Tag: Christian Living

Devotionals

Developing Convictions

Loring Schultz

Ephesians 5:10-20 NLT – Carefully determine what pleases the – Bible Gateway

“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10 NLT

Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Throughout any given day we make hundreds of choices. If our day is not already preplanned, we have the task of deciding how to fill the day. Even in those preplanned days, would our scheduled activities please the Lord? Obviously work, fulfilling family needs, spending time with the Lord, and volunteering in the community would be pleasing to God. It is those gray areas that are concerning for the Christian. Areas of personal conviction between you and God if you participate in them hinders your relationship with Him. It doesn’t need to be outright sin that would displease God, James tells us, “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (Ja. 4:17nlt) This is especially true in the things you hold in conviction to do or not to do.

Developing convictions between you and the Lord begins with spending time in the Bible and in prayer with Him. During times of confusion in certain areas of your life search the scriptures and ask God for guidance as to what He pleases Him, then go do it or not do it as the Lord placed the conviction on your heart. Not every Christian will have the same convictions. What is a conviction for me may not necessarily be a conviction for you and vice versa. That doesn’t mean that God is not pleased with both of us. He is pleased as we are obedient to His will for us.

There are common denominators for all Christians to agree with convictions in what pleases and displeases God. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret…… Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Eph. 5:11-12, 17nlt) As you plan your day, carefully determine what pleases the Lord by developing convictions.

Devotionals

A Call to Holy Living

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT – A Call to Holy Living – So prepare your – Bible Gateway

“But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
 

God calls every Christian to holy living. In fact, He says ‘you must be holy.’ Don’t allow God’s statement to alarm you. He is not calling you to be perfect as He is without a trace of sin. We all know that is not possible, and if anyone knows that is not possible it is God. So, what does God mean when He gives us this command, we must be holy. He is calling us to holy living and not to a perfect sinless life without any flaws or defects. And is this possible, yes!

The Lord is calling us away from our old way of living before we were saved. Dr. John MacArthur notes, “Holiness essentially defines the Christian’s new nature and conduct with his pre-salvation lifestyle.” We are called to live separately from the sinful ways of the world as the new Christ-like nature takes over. Being holy, in essence, is being separated from the world and not living in accordance with the world systems. Christians are to be set apart from sin and impurity and set apart to God.

Habakkuk 1:13 says, “But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil.” (nlt) The hearts and minds of every Christian should continually reflect on the purity of God. Our goal is to live in purity and recognize God cannot stand the sight of evil. When we fail, which will be often, the Lord offers forgiveness when we confess and He gives us grace to see us through as we continue on with our call to holy living.

Devotionals

Fight the Good Fight of Faith             

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Timothy 6:11-16 NLT – Paul’s Final Instructions – But you, – Bible Gateway

“Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT

Photo by Suhail Mir on Unsplash

This morning I came across an interesting reading in my ‘Substack’ feed entitled ‘Prayer is Not Asking. It is Occupying.’ The thought being that is not merely asking, but it is reporting for duty. Afterall we are in a war. Paul tells Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. The Lord who called Timothy into service also called us. Our ministries may differ, but we have the same commander, the Lord God.

Our Lord is telling us to fight the good fight of faith in 2026. If you have been a Christian for any length of time you know that task is not easy. But we are to pursue righteousness while living a godly life having faith, love, with perseverance and gentleness. I do not know about you, but I cannot do that on my own. Paul also recognized this as he instructed Timothy to fight the good fight. The word Paul used for ‘fight’ is where we get our English word ‘agonize.’ It describes the attentiveness, discipline, and effort needed for victory in a military battle or an athletic contest.

The good fight of faith is a spiritual battle against the things of this world ruled by Satan. The Lord commands to us to fight the good fight by putting on the full armor of God and standing firm. (Eph.6:10-18) We are not left defenseless and are encouraged to remember our future promise of eternal life leading us to live with a heavenly perspective as we minister for the Lord. May we all eagerly report for duty each day as we fight the good fight of faith.

