Category: Devotionals

Devotionals

To Whom Will You Go?

Loring Schultz

Read: John 6:60-69 NLT – Many Disciples Desert Jesus – Many of – Bible Gateway

“Simon Peter replied, ‘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.’” John 6:68-69 NLT

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The New Testament book of John chapter 6 records the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. Most of those people followed Him back to Capernaum for what Jesus said of them, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.” (Jn.6:26 nlt) The people were content to have their stomachs full. They could not look past their concern for their physical needs. Jesus told them not to be concerned about the food that perishes but for the food that leads to eternal life. (Jn.6:27)

  Jesus then explained that He was the bread of life coming down from heaven giving life to the world. Salvation is granted to all who eat His flesh and drink His blood. (Jesus is using a spiritual analogy here-Jn.6:53-59) It represents Christ’s physical death on the cross and His shed blood as necessary for eternal life. Those who accept Christ as savior receive (His flesh and blood) as payment for their sins and have everlasting life. This is hard for people today to grab hold of and understand and even more so in Jesus’ day as he spoke these words. And the Scriptures say many left Him after these words.

The story above is not the only one used in our day to refute Christianity. There are many which orators take out of context to explain away the truth of the gospel that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Sadly, many people are taken in and led amiss by these teachers, and yes pastors, with their false words. The disciples were asked by Jesus if they were going to follow the crowd away from Jesus and Peter spoke up and said, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” (Jn.6:68 nlt) Peter’s words are still true today, ‘to whom will you go?’

Devotionals

Serious Business

Loring Schultz

“Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.” 2 Timothy 2:4 NLT

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The Christian life is serious business. Our responsibilities must be taken seriously. We are Jesus’ followers who bear His name and are His representatives on earth. “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” (2Cor.5:20) The gospel message which leads to salvation is placed upon every Christian to share with others as they are so gifted. Not everyone is a pastor, missionary, or Bible teacher but God has gifted each believer in Christ the ability to speak for Him right where they are.

Not only are we ambassadors for Christ, but we are soldiers in His army. Those in military service know their first allegiance is to the country they serve and their commanding officers. Christians are in the heavenly kingdom and our commander is the Lord Jesus. Soldiers in today’s army must restrict themselves from the things of civilian life. Their duty is total loyalty to the mission that is in front of them. Christians in Christ’s army have their mission instilled in their hearts and minds and must be ready to be deployed as He commands. Loyalty to our God and Savior takes first place.

The work that is put before us is of the upmost importance. There are countless important and vital jobs to better our lives and to save lives in the world today. Praise God if He has called you into one of those positions, but the most crucial job today saves lives from eternal damnation to eternal life with the lifesaving gospel of Jesus Christ. Be careful not to get caught up in frivolous things but remember who enlisted us to be in His army. It is serious business.

Devotionals

Walking in God’s Presence

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 56: 10-13 NLT – I praise God for what he has promised; – Bible Gateway

“For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.” Psalm 56:13 NLT

Woman in floral dress walking through shaded park pathway

Life has a way of making us feel unsure of ourselves. All of us at one time or another have made an unwise decision that put us in an unbelievably bad position. If we have learned from that mistake, we do everything possible to not repeat that misfortune. If you are a Christian and have prayed for help and God has answered your prayer you know how it feels to be rescued from your dire consequences. You have now become a walking testimony of God’s grace before others.

There is one sure way for us who are Christians to feel sure of ourselves and that is to walk in the presence of the Lord. King David penned Psalm 56, a prayer for help, as he was being attacked and seized by the Philistines. “O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long.” (Ps.56:1 nlt) Although David was afraid, he trusted God and still praised Him. David was aware that God knew of his troubles and He was much bigger than any of them. David would soon be walking in God’s presence and in His light.

So, it is with us. Whatever gets us into a terrible mess, either of our doing or enemies against us, God is willing and able to rescue us. We also will be walking in God’s presence as David. If the Lord is able to rescue us from the torments of hell into eternal life in heaven with Him, He is able to rescue us from our present-day troubles. Indeed David was right when he wrote, “For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.” (Ps.56:13 nlt) Yes, we can walk in God’s presence both in this life and in eternity.

Devotionals

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Loring Schultz

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 KJV

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

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Have you heard the question; can two things be true? You may have asked it yourself or even debated the subject. Two things can be true at the same time. In personal matters it is more of a perspective of one’s circumstances like seeing both sides of the same coin. Certain events may cause you to have happy and sad feelings with both being true, but in substantive matters it is not so much perspective of the truth, but truth itself.

In the Beatitudes Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Considering both these statements are true, one will make you happy and the other quite sad, but it is not a matter of how you look at them. Jeremiah is stating the fact that man’s heart is sinful. Jesus concurs with Jeremiah’s assessment later in Matthew by saying, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Mt.15:19 kjv) A more important question than “how can these two statements both be true” is how can a sinful, wicked, deceitful heart become pure?

