives. Even those who believe there is a God are far from governing in line with the pages of scripture. I’m afraid my own country, the United States, is sadly among them.  

This gala event was in full swing, perhaps at the height of the party, when “Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote.” (Dan. 5:5 NLT) You’ve heard of ‘the handwriting on the wall’, well this is it right from the pages of the Bible. The mighty King Belshazzar turned white with fright. His knees knocked together and he nearly collapsed immediately calling for his wise men to read the writing and explain what it means. Again, as in Nebuchadnezzar’s Day they were of no help to him for they were deceivers themselves worshiping the same idols. “So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned pale. His nobles, too, were shaken.” (Dan. 5:9 NLT) It was time once again to call in Daniel, the only one who worshiped the God of heaven.

This may have been the first encounter the king had with Daniel. It appeared Belshazzar didn’t even know Daniel when the queen mother persuaded the king to call him based on her previous knowledge of Daniel’s dealings with Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel wasted no time in responding to the king, but first gave him a history lesson. Daniel began by saying, “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. But when his heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.” (Dan. 5:18, 20 NLT) Daniel proceeded to tell the king in detail of Nebuchadnezzar’s demise and then let Belshazzar know, “O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself…..……you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny!” (Dan. 5:22, 23b NLT) He didn’t learn from history the consequences of not giving the God of heaven praise for the kingdom He had given him or even for his own life.

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What was written was straight to the point; ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.’ Mene means your days are numbered. Tekel means you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. Parsin means your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. It happened quickly. “That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed. And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.” (Dan. 5:30-31 NLT)

The Lord God of heaven does not share His glory and He is not mocked. (Gal. 6:7) King Belshazzar found that out and world leaders today also will find it out for themselves if they do not change their ways. But this is not just a lesson for world leaders. It applies to each of us living in today’s Babylon. Being outnumbered as Daniel had been requires Christians to be on guard and faithful to the Lord God of heaven. We are to know all that we have is from God, and He is the one who receives all the glory and the praise!

Read: Daniel 5 NLT – The Writing on the Wall – Many years – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

A Special Privilege

Loring Schultz

“Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: ……Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” Matthew 10:2-5a, 7-8 (NLT)

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A privilege in itself is special. It is defined as; “a special right, favor, etc. granted to some person or group.” Twelve unsuspecting ordinary men had the right and favor granted to them to be called one of Jesus’s apostles. Together as a group they had the privilege of being part of the biggest movement in the history of the world, the ushering of the Kingdom of God. Who were these men and what were their credentials that Jesus recognized them as being worthy to be part of His team? Their credentials were they were simply ordinary men. We may refer to them today, as ordinary Joe or an average Joe. Nothing spectacular stands out among the average. They mix in unnoticeably within society as one among the millions in the world. Yet, as Christians we understand that there is no one with higher credentials to serve the Lord as the one He chooses.

Examine the lives of each of the apostles. How much do we know about them? Scripture tells us Peter, Andrew, James and John were fisherman. Matthew was a tax collector. Thomas is known for his doubting, and Judas Iscariot most noted for his betrayal of Jesus. We are able to gather some information as to birth place and character of the other apostles, Philip, Bartholomew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the zealot, and Thaddaeus, but how much do we know about them. The point being that all these men were just plain old ordinary men in the eyes of the world, but to Jesus who called them they were extraordinary in their service to Him through the authority He gave them. (Mt. 10:1)

Our Lord is looking for ordinary Joes and Janes today to continue the work the apostles started two thousand years ago. If you are a true believer in the Lord Jesus then you are called for a special purpose, a purpose and work only you are called to do. You made not heal the sick, cast out demons, or raise the dead, but you are able to work the works of Him who called you. It is a special privilege.  

Devotionals

Lasting Joy and Peace is found only in the God of Hope

Loring Schultz

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

Every human being needs a little joy and peace from time to time. But what happens when the ‘little’ doesn’t last and fades away? There are many things that we escape to in search of joy and peace. Entertainment by way of musical artists, major sporting events, and the theatre provide moments of joy, peace, and relaxation for a few hours if your team wins, or you hear your favorite song. Travelling on vacation to an exotic resort and taking in all the sights of your surroundings may give a sense of awe and pleasure during your stay. And then there is the inexpensive way to find joy and peace in settling down with a good book, or taking a nature walk in God’s creation. All of these will satisfy your desire for joy and peace for a period, but did you know there is a way to experience joy and peace that never fades away.

Paul writing to the church in Rome encouraged them by saying, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Ro. 15:13 NIV) Paul was convinced his readers would be filled with lasting joy and peace as they trusted in God. Paul also knew the Holy Spirit would instill hope in each believer in Christ; hope being the assurance of salvation and not wishful thinking. The assurance of salvation is guaranteed to bring lasting joy and peace in this life for those who accept Christ.