Devotionals

Heart of Gold

Loring Schultz

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT

Photo by alleksana on Pexels.com

“She’s all heart.” “He has a warm and caring heart.” “Their love comes from the heart.” “They have sensitive hearts to the situation.” All these statements reflect an outward appearance of people’s demeanor towards others. And I am sure that most of what we see is real concern in treating others with kindness. We should all strive to have like comments be made of us, but a examination of our hearts is necessary to insure that the label put on us is genuine. After all, what does it mean to have a warm and caring heart, a heart of gold?

Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young wrote about his search for a heart of gold. Trying to determine his true meaning in writing ‘Heart of Gold’ proves difficult as with any gifted artist. It has been suggested the songwriter’s quest was to better himself, to be a good caring person showing love, kindness, and openness in order to be able to properly love the girl of his dreams. Therefore he was searching for that heart of gold to match his girlfriend’s heart of gold. According to the artist himself, he states it was to ‘capture a moment of happiness.’ He was correct. Searching for that heart of gold is but for a moment when dealing with a human heart not indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

The universal problem is that all human beings possess the sin nature from birth, and that includes our hearts. Jesus confirms this truth to His disciples in explaining a parable. “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth……. the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.” (Mt.15:11, 18nlt) The religious leaders in Jesus’s day were more concerned with traditional outward appearances which made them look like they had a heart of gold towards God. But Jesus said their actions were hypocritical. They put on a show of ceremonial washing their hands to not defile their bodies from the food they ate, but Jesus tells them it is the thoughts they have in their hearts and what they speak from those thoughts that defiles them.

Christian friend, we need to guard our hearts. To have a warm and caring heart we need to stand guard against the influences of the world, our own self –centeredness, pride, and evil those thoughts. Those of us who know the Lord have changed hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let us be careful to walk by the Spirit so we do not carry out the sinful desires of the flesh, but present to God a ‘heart of gold.’  

A Christian Perspective

No Open Borders  

Loring Schultz

Read: Exodus 23:27-33 NIV – “I will send my terror ahead of you – Bible Gateway

“Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me.” Exodus 23:33 NIV

Photo by Annika Gordon on Unsplash

There is much in the news cycle around the world these days concerning countries with open borders even though they say their borders are secure. The main reason for closed and secure borders is for protection of their citizens. This is nothing new or distinct for the 21st century. We find an early prime example of a ‘no open borders’ policy from the pages of the Bible in the book of Exodus.

The Lord God established Israel’s border before they entered the Promised Land. “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River.” (Ex.23:31 niv) Israel has well defined borders. They haven’t changed and a future day will come when Israel will possess all the land God has promised them.

What has caused a major delay in Israel not having all the land assigned to them was their unwillingness to finish the job of driving out the nations the Lord required them to do. They let them hang around within their borders. God specifically warned Israel if they did this their hearts would turn away from God. Israel would be influenced by those around them and would soon find themselves sinning against God. Israel didn’t secure their borders nor drive out all the heathen nations God required them to and we are still seeing the effects of that today.

Many Christians today are similar to ancient Israel in not having a ‘no open border policy.’ We let ourselves be influenced by things and even people God is instructing us to drive out of lives. The apostle Paul writes, “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2Cor.5:17 niv) If we continue in our relationships as previously and do the things we did before as if nothing has changed, then nothing has changed! We have not closed our borders to the outside influences that can harm us. This will lead to damaging effects in our lives down the road. As a nation needs to secure its borders, Christians, especially new Christians need to seal off all negative influences that would lead them away from the Lord.

A Christian Perspective

The Greatest Show on Earth; what are we willing to accept?     

Loring Schultz

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.” Romans 1:18, 24 NLT

Last Sunday the greatest show on earth, Super Bowl LX, was televised and streamed across the world. That title once belonged to the circus act of ‘Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.’ I realize they are still around, but the NFL’s Super Bowl has long surpassed them in more ways than one and not for the better.

