Word for the Soul

“……. Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.” Matthew 28:5-7 KJV

Matthew’s account of the resurrection of Jesus from the grave agree with the other gospel writers with the women first to arrive at the tomb that first Easter morning. They came in the very early morning hours with spices to prepare Jesus’ body for permanent burial. Jesus’ death was on the day before the Sabbath, the day in which no work is to be done. With evening approaching, Joseph of Arimathea, a very wealthy man, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body wrapping it in clean linen laid it in his own tomb. The burial was incomplete due to the late hour. The women came to anoint Jesus’ body with the spices they had prepared as soon as the Sabbath was over as time would not allow them to do on Friday evening. But the unexpected happened.

There was a great earthquake as Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James the less, arrived at the tomb. Matthew describes it; “for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. (Mt. 28:2 kjv) Enormous fear must have come upon them for the angel told them to fear not! Matthew records even the guards of the tomb became as dead men due to fright. (Mt. 28:4) The angel proceeded to give the women news not only to calm their fear but give them great joy. “I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.” (Mt. 28:5-7 kjv)

The angel’s news along with further instructions to the women that morning is just as valid for us today, as if we witnessed the events along with Mary Magdalene and Mary, James’ mother. We serve a living savior. Our Lord is not to be memorialized with flowers of remembrance this Easter. He is alive and is to be worshiped. We do not come to tomb to remember and with respect as the women did that morning but rejoice with them that He is not there to be remembered, He is risen. All of us are invited to follow the angel’s instructions to ‘come’ and ‘see’ that He is not in the tomb. We are invited with the women to ‘go’ and ‘tell’ everyone that He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

Read: Matthew 28:1-10 KJV – In the end of the sabbath, as it began – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

The Patient Endurance of Injustice

March 30, 2024March 28, 2024 Loring Schultz

“He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” 1 Peter 2:22-23 NLT

The American judicial system is based on justice being administered represented on the facts of the case. The defendant is found guilty or not guilty by a judge or jury. The outcome is to ensure that justice was served by not punishing the innocent or letting the guilty go free. The courts, although not perfect, strive to uphold the law as established in the United States Constitution. There have been many cases over the years, even though brought properly through the judicial process, that have clearly not resulted in justice. The innocent is guilty and the guilty go free. It is extremely difficult for one who has been tried and convicted of a crime they did not commit to patiently endure the injustice done to them. But our Lord Jesus did just that on our behalf.

Jesus was arrested by the Jewish rulers for claiming the truth that He is the Messiah and claiming to be God in the flesh, another truth. Jesus was upending the Pharisees and the scribes’ rule over the Jewish people, so they sought to have Him arrested, put on trial, found guilty, and be put to death. Even in Jesus’ day, you need witnesses to confirm a crime was committed. Jewish law demanded at least two witnesses to agree, and after patiently waiting two came forward. “The leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death…. Finally, two men came forward.” (Mt. 26:59-60 nlt) The false testimony they gave along with Jesus’ truthful response satisfied the rulers as to the decision they made.

Jesus went through the mockery of perceived justice in the various trials He went through enduring the injustice done to Him. Peter writes, “He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.” (1 Pt. 2:22 nlt) Jesus, God the Son, never sinned. How could He commit a crime? Peter goes on to say, “He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” (1 Pt. 2:23 nlt) God always judges fairly, and in this case, Jesus endured the injustice as God’s plan of justice for the payment of sin. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, was sacrificed for our sin making us just and righteous in the sight of God as we accept Christ as our savior. False witnesses may have lied abut Jesus, but it was all part of God’s plan of salvation for all who believe.

Devotionals

We Have Access to God the Father through Jesus Christ

March 29, 2024March 26, 2024 Loring Schultz

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:50-51 ESV

For the religious Jews of Jesus’s day, the tearing of the curtain (veil) in the temple should have been a revelation of who Jesus is and His purpose in dying on the cross. Scripture says the curtain was torn at the moment Jesus died, yielding up His spirit. It was torn from top to bottom indicating no human could have done it, it was clearly an act of God. The curtain that was torn was the inner curtain that separated the holy place from the most holy place in the Temple. It separated God who is Holy from sinful man, and it contained the Ark of the Covenant and the law of God.