Be careful of the distinction between ‘joy’ and ‘happiness’, and ‘peace’ and ‘inner peace.’ Joy is real contentment that comes through the Holy Spirit in midst of trials and sorrows. Happiness is a joyful pleasure for a moment in masking our sorrow. Inner peace is the true peace we enjoy every day from the Holy Spirit’s presence, and not only for a quiet moment. The Christian’s joy and peace is rooted in the God of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced true lasting joy and inner peace, or are you still in the momentary state of peace and happiness? “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.”

Devotionals

Your own light will not dispel your darkness

Loring Schultz

“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.” Isaiah 50:10-11 NLT

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

Most people have a favorable opinion of themselves. We tend to see ourselves as basically good with only a few flaws which all of us have. There aren’t too many who would say they are walking in darkness. But if you are a true Christian, you know that you have walked in darkness. Ephesians 5:8 says, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (NLT) Those who have accepted Christ as savior walked in darkness of unforgiven sin and separation from God until they saw the light of Christ dispel their darkness. Paul confirms this in Colossians 1:13 when he says, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” (NLT)

The temptation to create your own light, either by acts of self-righteousness denying God, or observing laws of man-made religions, may make you feel good and secure, but it leads to great torment. The prophet Isaiah writing what God revealed to him wrote, “But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.” (Is. 50:11 NLT) The Lord God graciously gives us an invitation for salvation by trusting in Him and warning us that any effort to create our own light and fires to illuminate the way to God will end in eternal torment. There is only one way to dispel your darkness, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Eph. 2:8-9 NLT)

It’s time to dispel your favorable opinion of yourself because your own light will not dispel your darkness. But the true light has come as John proclaimed, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (Jn. 1:9, 12 NLT)

Devotionals

You of little faith!

Loring Schultz

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 RSV

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The author of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament explains “faith” in this way, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1 RSV) In other words, it is the divine assurance that what is unseen is actual reality rather than what is hoped for. Jesus after lecturing the disciples about money gives them a slight rebuke while encouraging them not to worry about the future in saying, “O men of little faith?” (Mt. 6:30 RSV) Worrying about future needs unnecessarily would have taken away their focus on what is really important, the kingdom of God. Our Lord wanted them to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” and be assured that their needs would be met in the process.

Many of us today would fall into the same category of needing a rebuke from our Lord not to worry as He exclaims, “You of little faith!” Perhaps it is our natural tendency to see only what is in front of us and surmising the possibility of an unfavorable future. The Lord will not rebuke us for planning and preparing for the future as He has given us skills and gifted us with the means to provide for ourselves, our families, and for others in need. But what the Lord will indeed rebuke us for is making that our number one priority above everything else, especially the kingdom of God. Lack of faith in God providing for us will lead us into a life of self-sufficiency and the anxiety that goes along with it. Our Lord makes it clear it doesn’t need to be that way.

Jesus emphasizes God’s care for the birds of the air and lilies of field in comparison to His disciples and to us. If God cares enough about His smallest of creatures and feeds them, and cares about the beauty of His creation of the fields that He continuing clothes them with lilies, He will provide for us. O that we will seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and not hear the Lord say to us ‘you of little faith’!

Read the account in scripture: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34&version=RSV

Devotionals

Become Something You Have Never Been

Loring Schultz

“Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.” Oswald Chambers

I recently celebrated a birthday. No, it wasn’t a milestone, but getting close to another milestone as the years go by. To use a sports analogy, I am in the fourth quarter and the clock winding down and out of time outs. Having retired from full time employment at the end of 2022, it has been a weird year for me the last 14 months. The Lord is good and has opened new opportunities for me, this ministry website being one. But at times it is hard to adjust my mind and body to something completely different from what I’ve done for 45 years.  

The devotional I read on the morning of my birthday was Oswald Chambers entitled ‘What’s Next to Do?’ It contained these words, “Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.” It got me thinking the way I was feeling over the past year was probably natural due to the duration of my employment. And it also got me to realize it was where God wanted me to be for those years, but that time has ended and the game isn’t over, there’s one quarter to go.

Just as God’s will for me included a 45-year career in retailing, He has His will for set me in these milestone years for something that I have never done. Looking over my shoulder at what once was is being disobedient to God who has a new call on my life. The same is true for each one of you no matter what stage of life you are in. When it’s time for God to move you out from where you have been, don’t look back, but look forward to where God wants you to be, and become something you have never been.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Devotionals

Love Covers Them All

Loring Schultz

“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40 ESV

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You may have heard of the ‘Great Commandment.’ You may even be able to quote it. But is it one commandment or two commandments? Jesus, in concluding His answer to the question ‘which is the great commandment in the Law,’ said “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 22:40 ESV) Sounds like it is two, but they have a common denominator, ‘love.’

A lawyer of the Pharisees, who was an expert in Mosaic Law, asked Jesus a question as so many others to trap Him in His words. The lawyer asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Mt. 22:36 ESV) The Old Testament Law had the Ten Commandments included in the five books of the Law known as the Torah which also contained additional laws given to Moses for God’s people Israel. At the time Jesus was on the earth in the first century, there were additional laws added to the total of 613 put in place by Rabbis and scholars over the years. Even though most of those were man-made traditions for the Jewish rulers to maintain their positions, Jesus narrowed them all down to two.