Writing as one who watched the first Super Bowl as an impressionable youth, the NFL has changed dramatically over 60 years. The game itself has not changed all that much except for how the game is played according to the NFL but that is a subject for another day. Today is about what we as Christians are willing to accept in our entertainment choices when they cross the lines of decency, morality, and the Word of God. Rule changes in the NFL do not cross any of these lines. What does cross the line is the NFL’s push to grow its product by bowing to a decaying culture at the expense of corrupting our future generations. Of course, I’m speaking of the morally bankrupt half-time show witnessed by millions of people especially the impressionable youth of our day.

No, I didn’t watch it not even to be able to better review it, there was no need to. Debauchery does not need to be witnessed to know what it is. The problem within the current culture is that many people don’t see the problem and it is a big problem, nor do they care. It is understandable those outside of Christ would fall into this category, but for Christians who claim to follow Jesus and His teachings to not see the problem by staying silent or worst yet accepting it is unconscionable. The book of Romans says, “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” (Ro.1:18 nlt) God is angry and so should we be.

Before someone thinks ‘who are you to judge’ I’m not judging. I’m angry, and mostly angry at my brothers and sisters in Christ who are accepting of this kind of public behavior for all the world to see. It’s not OK, and no I’m not perfect, but I know when something is not OK with God. His Word tells us, for all who care to pay attention, what is right and wrong, what we should accept and what we should condemn. Reading through the Bible can be unsettling at times for we will come across passages we don’t like, but they’re in there, so we need to deal with it.

What are we willing to accept to be accepted by the culture? Many of us stay silent to not offend others notably friends, co-workers, and family. We want to be part of ‘the greatest show on earth’ with the Super Bowl parties, the commercials, and the half-time entertainment. We bring our families together for some family entertainment. The sad truth is Super Bowl LX was far from family entertainment. The Greatest Show on Earth clearly belongs to ‘Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.’ Pass the cotton candy.

Devotionals

Our confident hope of salvation

Loring Schultz

Read: Romans 5:1-5 NLT – Faith Brings Joy – Therefore, since we – Bible Gateway

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5: 3-4 NLT

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Our faith in Christ should give us joy. A part of that joy are the problems we run into with those who do not know the Lord. The criticism, ridicule, and sometimes persecution is a joyful experience. I don’t mean outward happiness like having a great day, but an inner joy that only comes through knowing Christ. Being the subject of mockery or being persecuted does not make for a happy experience and when it comes upon us it’s OK not to be happy.

Paul, the apostle, explains we can have joy and rejoice when problems and trials occur. In verse 2 of Romans 5 Paul says with confidence and joy we look forward to sharing God’s glory with others as we live the Christian life. But, along with that will come the backlash from those who wish to inflict trials on us. Paul also says not to worry because problems and trials develop endurance and with endurance comes strength of character. Now here’s the best part, ‘character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.’

Two things to observe here: 1. Being ridiculed and persecuted for your Christian faith is proof of authentic faith in Christ, and 2. We have the confident hope the glory of our salvation will be realized in eternity one day. “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” (Ro.8:17-18 nlt)

Devotionals

True Faith

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Timothy 5:1-8 NLT – Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves – Bible Gateway

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples…. But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”  (Jn.13:35,     1 Tim.5:8 nlt)

Photo by Mobio Marketing on Unsplash

What does ‘true faith’ look like? If you were asked to put it into words, how would you describe it? It may help to separate the two words and take each one on its own. ‘True’ is according to fact and not false. It is accurate, correct, and real or (authentic). What is notable is the first definition found in ‘Websters New World Dictionary’ for the word ‘true’ is ‘faithful.’ So, let’s move on to ‘Faith’ as defined in Webster. ‘Faith’ is unquestioning belief, specifically in God. Complete trust or confidence, loyalty.

Combining these two words together we may say ‘true faith’ is ‘our complete trust and belief in God that is authentic based on what is fact and accurate, the Lord God.’ You may come up with other variations, but you get the idea. It is a starting point. We can mix and match these definitions to help us explain ‘true faith’ and most would be within reason of each other, but what does ‘true faith’ look like from God’s perspective?

