Category: Devotionals

Devotionals

Perfect Peace

Loring Schultz

Read: Isaiah 26:1-8 NLT – A Song of Praise to the LORD – In that – Bible Gateway

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT

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Peace is hard to come by. Total peace is unthinkable in our day and is reserved for Utopia. But every Christian can have their utopia in the here and now. Utopia is described as ‘any idealized place of perfection.’ The prophet Isaiah writes, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you.” (Is.26:3a nlt) The word ‘perfect’ in Scripture has the meaning of ‘completeness.’ So, it is possible to have ‘total’, ‘complete’ perfect peace in this life.

Perfect peace has been evaded from many Christians by the cares of this world. Granted, there are many things we should care about, but not to the extreme. Besides, our cares and worries should be handed over to God. There is no need for us to put excess stress on ourselves for those things God is in control. He will guide us and give us wisdom in handling our daily concerns.

A more important aspect of achieving perfect peace is to keep our thoughts fixed on God. The old King James says, ‘whose mind is stayed on thee.’ ‘Stayed’ meaning, ‘to lean, lay, rest, support, uphold.’ When our minds are totally fixed of God, leaning on Him, thinking and resting in His presence we won’t have time to think about what has the potential to take away our peace. We still have many concerns that need dealing with, but when our focus is God, He will give us the peace and strength to see them through in perfect peace.

Devotionals

Just another day at the office

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 2:1-16 NLT – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – One night – Bible Gateway

“When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.” Daniel 2:14 NLT

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Corporate Executives in notable positions of authority are subject to an unexpected crisis happening at any time. How they deal with it unveils their character a good bit of the time. Some may panic, but most do not. Some may be quick to assign blame, rather than responding to the situation. Others respond by doing their best work while under pressure. The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament did his best work best while under pressure.

Daniel was one of the Jewish captives brought to Babylon trained to become one of king’s advisors serving in his administration. An unexpected crisis developed within the king’s entire advisory staff. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, had a terrifying dream calling his advisors to tell him the dream and then give it its meaning. The advisors who were known as his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, would not attempt to answer the king’s order without knowing first what he had dreamt. The king, perhaps wise to their previous inaccuracies and deceptions, demanded they tell him his dream first, and then interpret it. He reasoned if they could reveal his dream, then they would be able to give him its interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar demanded they follow his command and failing to do so will result in their execution. They could not fulfill the king’s command, as a result they were ordered to be put to death.

Meanwhile, back in Daniel’s office, Daniel is confronted by the commander of the king’s guard. We may question why Daniel wasn’t called with the others to interpret the king’s dream. It could have been Daniel willing kept himself away from the heathen practices of his colleagues, or perhaps he wasn’t called due to being a Hebrew, he wouldn’t have knowledge of their pagan gods. People in the Near East during those days believed that gods spoke to human beings in dreams. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. Daniel was one of the king’s men, so he was included, guilty by association.

Daniel has a remarkable reaction signifying his ability to work well under pressure when Arioch came to kill him. The Bible says, “Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, ‘Why has the king issued such a harsh decree’?” (Dan.2:14b-15a nlt) Daniel didn’t panic, not even the slightest. If he did it didn’t show. It was just another day at the office for him. What Daniel had was faith in his God who had sent him there and was with him as he worked under the pressure of being an advisor to the king of the Babylonian Empire. Daniel knew the Lord’s hand was on him come what may. He trusted God with the outcome enabling him to concentrate on his work in a professional and godly manner. A valid lesson for us to follow.   

Devotionals

Our Sins are Nailed to the Cross        

Loring Schultz

Read: Galatians 5:16-26 NLT – Living by the Spirit’s Power – So I – Bible Gateway

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:24-25 NLT

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The apostle Paul was not one to mince words in his writings. He gives it to us straight and doesn’t hold back. Writing to the churches in Galatia Paul writes, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Gal.5:19-21 nlt) Anyone who is consistently living in one or more of these ways seriously needs to consider if they are truly a child of God. Paul gives this warning, not to lord it over anybody, but to warn them of the serious consequences of living such a lifestyle.

Christians may not be involved in living such a lifestyle, but occasionally those desires spring forth through temptations and our sinful nature. Paul instructs us if we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. (Gal.5:16) He then goes on to list what we should be desiring, the fruit of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.’ (Gal.5:22-23) This is the way we should be living consistently.

The cross of Christ is where all our sins were exposed and dealt with. Christ took on our sins and paid the price for them. Our passions and sinful desires have been nailed to the cross and crucified there. We should not be trying to resurrect what has been crucified. Our sins have been nailed to the cross. Let us leave them there.

Devotionals

Your Name Matters to God      

Loring Schultz

“The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. The descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, and Amalek, who was born to Timna. The descendants of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.” 1 Chronicles 1:35-37 NLT

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This year in my daily Bible reading I chose to use ‘The One Year Chronological Bible.’ I recommend it for those who are adamant about having things in order. The Bible can be difficult to understand, especially when related passages of Scripture are not in sync chronologically. A chronological Bible, as its name says, puts events in order of their occurrence. Even if you’re not concerned about the order of events, it is still a worthwhile read to understand history as recorded in Holy Scripture.

