Word for the Soul

“In quietness and confidence is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 NLT

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Many U. S. Presidents are known by their quips and quotes during the administration they served. ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick’ has become a famous quote by President Theodore Roosevelt. Spoken in a speech in 1901 describing his foreign policy, ‘Big Stick Diplomacy,’ President Roosevelt conveyed the idea of negotiating peacefully, but also letting it be known that other less lenient options were also on the table. The phrase has been implemented many times by the U. S. Government over the last one hundred and twenty years. The full statement by President Roosevelt is ‘speak softly and carry a big stick-you will go far.’

The prophet Isaiah writes, “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.” (Is.30:15 NLT) As Christians we understand that salvation is only of the Lord. We come humbly, in quietness and confidence in the Lord Jesus repenting of our sin receiving His forgiveness and salvation. Quietness and confidence are also seen and put into practice as our strength after our conversion to Christ.

How are we as Christians to act and present ourselves when sharing the gospel with others or are attacked for our faith in Jesus Christ? Paul gives us advice to put on the whole armor of God and stand firm. (Eph. 6:13-17) David refers many times to his confidence of the Lord’s strength in his life in the book of Psalms. Truly our strength as Christians comes from our confidence in our big stick, the Almighty, all-powerful God. Living our lives in quiet obedience to God pleases Him and sets a good example before others. We do not need to be boisterous, unruly, obnoxious, or even afraid in defending our faith. The Lord commands us to be salt and light in the world relying on strength from our quietness and confidence in Him. Speak softly and carry a big stick-you will go far!

Devotionals

What do you need to bury out of sight-out of mind?

January 30, 2024January 29, 2024 Loring Schultz

“So, they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem.” Genesis 35:4 NLT

During our forty-four years of marriage, my wife and I have done some serious parting away from things we have collected over the years. There is always some disagreement on what we should keep and what gets trashed or donated. It usually falls in the category of sentimental value. Admittedly, even though I hold to the rule, ‘if we didn’t use it in a year, we don’t need it’, I find myself desiring to hold on to something I find sentimental. But there are some things despite being sentimental that just must go.

It had been approximately ten years since Jacob and his family left Paddan-aram and his Uncle Laban to the land God promised them. God had instructed Jacob to take his family to Bethel, settle there, and build an alter to the Lord. Before doing so “Jacob told everyone in his household, ‘Get rid of all your pagan idols.’” (Gen. 35:2a NLT) Apparently, they had some items they should have parted with when they left Paddan-aram or at least on the way but still held on to them. Perhaps they were sentimental in nature, but most likely coming from a pagan culture, they were items of superstition and replicas of idol worship. They were about to witness the renewal of the covenant at Bethel and needed to purify themselves and get rid of all remaining traces of idols, sentimental or not. The Bible says they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings and he buried them out of sight.

As Christians we need to be careful that we are not holding on to something from our past we should have buried when we started our journey walking with Jesus. These may be material things of sentiment or habits we keep around finding them hard to part with. There may be other things we have picked up along the way that are displeasing to God. Over time we will begin to realize these things are bringing us down, hurting our walk with God, and hindering our service to Him. So, what do you need to bury? Let us bury our worthless sentimental idols and habits out of sight as Jacob did, ‘out of sight-out of mind.’

Read: Genesis 35:1-15 NLT – Jacob’s Return to Bethel – Then God – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Rejecting the Cornerstone of Salvation

January 29, 2024January 24, 2024 Loring Schultz

“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 NLT

The cornerstone, also called a foundational or setting stone, is the first stone set in building a brick or stone structure. Building then begins by placing bricks and stones around and on top of the foundational stone to secure a strong structure. The cornerstone must be free from defect and perfectly placed to avoid future collapse of the structure due to tilting. The term cornerstone is used several times in Scripture. In the New Testament it is applied to Jesus as being the cornerstone of salvation.

Jesus used this term referring to Himself as He rebuked the religious rulers once again in a parable. Quoting from the book of Psalms Jesus said to them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’” (Mt. 21:42 NLT) Jesus condemned the religious rulers for rejecting Him as the only way to God, the way of salvation. The religious rulers were the wicked tenant farmers in Jesus’s parable who killed the landowner’s servants and his son to gain control of the vineyard. Jesus said to them, “I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.” (Mt. 21:43 NLT)

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation. Salvation is only through Him. He is the solid rock on which our salvation stands. Those who reject Him are rejecting the only sure foundation for securing eternal life. Jesus is the perfectly place setting stone. All other placed stones of good works and religious practices will crumble under the weight of self-righteousness. Do not allow your self-righteousness to continue rejecting Jesus, the cornerstone of salvation.