Sad, but true, is the fact that each of us were born with a sin nature alienating ourselves from God. Our hearts are very much as Jeremiah and Jesus describe it. But Jesus made it possible for a reconciliation between God and us by paying the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross. Our sinful hearts become pure when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savoir.

Can two things be true at the same time? Yes! In our earthly bodies we still have the sin nature, Jeremiah is right. And Jesus is right, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Devotionals

A Thousand Days Faithful

Loring Schultz

“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLT

Middle-aged man writing in journal at wooden desk surrounded by books and a coffee mug

How many times in your life have you started something only to never finished it? I confess I am guilty of quite a few starts with some finished projects, but a lot unfinished work. What may have sounded like a promising idea or an exciting venture at the time fizzled out when difficulties threaten following through with the project. Some reasons are legitimate for abandoning an undertaking, but others fall short when we look back on them often regretting quitting early.

Eight years ago the Lord laid on my heart a desire to begin writing short devotionals. I dabbled in it while still working full time before retirement posting a few on Facebook and writing short pieces for my church. In 2023, a year of transition from retail management to asking God the direction for my life, the Lord prompted me to start a website ministry to go along side my work at the church. In June of 2023 I started preparing for the work ahead of me by learning all the ins and outs of this new venture, (and I’m still learning). August 13, 2023, started the first day of 1,000 consecutive posts on ‘Word for the Soul.’ Today is number 1,000.

No, I am not finished yet, and I do not know when the Lord will end it, for it is His ministry not mine. God is the faithful one in this project fulfilling 1,000 days of His Word being proclaimed. This is only working due to God’s grace and His calling. As Paul wrote, God made this happen because when He calls you to perform a task for Him is faithful to see it through and complete it. If the Lord is calling you to start His project, start it and don’t be afraid of not finishing it. He is faithful and will complete it in His time. It may be an open-ending on-going project where you continually look for and receive His daily guidance, so keep going for God is a thousand days faithful.

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A word to all the faithful subscribers who have encouraged me with your support these past three years, Thank you and may God bless you! I am always amazed to see the Lord’s work reaching so many across the world. Our world has gotten smaller and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given me and I’m looking forward for what He has planned for the future. Another thousand days for He is faithful.

Devotionals

Never be ashamed and be ready to suffer

Loring Schultz

“So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.” 2 Timothy 1:8 NLT

Group of U.S. Army soldiers standing outdoors in uniform, smiling and posing for a photo

For what are you willing to suffer? I should get right to the point and ask, for what are you willing to die? Here in America men and women are willing to put their lives in harm’s way in military service for the protection and freedom of their country they love. I would say most of them truly have this sentiment, but there are many who never realize the depth of what they signed up for.

This is true for Christians as well in God’s service. If you are a child of God you are in God’s army. Some Christians do not like to equate their faith as being in a war, a battle, or even part of an army even when things get rough. God’s army is designed to stand for the truth of the gospel, the testimony of Jesus Christ. The first requirement for Christians is to never be ashamed of sharing the good news with others. The second requirement, as the apostle Paul tells Timothy, is to be ready to suffer for what you have just shared.

Suffering for sharing good news does not make much sense. We would think people would be pleased and rejoice in hearing the good news of Jesus Christ and indeed some are. However, the underlying reason most are not and why there is hostility with it, is Satan, the evil one. Paul, in writing to the church at Ephesus, said, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Eph.6:12 nlt)                    

Paul is reminding Timothy that suffering will come in sharing the gospel. He also encourages Timothy that God will give him strength to go through the suffering. God’s strength is still available to every Christian today in His army,  ‘So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord and be ready to suffer with me (Paul) for the sake of the Good News.” (2Tim.1:8 nlt)                                                                                                                                                                       

Devotionals

The Good Old Days

Loring Schultz

“Don’t long for ‘the good old days.’ This is not wise.” Ecclesiastes 7:10 NLT

Group of teenagers gathered on grass, some sitting on blanket, one playing guitar, others standing with bicycles nearby
A group of teenagers enjoying music and conversation on a neighborhood lawn in the 1970s.

The good old days are a matter one’ s perspective. One’s good old days were usually when life was fun and easy with no hassles. Life did not seem so hard. The world was less chaotic than our current day and we long for those days. In my graduation year from high school, singer Gladys Knight recorded a live version of Barbara Streisand’s ‘The Way we Were.’ She begins by saying ‘hey, everybody’s talking about the good days, the good old days, well let’s talk about the good old days, as bad as we think they are, these will become the good days for are children.’ I think back now and realize that was a long time ago. And in my perspective, yes, they were the good old days. You likely can relate to your own good old days.

King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes that it is not wise for us to long for the good old days. It is OK to remember the good times, cherish events and the way the world was during those days, and ‘the way we were,’ but he warns us not to long for a return of those days. Trying to recapture the past will blind us to God’s potential plans for us today and in the future. The world is constantly changing both for good and mostly bad and the Lord has a plan for each of us during the current days.