One important note; there are repetitive verses that are combined from several different books of the Bible to keep it in chronological order. These passages can dig deep into our souls as we read them to get a clearer understanding of Scripture. But then there are those verses as above, names of individuals in the genealogies which we cannot pronounce, let alone have a hard time reading them. That same passage above is found in Genesis 36. But it is chronologically correct.

I share this to say that if their names weren’t important, God would not have it repeated in His Word or record it at all. There are many people whose names are listed in the Bible and never mentioned again. But their names mattered to God, and the names of all individuals made in His image matter to Him. Think of the privilege it would be if you had your name written in the Bible, God’s Word, for all time. It would matter. You may feel like you are just a name written once in the Bible and forgotten. But think of the one who knows your name. You are not forgotten. Your name matters to God. You matter to God, and if you have accepted Christ as your savior, your name is written in the most important book of all, the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Rev.21:22-27)

The One Year® Chronological Bible

Devotionals

Wait, Hope, and Trust in God   

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 62 NLT – Psalm 62 – For Jeduthun, the choir – Bible Gateway

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5, 8 NLT

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Waiting can create anxious moments. The very definition is enough to make you uneasy; (to remain until something expected happens). Some people have the ability to wait patiently, and others need it to happen instantly. Depending on what you are waiting for will, of course, determine whether you can wait patiently or have some anxiety creep in. As Christians, we have someone to put our hope and trust in while waiting, in addition He will sit with us while we wait.

King David was waiting on God when he wrote Psalm 62. David was in midst of treasonous conspirators either from the family of Saul or from his son, Absalom, during his rebellion against his father. He was waiting on God for the outcome, but David was confident his victory was sure while he waited. “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.” (Ps.62:1 nlt) David was able to wait patiently and quietly for his hope was in God. He knew God was his refuge. David encourages all God’s people to trust in the Lord, and to pour our hearts out to Him.

The Lord understands our worried waiting moments. He is there by our side while we wait. It may feel as if we are all alone, but we are not. When we earnestly seek Him during these waiting moments through prayer, reading His Word, and waiting quietly, like David, we’ll sense and feel His presence, comforting us during the wait. It may be a long wait, or it may be a short wait. Either way, the Lord is with us, and the victory will be ours as we wait, hope, and trust in Him.

Devotionals

Power Under Control

Loring Schultz

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 KJV

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The Beatitudes, spoken by Jesus, are the opening to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is speaking to His twelve disciples as they came to Him. (Mt.5:1-2) It is important to remember that Jesus is instructing His disciples with the multitude of people listening in. The target of the Beatitudes and the whole Sermon on the Mount were for the disciples and followers of Jesus in our day. The Beatitudes contrast the happiness and fulfillment of life one has as a follower of Christ or as a follower of the world.

Jesus lays out the inner qualities of those who believe in Him. If they allow Him to work his purpose in their lives they will be blessed (happy). Meekness or gentleness is one such inner quality. It is not associated with being weak, but just the opposite, it shows true strength. Some refer to it as “power under control.” It is the self-control the apostle Paul writes about. Humbling ourselves before God and before men by doing the right thing in a way that brings glory to God is true a sign of being meek; showing power under control.  

Meekness or gentleness is a character of a true Christian in the world today, although we do not always let it show. Our one foot in the world at times makes it difficult to restrain ourselves and control our temper. This leads to frustration, unhappiness, and not a very good example of a follower of Jesus. Let us take Jesus’s words for what they are, the truth, and strive to be meek, gentle, and humble. Let us be in control with the help of the Holy Spirit leading to blessings and happiness.

Devotionals

God Rewards Faithfulness

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 1:8-21 NLT – But Daniel was determined not to defile – Bible Gateway

“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” Daniel 1:17 NLT

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A large number of Christians fall into the trap of compromising their faith in the workplace or around friends and family. This is especially true if largely outnumbered by non-Christians. We justify it by ‘going along to get along.’ No doubt there are obstacles to overcome with the pressures of a secular worldview held by those you encounter daily. I, for one, have felt those pressures during my forty-five-year career in retail. One thing the Lord taught me, He does reward faithfulness, although I must admit, I was not always faithful.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were faced with their first big test of bowing to peer pressure, and going along to get along, in accepting the king’s daily food and wine not prepared according to the Law of God. These young Hebrew youths knew partaking of the meal was in violation of their God. No doubt, they were taught this by their parents in training them in the Law of God. They hadn’t forgotten, and they were about to be tested.

Daniel was the spokesman for the four of them. He knew the preparation process of the meal was to honor the Babylonian pagan gods. Daniel had discernment to see what this was, a slow process to gradually wean him and his friends from Hebrew culture and their God. Our secular society works the same way today, starting small and working up to full compromise, trying to get us to conform. Daniel didn’t bite but came up with an alternative plan rather than rebelling against the king. He suggested to the steward in charge to feed them vegetables and water for ten days. The steward would test their appearance and health. Whatever he decided Daniel and his friends would agree to.