Read: Matthew 21:33-46 NLT – Parable of the Evil Farmers – “Now – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

SOLI DEO GLORIA (to God alone be the glory)

January 28, 2024January 27, 2024 Loring Schultz

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31, ESV).

“The aim and final end of all music, should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” Johann Sebastian Bach

One of the greatest composers in the history of Classical Music is Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was born in Eisenach Germany in 1685 and lived under the shadows of Reformer Martin Luther’s teachings almost two centuries earlier. He realized it was God who gave him the gift of creating beautiful music. It was God making music through him. Bach would mark the top of each manuscript the initials J.J. (Jesu Juva— “Help me, Jesus”) and place S.D.G. (Soli Deo Gloria ‘to God alone, the glory’) at the completion of each composition. Johann Sebatian Bach was certainly living out Paul’s words, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor.10:31 ESV)

It is foundational that we realize our talents and natural abilities come from our creator. In that alone we should be giving God the glory, for it is impossible to do anything without Him. After all it is not about us, but about God who has given us everything we need in this life. Therefore, all that we accomplish in this life should be to bring glory to God. There should be nothing that brings us greater joy than to glorify God. Jonathan Edwards notes, “by seeking to display the fullness of His glory, the Lord is at the same time seeking our joy.” The highest possible joy ever is bringing glory to God and He is certainly in favor of bestowing joy upon us. The psalmist writes, “Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!” (Ps. 105:2-3 ESV)

Again, our goal should be to proclaim God’s name giving Him the glory for everything. Our God is a holy God, a just God, a loving God, a forgiving and merciful God, a God of all truth, and a God of true light and purity. The Devotional series “Heart of the Reformation” notes, “We are to exalt His glory because it is the highest good and the only thing that can ultimately satisfy human beings. God’s highest aim is for the furtherance of His glory-ultimately everything God’s does is for His glory” This should be our goal as well.

In closing our survey at the Five Solas of the Reformation let us look at how they tie together in the Biblical and Reformed doctrine of salvation. Ultimately our salvation (saving of sinners from eternal damnation) is for the glory of God. “The Heart of the Reformation” series writes, “God’s own glory is His chief motivation to all that He does, and it is for that purpose of displaying His glory that God saves His people.” Scripture is clear salvation is of the Lord and not us, (Ps. 3:8) (sola Scriptura). It is through Christ alone, (solus Christus). By God’s free grace alone, (sola gratia). By faith in Jesus Christ alone, (sola fide). And for God’s glory alone, (Soli Deo Gloria). To God alone be the glory!

Devotionals

Spiritual Malnutrition

January 27, 2024January 26, 2024 Loring Schultz

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16 NIV

Statistics as recently as 2019 note 8.9% of the world’s population 690 million people are undernourished. The same statistics list 10,000 children dying daily due to poor nutrition. Those statistics are difficult to accept in the modern world we live in, but nevertheless they are pretty accurate. Daily intake of food provides the nourishment we need to survive. The largest percentage of malnutrition in the world comes from underdeveloped Third World countries. Many government programs and humanitarian organizations worldwide are administering aid to these nations but much more needs to be done. Individual Christians and the local church need to step up in assisting with this great of malnutrition.

Just as lack of daily food causes malnutrition and death around the world over a period, lack of daily spiritual food (God’s Word) for the Christian results in spiritual malnutrition. Especially for the new believer it is vital to take in the spiritual milk of the Word. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Pt. 2:2 NIV) After spiritual milk of the Word as you grow in Christ it’s then time for solid food. As a newborn grows, they need the nourishment from solid foods for continued growth and survival. Sadly, many Christians stop feeding on the Bible after receiving the initial stages of spiritual milk stopping the growth process and becoming spiritually undernourished. The apostle Paul scolded the people in the church at Corinth for doing just that, “I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready.” (1 Cor. 3:2 NLT)

Malnutrition in the world today is tragic and certainly does not need to be the case. Spiritual malnutrition is also avoidable with an estimated 5-7 billion copies of the Bible sold in over 2,000 languages, along with easy access through the internet today and apps on your cell phone. There is plenty of spiritual food available for every Christian. Spiritual growth is vital for every believer in Christ. Growing spiritually in Christ involves a daily diet of God’s Word, prayer, and gathering with brothers and sisters in Christ. Following this three-step approach will keep us from spiritual malnutrition and we will be able to say with the prophet Jeremiah, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.” (Jer. 15:16 NIV)

Read Hebrews 5:11-14, A Call to Spiritual Growth: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%205%3A11-14&version=NLT

Devotionals

Come to Jesus, He will never drive you away!

