Devotionals

I believe in God, so I spoke

Loring Schultz

“But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, ‘I believed in God, so I spoke.’” 2 Corinthians 4:13 NLT

          What are you passionate about? How passionate are you in what you believe in? What does it take for others to know where your passions lie? If you’re like me, my passions become clear to others as we engage in conversations about issues in life that are dear to me. Being somewhat of an introvert, it is obvious when hitting on a subject that I’m passionate about it’s hard not to notice.

          The last few years been anything but normal across the globe, but particularly here in the United States. Individual passions have risen to a new level. One’s belief system is being tested and demonstrated as never before. That is not to say that they are not legitimate. Expressing one’s beliefs and passions about right and wrong, justice and injustice, and racial inequality is something all Christians need to be involved in. But with that being said, what is number one on your passion list, myself included. What is the most important thing you believe in?

          The apostle Paul quoting from the Old Testament to the church in Corinth, says “I believe in God, so I spoke.” This was Paul’s number one passion, presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in a clear and understanding manner to those around him. This serves as an example for every Christian to make this the number one priority above everything else. Yes, we are to support the efforts to secure peace and justice, and it starts by sharing Jesus Christ with the world. All the world’s problems are due to sin. America has a sin problem. It is due to the fact that ‘we the people’ are sinners. The world has a sin problem because, “…..all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)

          The overriding issue above all others in the world today and here in America is the need for individuals to acknowledge their sin before God, confess and repent, accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, for salvation. For those of us who have done this, it is time to live righteously and godly in every area of our life. Our lives in this world are but a vapor, soon to be gone. Let us do what we can while the vapor is still visible living by God’s standards. If we truly believe in God, then let us speak. It is the most important message you can speak today, and the world needs to hear it. Christians, if we believe in God, then let us speak.

Read Paul’s encouragement to Christians sharing the gospel during tough times;

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A7-15&version=NLT
Devotionals

At Last

Loring Schultz

‘“At last!’ the man exclaimed. ‘This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:23-24 NLT

            God’s design and purposes for us are always perfect. They are just the right fit for us to live comfortably in this world. There may be times we do not see God’s design for our lives as we struggle in the confusion of our current day. But God’s way and purposes are right. He does not make mistakes, especially when it comes to His creation.

            Adam may have felt God make a mistake after he was given the task to name all the animals God created and found none he could relate to or even have a conversation with. Unknowingly to Adam, God had a plan for an equal partner for him. He will create the perfect helper for him, a woman.  “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” (Gen. 2:21-22) Adam was blessed and encouraged by God’s provision and perfect plan in providing him a helper by establishing marriage and the way to populate the earth.

            We share the same blessing today. It is still God’s perfect design of male and female created in His image. “In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.’” (Gen. 1:27a-28b) God’s design for marriage is naturally between one man and one woman, and it is the only way to populate the earth. No wonder Adam was excited and exclaimed, “At last!”

Devotionals

Joyful singing

Loring Schultz

“Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.” Psalm 100:2 NASB

            Whether an old time hymn, a chorus medley, or one of our many contemporary compositions, worship songs tell the greatness of God, His Holy attributes, His love and mercy and our response to Him through Praise and Worship.

            The psalmist writes, “Come before Him with joyful singing.” Unfortunately or not, our response and participation in worshiping God through song is not always “with joyful singing.”  There made be instances when your mind is clouded, you are not feeling well, or you are having one of those days. Well take heart my friend, the Lord knows of your situation.

            Participating in worship songs is not only an outward activity, but also an inward response to our Lord. It is a matter of the heart. I admit my musical ability is limited, in fact it is very limited, including singing. My singing is anything but joyful to the general public, and I am not one who adheres to “make a joyful noise to the Lord.” Yes, the Lord knows of my situation, but I do not want to subject my brothers and sisters to my joyful noise.

            So whether you are having a bad day and you are not yourself, or your musical talent is on the short side, worshiping the Lord through song can still occur as the Lord knows your heart. You can worship, sing along and praise God in your heart. And the good news is that one day we will all be worshiping God around the throne in heaven with nothing to distract us, no sickness, no cares of this world, only joyful singing and with no one singing off key, not even me.

Devotionals

Time Management

Loring Schultz

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 NLT

            Time is a precious commodity, how well do you use it?  You may have heard the phrase “Time Well Spent.” How many of those have you had in your life? How about “Killing Time,” how many of those moments have you had?

            The value we put on our time spent is determined on where our heart is and where our passions lie. It may be a good idea to examine how we spend our time and on what. It may be uncomfortable for some of us, but then again it may encouraging as well.

            The bottom line is, the time we have on earth compared to eternity “is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” Let’s all make better use of it.

