Category: Devotionals

Devotionals

He who has the keys

Loring Schultz

Read: Revelation 1:9-18 ESV – Vision of the Son of Man – I, John, – Bible Gateway

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18 ESV

 Photo by Nerene Grobler on Unsplash

I would assume most people feel they control their density. That is mostly true. Decisions we make throughout our lives lead us in one direction or another. There are times we do not have control and end up where we do not want to be. It is in these times we need to ask ourselves who has control of our lives and if we haven’t asked already, who has control over our lives after we die. Jesus told John as he was about to write the book of Revelation, “I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Rev.1:18 esv)  

The book of Revelation is a fascinating book of the end times, Jesus’ return to earth, and the culmination of world history leading up to God’s eternal kingdom. Can you say for sure you will be in that eternal kingdom? Notice again Jesus’ words, ‘I have the keys of Death and Hades.’ What is meant by ‘death and hades?’ Death and Hades are actually synonyms. Death being the condition and Hades the temporary holding place (hell) until that final day of judgment. Jesus has the authority over death and hades; He has the keys.

If Jesus has the keys and the authority over Hades (hell), then He also has the keys into the eternal kingdom. Jesus told Nicodemus that He was the key and that Nicodemus needed to be born again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn.3:3 esv) How does one become born again and guaranteed entrance into the eternal kingdom of God? Paul writes in the book of Romans, “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 esv)

Jesus gives us all a warning in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (esv) All of us are born in sin and alienated from God and Jesus Christ His Son. But He who holds the keys to death and hades also hold the keys to eternal life through His death and resurrection by belief in His name.  

Devotionals

Nothing More to Say      

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 119:89-96 NASB – Lamedh Forever, LORD, Your word stands – Bible Gateway

“Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89 NASB

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

There comes a time in everyone’s life when defending our position on a matter is useless, for there is nothing more to say. We’ve exhausted all reasoning for our actions to no avail because we have been proven wrong. Matters of opinion are less crucial unless those opinions turn into action with dire consequences. When we engage in activities contrary to God’s Word but acceptable to the world and to our culture, it’s bound to not end well. As the fruit of our decisions ripens and becomes known, we try to explain it away, defending our actions as in vogue with the world. You may be in sync with your friends and colleagues, but you are not in alignment with God in your reasoning.

The point is simple, God’s Word stands. It cannot be overruled. It can’t be reasoned with to persuade change. It is settled. There is nothing more to say. The psalmist writes, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Ps.119:89 nasb) It’s done, completed, and forever. God’s Word doesn’t change with culture. Culture changes towards the Bible when people take God seriously and study His Word with an open mind to spiritual truth.

Instead of exerting your energy trying to justify what is not in Scripture, why not apply that energy in a study of God’s Word. Invest your time and energy discovering the truth. You’re not going to find approval for what the world approves in the Bible unless you pick and choose certain passages and apply them in error to suit your purpose. Disregarding sections of Scripture as not relevant to today’s culture doesn’t change the fact that God’s Word is settled truth. You can redact them with a sharpie but under the black mark the truth is still there. Let’s reason together, when God’s Word is settled there’s nothing more to say!

Devotionals

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Loring Schultz

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” Matthew 13:57 NLT

Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash

A common trait in most people is the ability to find fault in someone. It becomes a lot easier the longer we know someone, just ask any marriage counselor or a Pastor. It is hard at times to view someone in a different light from what we have been exposed to over time. It could be said that our perception of someone is based only by what we see. We think we know them well enough to know everything about them only to find out we do not. We let our observations blind us to see the real person, who they really are, what is important to them, and what their skills and desires are. There are many who are misunderstood and even rejected due to the fact that others know them only by their familiarity. Their actions today do not match the visual profile of them compiled over the years.

The Lord Jesus faced such rejection from those in His hometown of Nazareth. Jesus grew up in Nazareth spending most of His life there until the start of His ministry. No doubt He had many friends and acquaintances during those years. Jesus trained in His earthy father’s craft as a skilled carpenter and was known for His work. Living and working alongside those in His community He got to know them well and they grew to know Him, or so they thought. When Jesus return to Nazareth during His ministry, those who knew Him as the carpenter welcomed Him as Jesus the carpenter, Joseph’s son.