Daniel had no idea what the outcome would be, but he put his faith God. The Lord rewarded Daniel and his friends in two ways for their faithfulness. First, they appeared healthier and more nourished than those eating the king’s food. Second, the Lord blessed them with an unusual aptitude in literature and wisdom. And Daniel was given the special ability to interpret visions and dreams. The Lord is in the habit of rewarding those who remain faithful to Him. It is better to go along to get along with God than compromise your convictions with the world.

Devotionals

Darkness into Light       

Loring Schultz

“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light……Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” Psalm 18:28, Micah 7:8b NIV

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Certain people enjoy the dark. It is a place where quiet meditation can take place. It is a place to get away from it all. Romantic couples have their own reasons for enjoying the dark. Then there are those who prefer darkness, as Jesus says, because their deeds are evil. (Jn.3:19) Most crimes are committed after dark as the culprits do not want their identity known. Sadly, there are some who sit in darkness, not enjoying it and can’t find a way out. Light doesn’t penetrate through the solid dark walls around their mind and soul. The good news is that there is a penetrating light that can pierce through that dark wall into your soul. Jesus Christ, God the Son.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (niv) Every individual has a soul darken by original sin until said person accepts Christ as savior removing the stain and punishment for our sin. Jesus then confirms we have been transformed from darkness into light in His Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world.” (Mt.5:14a niv) A darken soul has now become the light of the world.

The consensus from many people is that once a person becomes a believer in Christ all their problems go away. That is simply not true. We still live in a dark world with evil influences all around us and it is sure to have an effect on even the strongest Christians. We need help from the Lord during these difficult times, and it is found in His Word. David writes in Psalm 18:28, “You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (niv) And Micah says, “Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” (Mic.7:8b niv) We don’t need to sit in darkness when the Lord keeps our lamps burning.

One final thought; God is there to help us through every situation in our lives, and that includes getting help from trained doctors and staff who treat those going through period of darkness in their lives. The Lord God has blessed us with these professionals, and they are there to help us. May we thank the Lord for the sources of light He gives to us in our time of need.

Devotionals

Have you invested your mina?

Loring Schultz

Read: Luke 19:11-27 ESV – The Parable of the Ten Minas – As they – Bible Gateway

“Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’” Luke 19:13 ESV

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Jesus’ teaching often included speaking in parables, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. He told the parable of the ten minas to refute the idea that the kingdom of God was to occur immediately. Jesus’ followers, including His disciples, did not understand His mission, but supposed He was going to establish His kingdom by overthrowing the oppressive Roman government. Jesus’ earthly mission was to give his life as a sacrifice for sin, providing salvation for all who believe in Him. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, promising to return and then establish His kingdom. This parable connects to Jesus’ return and every Christian’s accounting for the investment we made or didn’t make.

Jesus said to those around Him, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.” (Lk.19:12 esv) This would have been understood for Herod the Great himself had gone to Rome to receive his kingdom. The nobleman calls his servants and gives each of them one mina (3 months wages) and instructs them to engage in business investing his money for a return. This is a picture of Jesus. The mina the Lord Jesus gives to every believer is the gospel message to be invested in peoples lives. There will be a day of accounting how faithful we have been to what he has given us. “When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.” (Lk.19:15 esv)

Very descriptive reports on the return of investments are given for three of the nobleman’s servants. Each apportioned by their diligence in service. The first had a 1000% return and was awarded ten cities. The second had a 500% return and was awarded 5 cities. Both these servants loved their master and wanted to please him, taking risks to ensure an increase. The third servant did nothing at all with what he was given but kept it to himself. The nobleman takes the mina from him and assigns it to where it will have the largest prospect of return.

Our Lord Jesus has gone away as the nobleman but will also return as he did. Jesus has given us the gospel message to invest by sharing it with others while He is away. Will we have a return on His investment? Will you have a return? You won’t have a return if you don’t invest it. Have you invested your mina, the gospel?  

Devotionals

Change your thinking              

Loring Schultz

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

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I suppose most of us are influenced by those around us, whether for good or bad. That is why it is wise to limit our exposure to those with godly values and common sense. The same is true for the customs and behavior of the world, or as some Bible translations say, ‘of this age’, meaning the system of beliefs, values, and the spirit of the age. Christians need wisdom in what we choose to participate in sifting out what is of this age and what is not. I’ll admit, at times, it seems like a fine line, and what we see is often blurred by the customs we’re familiar with. The spirit of this age is under the influence of Satan who is real and not a myth. His agenda is for you and me to influence us to behave in check with the world around us.

Christians must combat this kind of thinking from the world by changing our thinking to the Lord’s way of thinking. Scripture instructs us to let God do the transforming. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (nlt) Changing the way we think is another way to say, ‘renewing your mind.’ We renew our minds by studying God Word. As we engage in serious study of Scripture the Holy Spirit gradually changes our way of thinking as we compare what God says in His Word with what the world is telling us. There is no comparison, and trust me, it will change your mind. You will then determine what is of the world and what is not. “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Ro.12:2b nlt)