Christian compassion for one another is a major component of ‘true faith.’ Jesus said our love for each other will show the world we are His disciples. This is especially true of our love for our families. When there is a lack of love and concern for our families it is immediately noticed by unbelievers. Even most unbelievers care for their own families. Paul writes, “those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith.” (1Tim.5:8 nlt) It’s sad, but some Christians have indeed denied the true faith. This ought not to be. May our ‘true faith’ be authentic in the Lord God from His perspective having true love for another, especially those in our own household.

A Christian Perspective

Evil Among Us    

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 13:24-30 NLT – Parable of the Wheat and Weeds – Here – Bible Gateway

“Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.” Matthew 13:30 NLT

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

In the political world the United States and most developed countries have a divided populace. The divide is largely between those on the ‘right’ or conservatives, and those on the ‘left’, liberals. Within each side there are multiple factions sub-dividing themselves which makes for an even a more complicated political system. The bottom line is there seems to be nothing that both sides can agree on and that is sure disaster. Speaking more accurately with confidence as a citizen of the United States than other parts of the world, it looks like America, who is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, will not see a tri-centennial if  it does not get it together soon. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Having said the above, Jesus told a parable which kind of helps us understand the division we have in the world. It is a simple manner of good and evil. Please note I am not calling out one side or the other. I am noting there is good and evil in the world, a natural divide, which Jesus explains in His parable of the ‘Wheat and the Weeds.’

Jesus says a farmer planted good seed in his field. “But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.” (Mt.13:25-26 nlt) In Jesus’ day if someone wanted to destroy a neighbor’s field they would secretly plant ‘darnel’ (weeds) within the good seed. As they both begin to grow, the weeds are not noticeable but appear to be same as the wheat.

Applying it to the kingdom of God and our day, Satan is the one who planted the weeds in God’s field. Good and evil are present in our day and age. The saved and unsaved live in this world side by side. Satan’s plan is to infiltrate the world, especially Christian churches with the weeds in our society appearing good and righteous but are evil and doing the devil’s bidding. This is causing the divide we see in many churches today, even evangelical churches. Comparing it to the politics and governing of our day we can clearly see the evil among us.

For Christians who desire to see our governments rule righteously we are to pray to that end. But evil and corruption will not be wiped out completely, at least not until Jesus comes back again. Good and evil will work side by side. The saved and unsaved will live together side by side. Jesus says, “Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.” (Mt.13:30 nlt)

Photo by Janosch Lino on Unsplash

So, what should be our main concern? It should be the salvation of the unsaved as we are living together with them side by side until that day comes. On that terrible day the weeds will be tied into bundles and burned in the everlasting fire. Yes, getting rid of evil in our politics and government saves for the moment but changing someone’s evil sinful heart saves for eternity. 

Devotionals

Teaching by example 101

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Timothy 4:11-16 ESV – Command and teach these things. Let no – Bible Gateway

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

How many teachers can you recall from your learning years that have influenced you through your life? Maybe there have been many, maybe some or only a few, perhaps there had been only one. What was it you remember about their character? What have learned from them that has stuck in your mind and has become a way of life for you? You may have the desire to influence others as those teachers have influenced you, especially in the Christian faith, but you expect you don’t possess the skills or have the knowledge to do so. Don’t worry about it. All you need to do is take a course in ‘Teaching by example 101.’

Our class instructor is the apostle Paul. We will be sitting in with Timothy, a young Pastor who is learning from his most influential teacher. Paul advises Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because he is young. Timothy had been with Paul since his teenage years and already learned much from him. Still, he had much to learn. Paul gave Timothy five areas of Christian living as examples to the people in the church he was pastoring. We can apply these examples to our lives no matter our skills or education level for we are in ‘Teaching by example 101.’

Paul is stretching Timothy’s mind and ours to what we already know. We can’t live the Christian life without the help of the Holy Spirit. The good news is that every believer in Christ has received the Holy Spirit upon conversion and is capable of Christian living and being an example in speech, conduct, showing the love the Christ, displaying faith, and living in purity. What a privilege it is to influence others in righteousness. No, Christians are not perfect, but our commitment to being an example in a consistent manner is something that will be caught rather than taught. In this way we continue to influence others.