The gospel writer Matthew records Jesus’s return to His hometown in Matthew chapter 13. The city folk were amazed and could not believe this was the same Jesus they knew, for He was teaching in the synagogue to their unbelief.  “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?’ Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just the carpenter’s son…… Where did he learn all these things?’ And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.” (Mt. 13:54, 55, 57 nlt) They did not take notice of any characteristics of Jesus beside His carpentry work in the previous years. Jesus modeled a perfect life as the Son of God, but apparently they missed it. Those around Him during His life should have noticed something different about His demeanor. They should not have been surprised by His knowledge and teaching. Sadly they were, and they rejected Him.

Have you been rejected by childhood friends, family, and associates who have known for years for taking a stand for Christ? The sentiment is ‘you can’t be the person I knew in high school,’ but you are by the grace of God. If God has called you to serve Him you will face opposition, especially from those who know you. But take heart, Jesus who lived a perfect life was rejected by those who knew Him well, familiarity breeds contempt.

Devotionals

No Secrets with God

Loring Schultz

“Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Remember the sins of some people are obvious leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.” 1 Timothy 5:22, 24-25 NLT

 Photo by JC Gellidon on Unsplash

Notorious criminal action is easy to spot. Flagrant public immorality is also hard to conceal. The same is true for acts of kindness by an organization or individual in supporting those in need without seeking recognition. Their deeds are noticed. Public displays of sinful lawlessness and immorality are seen by all who come across them. Again the same is true for public works of kindness. The Lord God also sees all these actions in real-time and He also sees the sins and good deeds done in secret. They will one day be revealed for all to see, but the Lord sees them now. There are no secrets with God.

The book of 1 Timothy is Paul’s manual for pastoral training. In this case, the pastor-in-training is Timothy. Paul is advising Timothy to continue to be cautious in the selection process of elders. He tells them not to be in a hurry. A hasty decision may result in not uncovering some sin in need of repentance and not fitting for an elder. Paul goes on to say that in keeping with a slower process in time these sins will be uncovered. But, regardless, God is aware of them for nothing gets past Him and it will be revealed. Again, the opposite is true, good deeds will also be exposed and come to light which is a good thing.

So, what is the lesson for us. Paul’s instruction to Timothy is applicable for us. It is a comfort and perhaps frightening to know there are no secrets with God. There is no such thing as a secret sin. The public, our friends and family may not know, but God does. If not dealt with in confession and repentance to God, you can be sure it will no longer remain secret.

Devotionals

That’s the Bottom-Line  

Loring Schultz

Read: Ecclesiastes 1 ESV – All Is Vanity – The words of the – Bible Gateway

“That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT

Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

Although there is some debate over who wrote the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, most scholars conclude it was King Solomon in his final years. The richest and most powerful man in the world along with being the wisest man alive through God’s blessings found himself saying, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecc.1:2 esv) The Hebrew word translated ‘vanity’ acknowledges it is a useless attempt to enjoy life outside of God. So, are you enjoying your life?

Yes, I understand life is hard. It is harder for some people that others, but that shouldn’t hinder you from enjoying life. The first half of Ecclesiastes chapter 1 is a poem on the futility of our work. Our common phrase. ‘same ol’, same ol’, just a different day’ would fit well in these verses in our day. Solomon says he has seen everything done under the sun and it is useless. It just gets done over again; there is nothing new. Several human vanities are listed by King Solomon such as wisdom, effort, achievements, power, among other things including life itself as all useless ‘grasping for the wind.’ It does sound depressing, our lives as vanity of vanities.

Solomon’s conclusion is this as we get to end of Ecclesiastes, “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Ecc.12:13 nlt) That’s the bottom line. Our lives only have meaning when we are in a right relationship with God. When fearing God (having a loving reverence for Him) we not only gain wisdom but have a lifetime of joy and peace. The prophet Micah speaks along these same lines, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic.6:8 esv) Trying to do life without God will result in vanity of vanities and that’s the bottom line.  