January 26, 2024January 25, 2024 Loring Schultz

“…………whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37b NIV

Is there any sin you can commit that is outside the reach of God’s forgiveness? Have you found yourself in a place where you cannot approach God due to your sin, and yet knowing that you need to? Is the light of your Christian life clouded by repeated sin and keeps you from going to God for forgiveness? Have you reached a point where you feel God will or has driven you away from Him due to your sin?

Just a couple more questions. Do you believe in God? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior? Do you believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word to us and every word is true? If you answered yes to these last three questions there is some very good news in the pages of God’s Word especially for you, the good news of God’s forgiveness and restoration for all believers saved by His grace. It is true God hates sin, but He loves you, the sinner.

In teaching the crowd that followed Him after feeding five thousand men plus women and children, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn. 6:35 NLT) Jesus was telling them He was the way to salvation and eternal life. Those in need of repentance and forgiveness of sin leading to eternal life were to come to Him, He was the bread of life, eternal life. Jesus didn’t say to those with the most grievous sins stay away, but ‘whoever comes to me I will never drive away.’

Jesus does not turn anyone away who comes to Him for salvation, nor He will not drive away any of those who accepted Him as savior when coming to Him in confession and asking for forgiveness. His words apply in granting salvation and in forgiving our sin after our salvation. Your sins Jesus died for covers past, present, and future sins, no matter how deplorable. Jesus wants us to come to Him with our sin, whatever it is, and confess it to Him. He will not turn His back on us, in fact, Jesus promised, “………whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Ps. 103:12 NLT)

“For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again” (Prov. 24:16 NKJV)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9 NKJV)

Devotionals

What has God Assigned You to Do?

January 25, 2024January 24, 2024 Loring Schultz

“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” John 9:4 NLT

Every believer in Christ has been given a specific assignment by God when we became a Christian. The problem is many Christians, me included, have a hard time figuring out what that assignment is. I retired a year ago after forty-five years in retailing, most of them in management. That was God’s assignment for me although there were times it felt like God made a mistake, or somehow, I missed his direction. Several times throughout my career, mostly during times of pressure and stress, I tried to get out from under God’s assignment only to be brought back in to where he had placed me. I regret not realizing it earlier during my retail days, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble. But the Lord made it clear to me during my final years in the job it was where He had assigned me and wanted me to be for all forty-five years.

Jesus says, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” (Jn. 9:4 NLT) Forty-five years is a long time, but for us in retirement age, it seems like yesterday, therefore one needs to work quickly for there will be a day you will work no more. We must not squander any of the opportunities God assigns for us during our vocational years or in retirement, for a Christian never really retires. God continues to assign certain tasks and responsibilities to each of us. Those assignments are specifically designed for you. Only you can carry out these tasks as God has equipped you to reach those only you can reach.

So, what has God assigned you to do? You may be struggling with not knowing what God’s assignment is for you, or you may feel as I have that God made a mistake. Start at the beginning, where you are right now is God’s assignment for you, it’s no mistake. Pray, read, and study God’s Word and He will direct you. Live your life as a Christian, loving God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Be a shining light in this dark world to all outside of Christ. Be sensitive to open doors and opportunities for new assignments the Lord may be leading you to. And be careful to quickly carry out those assigned tasks for we do not know when ‘the night is coming, and then no one can work.’

Devotionals

Spread it out before the Lord!

January 24, 2024January 23, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD………” 2 Kings 19:14-15a NIV

King Hezekiah of Judah was in dire straits. He was totally outmatched by the King of Assyria with his vast army of soldiers, horses and chariots. The king of Assyria sent messengers to taunt and instill fear into the people of Judah saying they did not stand a chance against their forces. Their intent was to convince them to surrender. (2 Kings 18) The messengers made their way to Hezekiah reminding him of Assyria’s most recent victories, completely destroying the nations in their path.