Bible Studies

The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’s teaching on Prayer – 6 “Deliver us from evil”

Loring Schultz

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13 KJV

            Our Lord’s final example in praying is often misunderstood by many. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray ‘And lead us not into temptation,’ He was not referring to being tempted to sin by God. God does not tempt anyone to sin. The book of James says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (Ja. 1:13) The word ‘temptation’ is better translated ‘a trying, or testing,’ and there are several examples of testing in the Bible. Our Lord Jesus Himself was tested (tempted) by Satan in the wilderness, Abraham was tested by God when told to offer his son as a sacrifice, and Job was severely tested when accused by Satan.

            There are occasions when God will test us, or ‘put us to the test’ to test our faith in Him. There may be trials brought upon us by Satan permitted by God in order to prove and test our faith as in the case of Job and the apostle Paul. When we pray, ‘lead us not into temptation’ we are actually praying ‘don’t put us to the test, protect us from the test, and from Satan, the evil one.’ Our Lord does not lead us into any testing or trial in which He is not there and has not made a way of escape for us to bear it. Paul writing to the church in Corinth says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

            Jesus teaches after praying not to be put to the test, we are to ask to be delivered from evil. This is not evil in general but from the evil one, Satan. Many versions of Scripture do reference it as the ‘evil one.’ We are to pray to be delivered from Satan’s schemes, his temptations, and his accusations against us.

            It is important to note that not all temptations (testing), trials or troubles are evil in and of itself. It was noted Jesus Himself was tempted by Satan. Our Lord passed the test and is our example in our troubled times. Abraham and Job also passed the test and were blessed for it. But when Paul asked the Lord to remove the thorn in the flesh from Satan three times, the Lord did not, but said, ’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ And Paul responded ‘Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ (2 Cor. 12:9) Paul also passed the test and serves as an example for us to follow.

            We are to pray that we be delivered from Satan’s evil temptations and not fall into sin. Jesus prayed for His disciples in His High Priestly prayer in John 17:15, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” A. W. Pink is quoted as saying, “To be kept from the evil of sin is a far greater mercy than deliverance from the trouble of temptation.” We may pray not to be put to the test, but the more concerning prayer is ‘deliver us from evil,’ Satan, the evil one.

A Christian Perspective

Climate Change

Loring Schultz

“Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas……Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others. The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity.” (1)

            The above statement is furnished to us from the ‘United Nations Climate Action’ page. The following are from the pages of the Bible which concurs with the United Nations at least to the effects of climate change. “Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Ro. 8:20-22 NLT) Scripture confirms the created earth is under the curse of God and it came about after sin entered the paradise of the Garden of Eden. “And to the man he said, ‘Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.’”  (Gen. 3:17 NLT) The earth experienced its first ever change of climate during the great flood of Noah’s day, for it had never rained before that time in history. Scripture records for us in Genesis 7:11-12, “When Noah was 600 years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the underground waters erupted from the earth, and the rain fell in mighty torrents from the sky. The rain continued to fall for forty days and forty nights.” (NLT) Waters bursting up from the ground with rain falling from the sky for the first time ever no doubt that is climate change.

            The point is, climate change is not restricted only to the last 200 years. But the recent noticeable changes cannot be denied. Every individual living on planet earth, especially Christians, has a responsibility to be a good steward of God’s creation for our generation and the generations to come. We are to praise God for His magnificent creation and work to maintain its wondrous beauty as far as it depends on us with what we can do.

            The Bible also gives us encouragement that we will not destroy the earth. Our planet will not succumb to our increasing manmade climate change. After the great flood, God told Noah, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Gen. 8:22 ESV) The seasons will not change regardless of our recklessness, but will remain. They will remain until the next disastrous climate change effect takes place during the tribulation period described in the book of Revelation. “I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.” (Rev. 6:12-14 NLT) We can eliminate fossil fuels entirely, but it will not save the planet from the sure destruction during the tribulation period.

            The earth as we know it will be radically changed in the future, but not by us driving our electric vehicles. Jesus Christ will return at the end of the tribulation and established His Kingdom and will rule on earth for a thousand years with Satan bound and cast into the bottomless pit. What will our environment and climate be like, we don’t know. But we do know that Christ, God the Son, will be here on earth ruling, I’m sure the ‘son’ will shine.

            The ultimate and final climate change will be at the end of Christ’s thousand year reign on the earth. Satan will be sent to his eternal final destination, the lake of fire, along with all those whose names were not found written in the book of life. The apostle John writes in Revelation 21:1-4, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever,” and no worries about carbon emissions, fossil fuels and climate change. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

Devotionals

Living in Nod

Loring Schultz

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

            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, and it is a story of the consequences when one turns their back on God doing their own thing without acknowledging who He is.

            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 their 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 made 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 see us even as we are not living before Him. Wherever you are 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 in God’s presence and turn away from living in Nod.