Entrance into the most Holy place, the Holy of Holies, was only once a year on the Day of Atonement. This was the most solemn holy day of all the feasts and festivals on the Jewish calendar. The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies after offering a bull sacrifice for his own sins. He would then enter and sprinkle some of the blood on the Ark of the Covenant to atone for the sins of the people. Forgiveness and covering of sin were only through a blood sacrifice and repeated every year on the Day of Atonement.

The events that took place on the first Good Friday are many. They started in the early morning hours past midnight with the unjust trials of Jesus, and after being condemned to die, mocked, beaten, he was finally nailed to a cross later in the morning. Darkness covered the earth from twelve noon until three in the afternoon, the time Jesus died. At that moment, the last event, access to God was made possible to all through Jesus’s sacrifice and shedding of His blood. The curtain was torn down, no more need for a yearly animal sacrifice to cover sin. A permanent sacrifice for sin was made. “For the death he died he died to sin, once for all.” (Ro. 6:10 esv) We have access to God the Father through the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Have you accepted the sacrifice of Jesus in not just covering your sins but in taking them away completely? Access to God, Salvation, and eternal life is only made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ as we repent, confess our sins, and accept Him as our Savoir. This Good Friday make sure you have access to God the Father.

Read: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A32-56&version=ESV

Devotionals

Long Days

March 28, 2024March 27, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Man goes out to his work, and to his labor until the evening.” Psalm 104:23 ESV

Some workdays seem extremely long. Occasionally during my days in retailing I would joke with my associates that I’m only working a half day, after all twelve hours is literally a half day. We have grown accustomed to an eight hour work day and five day work week in the United States. But it hasn’t always been that way and in some countries a forty-hour work week is unheard of. As fortunate as we are in the United States to have such employment guidelines, there are many people who work long hours resulting in long days that tap into their strength and energy.

The Psalmist writes “Man goes out to his work, and to his labor until the evening.” The point is; we are to be working in the world God has created. God has gifted each of us with certain skills and abilities to contribute to the work of maintaining and managing His creation and to ensure that our basic needs are met and those of our neighbor.

Your work may be exhausting and time consuming, but take heart, Jesus also became weary (Jn. 4:6), and so He understands. At times His disciples were tired and exhausted, and Jesus told them to rest awhile (Mk. 6:31). And the Old Testament prophet Isaiah writes, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31 esv) So, during your long days wait on the Lord, rest in Him, and you might just mount up with wings like an eagle and finish that twelve-hour day.

Devotionals

The Lord said to my Lord

March 27, 2024March 26, 2024 Loring Schultz

“David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ Mark 12:36 ESV

“The Lord said to my Lord.” Does this statement sound confusing to you, perhaps even contradictory? Confusing to most of us without explanation, but it is certainly not contradictory. During Jesus’s final week before His crucifixion, known as Passion Week, He was in constant battles with the Jewish scribes and the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. Jesus taught in the temple every day before those who came to hear Him. Most were astonished at His teaching hanging on to every word He spoke. This obviously angered the religious leaders as they saw their power and influence eroding away from someone who claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. If these leaders had carefully studied the Old Testament, they would have known that Jesus was right, He was the Son of God, the Messiah.

They were constantly trying to trip up Jesus with their questions. Jesus turns the tables on them and asks them a question. He asks a question from a familiar passage in Psalms explaining that Jesus existed before David, proving His deity, proving He is eternal, and proving He is the Son of God. Jewish teaching was and is correct that the Messiah will be the son of David, yet David refers to Him as his Lord. Jesus asks them, ‘“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How it then that David, in the Spirit, is calls him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord………If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”’ (Mt. 22:42-45 esv) The point being that the Messiah is both divine and human. He is David’s son and He is David’s Lord.

An ordinary man, no matter how good he was, or how well he taught, or how well he lived as an example to others with love and compassion could ever be an adequate substitute for our sin. It had to be a perfect man, without sin. Jesus Christ who died on Calvary’s cross was indeed the divine Son of God in human flesh. The deity of Christ is vital to our understanding His purpose for coming, understanding our sin nature, and understanding God’s plan of Salvation for those who trust in Christ. As John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29b)

Read: Psalm 110 ESV – Sit at My Right Hand – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Compassion of Christ

March 26, 2024March 25, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 NIV

The shortest verse in the Bible speaks volumes of the compassion of Jesus. At the gravesite of His beloved friend Lazarus, scripture records that “Jesus wept.” The Greek word that is used here indicates a quiet weeping, the shedding of tears, a solemn approach to the grief He felt. Grief is undeniable to those who lost loved ones and friends in death. Individuals grieve in different ways, cope with it in different ways, and each one is on their own timetable in the various stages of grieving. But there is one commonality with them all, Jesus grieves with each one of them.