Devotionals

Lent 2026 – What Does the Cross Mean to You?   

Loring Schultz

“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” Galatians 6:14 NLT

I don’t know if you have ever been asked the above question. Perhaps if you were asked that question it may have been in our current season of Lent or during Holy Week before Easter Sunday. It is at this time of the year we focus more deeply on the cross than any other time. Though in reality , the cross is just as important to remember in every season for it defines us as Christians. So, the question is asked, ‘What does the cross mean to you’?

The apostle Paul explained how the cross defined him as a Christian in the book of Galatians. He wouldn’t boast about anything in this world except the cross. Paul  saw himself as upon that cross with Christ not only seeing his sins being paid for but also dying to self and pleasure in this world. Any interests he had in the world were crucified with Christ. Paul had died to the world and the world was spiritually dead to him.

The King James Version uses the word ‘glory’ for ‘boast.’ “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal.6:14 kjv) Paul is saying he will not give glory to anything in this world except the cross of Christ. It is what defined him in this world and what defines him in eternity. It is the cross of Christ that defines us and saves us to serve Him in this world and praise Him in Heaven. So, if asked this Easter season, ‘what does the cross mean to you,’ what would your response be?

Devotionals

Looking out for #1                 

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 20:20-28 NLT – Jesus Teaches about Serving Others – Bible Gateway

“When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.” Matthew 20:24 NLT

During my years in the corporate world, I’ve seen opportunities for advancement present themselves in various ways. Some were decisions made by company executives promoting individuals into vacated positions or newly created positions of which I was the recipient and also passed over at times. Other opportunities were posted within the corporation with proper procedures in applying for the open positions. It is within this framework that one might try to take advantage over others if they have a contact with influence in the decision-making process. Sometimes it worked to their advantage and sometimes not, but what was consistent was the resentment felt of others who had no such advantage. 

Trying to work your way into an inside track is a tactic used for thousands of years and by those we would think would be above implementing such a maneuver, such as Jesus’s disciples. Jesus had told His disciples they would be ruling with Him in the kingdom sitting on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Mt.19:28 nlt) Two of His disciples, James and John, used an influential contact, their mother, in asking Jesus if they could be granted to sit on His left and on His right in the kingdom. To be fair, the gospel of Mark records James and John as asking Jesus, but there is no contradiction here in Matthew’s account. It is possible that all three were present in asking Jesus, or as John MacArthur notes, ‘more likely that they had discussed it among themselves beforehand, and each posed the question to Jesus privately.’ The bottom line is they were seeking an advantage for themselves over the other disciples.   

Scripture tells us, “When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.” (Mt.20:24 nlt) There are the two sides to this coin we need to understand. It is true the other disciples felt resentment, but they were sorry they did not get to Jesus first to ask Him. They were, in fact, jealous. They were all looking out for #1. Jesus then explains to all His disciples His kingdom is not like the kingdoms of the world. It’s not about being #1, but serving. He uses Himself as the greatest example of serving, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt.20:28 nlt )

Temptations are always present in our day to look out for #1, But as Christians, when we look out only for ourselves, we leave a trail behind us of those who now look at us defiantly, the very ones we are to help and serve.

Devotionals

Living in Nod

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 4:1-16 NLT – Cain and Abel – Now Adam had sexual – Bible Gateway

“So Cain left the LORD’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”  Genesis 4:16 NLT

Photo by National Gallery of Art on Unsplash
 

One of the most tragic verses in all of Scripture is found in the very first book of the Bible, the Old Testament book of Genesis. The results of leaving the presence of the Lord is to live a life in the land of Nod, a life of wandering. The familiar story of Cain and Abel is well-known even among occasional church goers. It is a story of jealousy between siblings leading to the first murder in history. It is a story of obedience and disobedience. It is a story of anger when one does not get their own way. It is a story of the consequences when one turns their back on God doing their own thing.