Read the story of Cain and Abel: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4%3A1-16&version=NLT

Devotionals

Going from last to first

Loring Schultz

“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 NLT

            Today is Thursday September 7,2023. This date has been marked on the calendar of many football fans since last year’s Super Bowl. It is the start of the NFL season with renewed hope for discouraged fans of low performance teams and continued enthusiasm for the highly successful ones. Week 1 starts with every team equal in the standings. With no games played, every team is in first place and you can say every team is also in last place. But as the season unfolds there will be separation and the cream will rise to the top.

            A major topic in sports talk radio podcasts leading up to opening weekend is which teams, if any, will rise from last place to first place this coming season. There were only two that caught my ear as being possible contenders, one being the New York Jets with the arrival of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rogers, and the other the Atlanta Falcons in a division with not much competition. Going from last to first in the NFL is a major accomplishment through the hard work of physical training, dedication, coaching, discipline, patience, and focusing on one game at a time. Not many have done it, but it has been done.

            Jesus had a few things to say about those who are last and those who are first. He, of course, was not referring any sporting event but to service in the work of the Lord. Jesus used the Parable of the Vineland Workers to illustrate that faithfulness in serving Him will be rewarded. There were the first in line workers who agreed to work for the landowner for a day at a specific rate of pay. Others were hired by the landowner throughout the day right up to 5 PM, but for no specific rate of pay. As the wages were paid out, those who were hired first were upset that those who worked only part of the day received the same amount of pay. Jesus’s point was those who agreed to work for the said amount received what was due, and those who received the same payment were recipients of the landowners reward to them for their faithfulness.

            All who have accepted Christ as Savior, either as a young child, a teenager, young adult, middle age, or senior citizen will be rewarded eternal life. God rewards faithfulness in service to Him according to the ability and the time each one has to serve Him. Some have more opportunity to serve the Lord than others, but all will receive the full day’s pay of eternal life.

            Going from last to first in a NFL season will get you a reward, going from first to last will get you fired. In the Kingdom of God the reward is the same for all who receive Christ as Savior for Salvation, eternal life. “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”    Read the Parable of the Vineyard Workers: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20%3A1-16&version=NLT

Devotionals

Recurring Sin

Loring Schultz

“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.’” Exodus 14:13 NIV

            Is there a sin in your life that you just can’t seem to get rid of? It keeps recurring as if you have never dealt with it before. Could it be that you don’t want to be free from it? As the late modern day theologian R. C. Sproul use to say, “We sin because it’s pleasurable.” But deep down it our souls, if we are honest with ourselves and truly love God, we know that God hates sin and it is not exactly pleasurable with Him. So we need to get rid of it and the sooner the better.

            The children of Israel were in slavery for four hundred years by the Egyptians. They were forced to comply with all the demands made on them. Physical hard work to the point of torture in satisfying their task masters was the bulk of the demands. Israel longed to be freed from the never ending struggle of the helplessness they felt in being enslaved by the Egyptians. The Lord did not forget about His children in Egypt and miraculously delivered them as recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus.  As they were on their way to the Promised Land, once again they were being pursued by the subjects of their past struggles, the Egyptians have returned.

            Similar to Israel being chased by their slave masters and now backed into a corner, or the Red Sea as we know it, Christians at times find themselves in the same place. Recurring sin is as if we never left the bondage of sin we were in before coming to know the Lord. The truth is, we have a sin nature and will continue to sin until we have our glorified bodies in eternity. But to allow the recurring sin to have its hold on us by not letting go completely is giving the green light for all kinds of temptation to creep in and take us captive once again. Give it to the Lord and He will make a path for you and see you through to the other side with your sins buried in the deepest sea. It’s time to give it up. It’s time to get rid of it. It’s time to find it dead upon the shore.

“O GOD OF MY EXODUS, Great was the joy of Israel’s sons, when Egypt died upon the shore, Far greater the joy when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust.” (The Valley of Vision Devotional) “Resurrection” Arthur Bennett (Editor) 1975.

Read the Biblical account of the Red Sea crossing: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2014&version=NIV

Devotionals

Moved with compassion

Loring Schultz

“Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.” Matthew 20:34 NASB

            The story is told in the gospel of Matthew of two blind men sitting along the road crying out to Jesus as He was passing by, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Mt. 20:31) Jesus stopped and asked what they wanted Him to do for them; their response “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”

            These men had a physical need to see. Jesus, ‘Moved with compassion,’ touched their eyes and immediately were able to see.

            What about spiritual blindness? For those outside of Christ there is a spiritual need to see, to see the light as the saying goes, and to see our need for a Savior. Jesus has the same compassion today. If we doubt His compassion all we need to do is to look at the cross. When we acknowledge our need for salvation and call out to Him, Jesus will be ‘Moved with compassion’ and open our eyes and touch our hearts.