Jesus’s compassion for the grieving is rooted in the realization that death occurs to each of us due to our sin nature. We are born with a sinful nature. David writes in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (niv) The separation and sorrow cause by death is the direct result of sin in our lives; for this Jesus wept. There is no escaping physical death in this world, but the good news is that we can escape the judgement of the spiritual second death. Hebrews 9:27 says, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (niv) Jesus’s compassion for each of us is such that He willingly laid down His life to redeem us from the eternal judgment of the second death, eternal separation from Him and the heavenly Father.

As Easter, Resurrection Sunday, is fast approaching, we are reminded of Jesus’s words to Martha, Lazarus’s sister, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26 niv) If we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, we will never face the second death, but will live eternally with Him.

What compassion Jesus has for us in our grief. What compassion He has for our eternal souls in sacrificing His life to save us who trust in Him for eternal life. Jesus absolutely rose from the grave that first Easter morning and is alive today to bring us continuing comfort and peace in our season of grieving.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn.14:27 niv)

FYI, Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead.

Read the story: John 11:17-44 NIV – Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Signs of the End of the World (as we know it)

March 25, 2024March 20, 2024 Loring Schultz

“For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 24:27 NLT

As each new season of the year is about to make its entrance there are signs to indicate what’s on the horizon, but also what is setting. The spring season is here in the state of Pennsylvania. We had signs of warmer temperatures, less snowfall, longer daylight hours, and flowers starting to push up from the ground to confirm God’s faithfulness in the change of the seasons. These signs clearly showed ‘winter’ was coming to an end and ‘spring’ was arriving. God is faithful in all He does with every word in scripture to come about just as He said.

We are living in unprecedented times and I’m sure you have heard many people say we are surely living in the last days. All that is going on in the world today adds fuel to the notion these are the signs of the end of the world. But we live in a fallen world where there is constant chaos and evil at every turn and always has been. This is not a reflection of the end. But Jesus does give us definite signs to look for when the end of the world is about to come.

Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (Mt. 24:3nlt) Jesus gave them specific signs that will occur in the last days. They include false Messiahs, there will be wars and threats of more wars, nation will go against nation, and there will be famine and earthquakes. Jesus then tells them, “But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (Mt. 24:8nlt)

It is obvious we have seen these signs for some time now and they seem to be increasing every day. There is nothing more in prophecy to be fulfilled for Jesus Christ to return for His saints before the tribulation if you believe in the rapture or His return at the end of the tribulation. We have seen the signs. There will be no doubt when He returns that it is indeed Jesus. “For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Mt. 24:27nlt) He will then set up His kingdom and reign on the earth for one thousand years and it will be the end of the world as we know it.

Read: Matthew 24: 3-28 NLT – Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

Jesus’ Seven Cries from the Cross

March 24, 2024March 23, 2024 Loring Schultz

Our Lord Jesus suffered on the cross six hours that first Good Friday. He willingly laid down His life by way of crucifixion to pay the penalty for our sin. He made seven statements or ‘cries’ amid the pain and suffering for us to remember the importance of each one.

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” (Lk. 23:34esv) Jesus is not only asking forgiveness for the Roman soldiers, but all who had a part in His crucifixion. His compassion and grace are on full display even as the soldiers are dividing up His garments among themselves. John MacArthur commenting on this cry states, “Some of the fruit of this prayer can be in the salvation of thousands of people in Jerusalem at Pentecost.”

“And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Lk. 23:43esv) Jesus assures the thief on the cross that he will be with Him in Paradise as he believed Jesus is the Christ and trusted Him for salvation. This is a precious promise that no one is beyond salvation and unredeemable even up to the eleventh hour. It also illustrates there are those who continue to reject Christ in our current day as represented by other thief.

^“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” (Jn. 19:26esv) For although He was suffering and in anguish, Jesus was not going to leave any unfinished business. As the first born according to the Law, Jesus was responsible for the care of His mother. He entrusted her to the care of His beloved disciple John. Jesus was not only obeying the Law, but He was also fulfilling it. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Mt. 5:17esv)

^“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying…. ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mt. 27:46esv) This fourth cry from Jesus through His physical pain is now matched with the emotional the pain of abandonment. Jesus who only knew constant fellowship with His Father was now feeling the divine wrath of God on Him. Jesus experienced this spiritual death of the rejection of His Father in our stead as our sin was upon Him. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21esv)

^“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, ‘I thirst.’” (Jn. 19:28esv) Here the humanity of Jesus is seen as He states a matter of fact ‘I thirst.’ This was not an appeal to satisfy His thirst but demonstrates His suffering to the end for our sin.