In answering the lawyer’s question Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt. 22:37-39 ESV) Jesus carefully put the two-part commandment in divine order. The great and ‘first’ commandment is to love God with all your heart, signifying your whole self, body, soul, and mind. Then likewise, you are to love your neighbor as yourself, not advocating self-love, but in concert with the ‘golden rule’ to love others as you would want them to love you.

Our moral duty as human beings on the earth are to love God and to love our neighbor. Jesus makes is so simple for us to understand and so easy to do if we only take the effort to do so. No need to obey 613 commandments. Two simple commands; love God, love your neighbor. If we truly love God, we will be obedient to all moral conduct. Loving our neighbor, even those who block your driveway, will come naturally as God loves them. This two-part great command is all that is needed, for if obeyed all other laws and commands will be follow suit for ‘Love Covers Them All!’

Read: Matthew 22:34-40 ESV – The Great Commandment – But when the – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

“The Insanity of Human Pride” LIVING IN BABYLON: The Book of Daniel

Loring Schultz

“As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’” Daniel 4:30 NLT

            A godless society provides the right environment for seeds of pride to grow. Without having God to answer to, it becomes all about me. All my accomplishments are of my doing. The successes I enjoy are through the skill sets I have developed over the years. They are the product of hard work securing a vast education and using that knowledge and experience along with my natural abilities and keenness. Such rationalization is applauded nowadays. There is nothing wrong with being successful. Higher education should be pursued, and a good strong work ethic is a positive trait and is looked upon favorably. But Christians need to be careful in developing skill sets to remember where our natural abilities come from, and who is guiding, leading, and helping us along the way. Jesus reminds us, “For apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5)

            In our continued weekly ‘Living in Babylon’ series, we come now to chapter 4 of the book of Daniel where see the insanity of human pride. Last week in chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue representing himself to be worshiped. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, the king had them thrown into the fiery furnace. To Nebuchadnezzar’s amazement the Lord God sent His angel to deliver them from the flames. Nebuchadnezzar had a change of heart saying, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” (Dan. 3:28 NLT) He then made a decree that no one is to speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But in a pagan culture, a change of heart is centered on the power of a god and not recognition of the true God. Nebuchadnezzar had another change of heart.

            Nebuchadnezzar praises God again in chapter 4 by saying, “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.” (Dan. 4:2-3 NLT) The king has another dream that troubled him and calls for the wise men to interpret it. These are the same men who couldn’t help the king in chapter 2 and cannot help him now by interpreting his dream. Nebuchadnezzar then calls for his ace in the hole, Daniel, who has accurately interpreted his dream concerning the statue with the head of gold. Daniel does indeed give the king an accurate interpretation to his latest dream, one that troubles Daniel as well.

            I’m sure we have all heard the saying, ‘pride comes before a fall.’ Perhaps some of us witnessed such a disaster. Daniel was not only going to witness one, but he would be the one to inform the king that it would happen to him and in the most humiliating way. Although the king had praised God’s wonderful signs; the seeds of pride within Nebuchadnezzar’s mind have been sprouting and growing now for some time. The Lord would tell the king through the dream Daniel interpreted that he would be disposed from his kingdom by a period of insanity that would come upon him due to his pride. He would be driven out into fields and live like a wild animal for seven years until he came to senses and acknowledges that God rules over all the kingdoms of world. And so it happened, “As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom.’” (Dan. 4:30-31 NLT) The king was driven out by his pride.

            Living in modern day Babylon has its challenges for Christians. The sin of pride is certainly evident in our society. But we must also acknowledge that pride is at the root of all sin. Christians must be careful not be influenced by the culture and allow the seeds of pride to find fertile soil in our hearts and minds ready for planting. Lest we join in the insanity of human pride.

Read: Daniel 4 NLT – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream about a Tree – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

This is the message we preach

Loring Schultz

“And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:8b-9 NLT

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

The message of salvation we preach today is the same one as Paul instructed us to preach two thousand years ago. It has not changed. In fact, Paul said in his day writing to the churches of Galatia, “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) The message is simple, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Ro. 10:9 NLT)

In Romans 10, Paul was writing in his deep concern for his Jewish brethren to be saved. Paul himself was a former Jewish scholar and teacher who knew all the traditions and Laws of the Jewish people. He also knew practicing those laws will not get you into heaven outside of Jesus Christ. The first thing Paul needed to establish is the deity of Christ. In using the Greek word, kyrios, for Lord, which is found over 6,000 times in the Septuagint, (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) Paul was affirming Jesus’ deity. Believing in your heart is not just an emotional state of response, but of your intellect and will. Your entire being recognizing Jesus is the Lord God who came down from heaven, died on the cross for sins, was raised from the dead, and is alive today is true belief and you will be saved.

This is the message we preach in 2024. In will be the message preached in 2034, and the one preached 1,000 years from now should the Lord Jesus not return by then. It is the only true message of salvation from the Lord Himself explained in detail with clarity in His Word. “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) This is the message we preach!

Read: Romans 10:8-17 NLT – In fact, it says, “The message is – Bible Gateway