Experience learned throughout our lives, yes even in the good old days, are to be used today to teach and help others. The Lord wants each of us to pave the way for those behind us whatever our age. Our focus as Christians should always be in front of us looking towards the future for Christ’s glorious return being obedient to Him in the work He has for us in helping those in their current ‘good old days.’

Devotionals

Do You Know God?

Loring Schultz

Read: John 1:1-5,John 1:14 NIV – The Word Became Flesh – In the – Bible Gateway

“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 1:18 NIV

Photo by Josh Eckstein on Unsplash

Do you know God? Not about God, but do you know Him? Do you know Jesus, again not about Jesus, but do you know Him? The apostle John begins his gospel by explaining that the ‘Word’ in verse one always existed. ‘In the beginning was the Word.’ The ‘Word’ was with God in the beginning and the ‘Word’ was God. So, what does that tell us? The ‘Word’ is God.

John goes on to explain the ‘Word’s’ incarnation in verse fourteen. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14 niv) The ‘Word’ (Jesus) lived among us. We saw the glory of the Son (Jesus) who came from the Father. John later writes, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (Jn.1:18 niv) The truth is, if you know Jesus, you know God. He has made Him known. Jesus is God the Son.

This is vital for Christians to understand. Our salvation depends on a perfect sacrifice being made to pay for our sins and reconcile us back to God. Jesus was not a prophet, a teacher, or an angel sent from God to show us the way; He is the way. He is God the Son. Early Christians in the New Testament were known as people of ‘The Way.’ There are several religious in the world who claim to know Jesus and follow His ways and teachings, even calling themselves Christians, but do not believe Jesus is God the Son. They are sincerely wrong! If Jesus were not God the Son, His death would be meaningless and we would still be in our sins. Know for certain who Jesus is. Your salvation depends on it!

Devotionals

God’s never-ending forgiveness

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 130 NLT – Psalm 130 – A song for pilgrims – Bible Gateway

“LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you.” Psalm 130:3-4 NLT

Hooded figure wrapped in large chains on a rocky coastline during storm with lightning

Have you ever kept track of your sins? Do you have an on-going count for the week, month, or year? If you are like me, the obvious answer is no. But there are some that you just cannot shake loose even after confessing them to God. They resurface in your mind from time to time causing guilt feelings and uncertainty of God’s forgiveness. Rest assured your sins are forgiven if confession to the Lord God was made. Psalm 103:2 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (nlt) Your sins are gone. The east from the west cannot be measured without any substance as starting points. Your sin, the substance, does not exist, it’s gone. Not only do they not exist, but the Lord does not remember them, “I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Is. 43:25 esv)

There may be some who think my sins would be easy to count as they are few, or I have not sinned at all. But think again. Every selfish thought or mean-spirited action against your neighbor, being prideful, a slip of the tongue using God’s name in vain, lying to prevent getting into trouble, going 80 mph in a 55mph zone, and being short of patience with your spouse are all examples of what the Lord considers sin, even though we made not see it that way. None of us are perfect, we were all born with a sin nature so it is natural that we sin, but that is no excuse to sin or deny that we do.

Think of all the little incidental sins mentioned above along with others you can think of. Add those we would consider bigger sins and try to imagine how many there have been in your lifetime. Now compare that with today’s scripture verse, “LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?” I’m sure the list we compile for ourselves would not be as extensive as God’s would be, after all He doesn’t miss anything. But the good news is the Lord forgives us as the rest of the verse indicates, “But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you.” God’s forgiveness is never-ending and He remembers them no more as long as we confess and ask for forgiveness. This should be of great comfort to us for our sin is also never-ending as long as we are on this side of heaven.

Devotionals

What Do Others Remember About You?      

Loring Schultz

“I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” 2 Timothy 1:4-5 NLT

Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels.com

What do others remember about you? The older you get the more time there is for others to accumulate what stands out about you that they remember. I admit there are some things I’d rather people would forget about me, perhaps you can recall some of those things yourself. We all want people to think well of us and to remember the positive things in our lives. But it doesn’t always work out that way. All of us are fallen human beings living in a fallen broken world and with that comes things we would rather forget and certainly have others forget about us.

The past is the past, so what have we been doing lately? Are we growing in Christ? Are we in the Word of God daily? Do we have an active prayer life? Are our lives reflecting a change of heart and attitude that is only possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ? All these things are building blocks for a firm foundation of living the Christian life. Others around us will see the change, mark the difference, and begin to remember for future reference the people we are in Christ. In this case only we can say the good outweighs the bad as we continue to grow in all manners as a Jesus followers. Others will see it and remember.

Wherever we are in our Christian walk it is always a good thing to stop and self-examine ourselves. Are we reflecting Christ in a way that people will remember us as encouraging or a disappointment of what should be? All of us no matter what our age are building a foundation of remembrance in the eyes and minds of those around us. May there be no cracks in that foundation as we continue to build on the only foundation that could be laid, Jesus Christ. Let us have something others will remember us by, our life in Jesus Christ the hope of salvation for all people.