^“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’” (Jn. 19:30esv) Our redemption for sin was marked ‘paid in full’ by Christ’s completed work on the cross.

“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’” (Lk. 23:46esv) Jesus willingly laid down His life for your sin and mine. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (Jn. 10:18esv)

A Christian Perspective

There are no Lone Rangers in the Kingdom of God

March 23, 2024March 22, 2024 Loring Schultz

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament, March Madness, is the second most anticipated sporting event in the United States behind the Super Bowl. I admit getting sucked into filling out a bracket and have it busted after the first round. Part of the excitement is picking and rooting for the underdogs to upset their overmatched opponents. It’s David vs. Goliath. My problem is the ‘Davids’ I pick lose, but there are others sure to beat Goliath as has been a recurring theme the last few years.

A noticeable reason for this increase in upsets is finally starting to be discussed by the sports media. It has been ignored mostly due to the media not being willing to criticize the negative effects of the changes implemented by the NCAA over the years. I will stick to basketball, but the football program has even bigger problems that will come to surface in the fall. My perspective is student athletes are not student athletes. Major universities have adopted the one and out season, where a skilled high school athlete enters a ‘Division 1’ school to play for only one year. There is also the transfer portal which has been in effect for a while, but now that money is involved and playing time is at a premium, the students are more athletes than students looking out for themselves more than their education and their school. Many of the top 25 college basketball teams are in this category. Basketball is a team sport, and yes, an outstanding player does make a difference, but it doesn’t always lead to championships.

Enter the mid-majors’ men’s college basketball programs. To be fair, these programs deal with the same issues, but on a much smaller scale. Most of these schools have students who are upper classmen and have played together for two to four years. They are building a cohesive unit by working together towards a team goal of making the tournament and beating Goliath. They experience growth as they mature into young adults, encouraging one another to achieve their highest potential for the sake of the team, the coach, and their school. The major universities are doing a disservice to their basketball programs, their school, and the one and out students by promoting individualism which is rapidly starting to fail.

The church is a group of individuals who do not act independently. We are all in need of each other. Paul, the apostle, tells those in the church in Thessalonica “to encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Th. 5:11nlt) God has bestowed spiritual gifts to every Christian to be used for His service, and they work best when involved with the church of fellow believers. This is not to say ministries outside of the church, or your personal ministry is not valid, it is to say that the encouragement you need through prayer and support come from those in whom we share like faith. Faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I heard a statement many years ago I have never forgotten, ‘There are no Lone Rangers in the Kingdom of God.’ If you are involved in a personal ministry, do not try to do it alone. If you are involved in a church ministry, bring others alongside with you to share the burden and build a cohesive team to help share the gospel carrying out the work of the church. It’s a winning combination when we work with each other and together with Christ, the head of the church, as our coach. Goliath’s will fall and souls will be brought into God’s Kingdom with a host of rangers.

Devotionals

There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel

March 22, 2024March 21, 2024 Loring Schultz

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Peter 1:6 NLT

Life has its many trials. There are many dark roads we travel on and not by choice. It is often said and is true that the longer you live the more dark roads you will travel, the more trials will come upon you, but you will have many opportunities to test your faith in the Lord, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The apostle Peter tells us, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.” (1 Pt. 1:7a nlt)

The Christian’s faith in Jesus leads to salvation. “The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” (1 Pt. 1:9nlt) But we live in this interim period after our acceptance of Christ for salvation and the full fulfillment of that decision where we are still in a fallen world filled with trials and temptations. Jesus Himself says to us, “…. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33b nlt) Jesus is assuring us that our faith in Him is not in vain. Although we have trials and sorrows in this world, Jesus our savior has overcome the world. We can trust Him to see us through the trials and come out with our faith strong in the Lord Jesus bringing much praise to the glory of God.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” (1 Pt. 1:6nlt) The Lord comforts us during our dark days here on earth by reminding us of His power of overcoming the darkness. Jesus is the light of the world. And for those who have accepted Him as their savior, He is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9 NLT – The Hope of Eternal Life – All praise – Bible Gateway