Although this story appears at the beginning of human history, it is still found and very active in our present day. Certainly not all wanderers have murdered a brother or sister, but all who wander have rejected God in one form or another. There are two types of wanderers, those who have never accepted Christ as their Savoir, rejecting His plan of Salvation, and then there are those who are born again, but find themselves turning their backs on God by ignoring His guidance and living life on their own terms.

The truth of the matter is, living every day without God in your life is living in the land of Nod, the land of wandering. We were created in the image of God and made to have a relationship with Him. If we are not in a relationship with the one who created us, how could we be anything but unsatisfied with life wandering about seeking true contentment?

Living in Nod is living outside the presence of God, but God is aware and sees us not living before Him. If you are wandering today, give up your wandering by turning back to God and allow Him to lead your life. If you have never turned to God do so now and accept His Son Jesus for Salvation. Live today in God’s presence and turn away from living in Nod.

Devotionals

Mode of Church Discipline               

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 18:15-20 NIV – Dealing With Sin in the Church – “If – Bible Gateway

Photo by Steven Cordes on Unsplash

We church people get squeamish on the subject of church discipline and perhaps we should. It is a very delicate but necessary function of the church. Care and accountability are never more important than in church discipline. It is essential to the life of the church. Jesus knew that His church would face brothers and sisters in Christ and church elders sinning against each other. He gave us a simple three step method on how to handle it in Mathew’s gospel.

Jesus says first of all, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” (Mt.18:15 niv) Jesus says to approach them, one on one, in the love of God to show them their sin and the need for repentance. Restoration of the sinning believer with God and you is the goal. We are not loving God or our church family if we are blinded or ignorant of sin around us. As a church family we are to be accountable to one another.

Jesus’s instruction for step two is as follows, “But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” (Mt.18:16 niv) Again no broadcasting to others but select one or two other believers to confirm the charge and encourage repentance. Paul gave this same instruction to Timothy concerning elders in the church. “Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.” (1Tim.5:19 niv) This is a very important step for everyone, but extremely important for those who serve as elders.

 Jesus then gives us step three in Matthew’s gospel, “If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Mt.18:17 niv) Our Lord is very concerned about His church. Believers are to be separate from the world and any sin found in the church, especially among the leadership and not dealt with will tarnish the credibility of the gospel message, Paul also gives Timothy Jesus’ third step by saying, “ But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” (1Tim.5:20 niv)

Church discipline is extremely difficult to deal with but must be dealt with to avoid putting shame on the name of Christ. The main point of church discipline is the restoration of the believer. It is a loving service of the church that pleases God when sin is removed and a family member restored.

Devotionals

Where Are They Now?  

Loring Schultz

Read: Deuteronomy 32:15-39 NLT – “But Israel soon became fat and – Bible Gateway

“Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge? Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings? Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter!” Deuteronomy 32:37-38 NLT

Photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash

A good number of people worship the gods of this world. Money is a god that ranks high on the list. Popularity and fame are a favorite among today’s gods. Material possessions such as expensive cars, luxurious homes, and rare collections of art among other things, even our vocations can become objects of our worship. They become things we cannot do without and why we exist. They are dependent upon for a safe, healthy, and happy life. But what happens when safety, health, and happiness fade away, where are those gods then?

In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy Israel’s enemies are being used by the Lord God to punish them. They had abandoned God for foreign gods of their day. “But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation. They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods.” (Dt.32:15-16 nlt) The foreign gods of pleasure were not much help when Lord used them in judgement against them. When their sin forced God’s hand Israel had nowhere to turn. Their foreign gods were useless. “Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge? Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter!” (Dt.32:37-38 nlt)

 Not all of our troubles and disasters are due to our sin but be aware some are most certainly from the Lord who calls us to repentance when needed. Whatever struggles we find ourselves in we will soon realize the gods of this world we have been relying on cannot help. They have fled the scene. But as the Lord God said to Isarel, He says to us, “Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals.” (Dt.32:39 nlt) The gods of this world will fail us every time when trouble comes and we’ll find ourselves asking ‘Where are they now?’