How many times do you feel outmatched in the events that surround your life? Circumstances beyond your control seep in unexpectedly and unwanted causing panic and uncertainty. You see no way out, no solution to your problem for you are in dire straits. Anxiety sets in clouding your thinking and you want to let off steam to anyone who will listen, anyone who can help.

There is one who can help, God. Take a lesson from King Hezekiah. The King took the letter and he “spread it out” before the Lord. Picture it in your mind; Hezekiah laying the letter before the Lord, detailed with the devastation that will come if they do not surrender. The Lord didn’t need to see the letter to know what it contained, He knew, but the visual presentation of giving it to God demonstrates Hezekiah’s faith that God was the only one who could take care of it. And God did. (2 Kings 19:35) Whatever your dire circumstance today, spread it out before the Lord!

Devotionals

The Time of the LORD’S Favor Has Come

January 23, 2024January 22, 2024 Loring Schultz

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19 NLT

The Jewish people of the first century were looking for their Messiah as their ancestors had for centuries but were conflicted about how He was to appear to them. They did not expect Him to be one of their past neighbors from their hometown. There was a consensus among the Jews that the Messiah would be a warrior type who would come to overthrow Rome and release them from Roman oppression. It is not unlike our day where Christians are looking for the return of the Messiah (Jesus) to release us from the chaotic conditions of the world. But there is much more to it than that!

During Jesus’s ministry He returned to Nazareth, his hometown, and was welcomed as a visiting rabbi to read from the Torah and a portion from the prophets. The section from the prophets to be read that day was from the book of Isaiah, (God’s perfect timing that Jesus would be visiting that day). It was a prophecy of the coming Messiah which after reading it, Jesus said, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Lk. 4:21b) Jesus was stating as a matter of fact that He indeed is the Messiah that was to come.

As we anxiously await the return of Jesus Christ there are a few things to remember about His first coming. He came to bring good news to the poor, the spiritually poor. (Mt. 5:3) Jesus came to release those who are held captive by sin. (Jn. 8:31-36) He came to give sight to the spiritually blind, and to set the oppressed free from the devil. (Acts 10:38) Jesus accomplished all this by living a sinless life and sacrificing that sinless life on the cross of Calvary in payment for our sin. This is the message to be shared by all of us who profess Jesus Christ as our savior to those outside of the Lord before He does return for ‘The Time of the LORD’S Favor Has Come!’

Devotionals

The Way of Righteousness

January 22, 2024January 20, 2024 Loring Schultz

“For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” Matthew 21:32 ESV

Self-righteous people in authority do not like their authority challenged or questioned. This was also the case in Jesus’s day with the chief priests and elders who felt their positions of authority were threaten by Jesus, so they challenged Him on His authority. Jesus said He would comply if they were able to answer a simple question that religious leaders of the day should have known. Jesus asked them, “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” (Mt. 21:25a ESV) Their answer would make most of today’s politicians proud. They did not want to be called out by Jesus or the people if they answered one way or the other, so they said they did not know. They had their self-righteous authority to protect in front of the people.

Jesus quickly dismantled that authority in a parable He told to all who were standing by. Jesus said, “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” (Mt. 21:28-31a ESV) The religious rulers provided the obvious answer which also condemned them, it was the first one.

The chief priests and the elders thought they were righteous by their positions and outwardly following all the rules and regulations of the law. But Jesus compared them to the second son who said he would obey and go and did not. The religious rulers claimed to be righteous with their laws and ceremonies but continued to live in disobedience to God. Jesus criticized them for rejecting John the Baptist’s message of the way of righteousness in the coming Messiah. They thought their own righteousness was good enough.

Many people in 2024 see the way of righteousness through self-righteousness. How good they are compared to most certainly gets recognition. Being religious by going to church occasionally, or contributing to the needs of others add to the resume of claiming righteousness. In Jesus’s parable those who rejected him in their lives, tax collectors and prostitutes, but later repented, had discovered the way of righteousness is through Him. If you have rejected Jesus even as you see those around you accepting Him and have not changed your mind as the religious rulers, today is the day for you to be as the first son and repent, following Christ, the way of righteousness.

Read Matthew 21:23-32: Matthew 21:23-32 ESV – The Authority of Jesus Challenged – And – Bible Gateway