Tag: Christmas

Devotionals

Advent 2025: Let Christ fill the void in your life this Christmas

Loring Schultz

“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.” Luke 15:1 NASB

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What was it about Jesus that drew sinners and the outcasts of society to Him? Tax collectors in Jesus’s day extorted money from people by demanding excessive amounts above the required payment. They were the most hated and mistrusted individuals in that day. They were earning a lucrative living by openly stealing. Note that it was not just tax collectors who were drawn to Jesus for the Bible says “and the sinners were coming near Him.”

And who were the sinners? Yes, drunkards, prostitutes, swindlers, thieves, liars, murderers and the like, “coming near Him to listen to Him.”

And who are the tax collectors and sinners in our day? I’m afraid it’s you and me. In some degree all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). And we all have a void, a deep hole in our souls that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. We were created to have a relationship with our heavenly Father, but that relationship is broken by our sin. It is an empty and nagging feeling that if you admit it; you know it is there. The tax collectors and sinners in Jesus’s day knew it was there. They didn’t want religious rules and regulations, they wanted forgiveness, and they wanted to fill the void, that deep hole in their life.

May you take the opportunity this Christmas to fill the void in your life by accepting Christ as your personal Savior. That is why He came. That is why we celebrate Christmas.

Bible Studies

Advent 2025: In the midst of plunder; a promise of peace  

Loring Schultz

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 NLT – Hope in the Messiah – Nevertheless, – Bible Gateway

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” Isaiah 9:2 NLT

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

A very familiar passage of the coming Messiah is found in Isaiah chapter 9. Part of this passage reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (kjv) The child Jesus was born. God’s Son Jesus was given for us. This is a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, but not the only prophecy fulfilled in this portion of scripture. There is a backstory we should also glean from it.

The prophet Isaiah was prophesying to the ten tribes of Israel of their coming destruction  by the Assyrian king and his army. Having disobeyed God repeatedly after constant warnings, Israel was now about to be plundered and taken captive by Assyria. But the announcement of their pending doom also comes with a promise of peace. The land will once again be filled with glory. “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.” (Is.9:1 nlt)

Zebulun and Naphtali were the most northern tribes on the northeast border of the Sea of Galilee. Isaiah addressed them as they will be the first ones to encounter the invading Assyrian army. Dark days are ahead of them, but light is coming in the promised Messiah walking and preaching through the land of Galilee. Matthew records this fulfillment of prophecy, “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali…… the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” (Mt.4:15-16 nlt) This same light shines on our dark souls plundered by sin. It is the promise of peace and reconciliation with God through our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. God has fulfilled His promise of peace to us, have you accepted His Son who was given.

Devotionals

Advent 2025: Season of Giving

Loring Schultz
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.” (2Cor.9:6-8 nlt)

This past Tuesday was ‘Giving Tuesday.’ It is the final day of the after-Thanksgiving events promoted by retailers in the United States. ‘Black Friday’ starts it off, which was at one time the busiest shopping day of the year but no more. It is followed by ‘Small Business Saturday’ to help support those smaller business owners who are affected by the big box stores and major retail  corporations. The Monday after thanksgiving has now become ‘Cyber Monday’ which ,of course, needs no explanation. And finally we come to ‘Giving Tuesday,’ a day to donate to your favorite charity or organization.

Coming from a Christian perspective, I would think ‘giving’ should be first day after Thanksgiving or perhaps the day before. But I’m not complaining. According to numbers from the non-profits, ‘Giving Tuesday’ is very successful. Last year in 2024, $592 billion dollars were donated to charities and non-profit organizations. So, I’m OK where it is as it does start the season of giving.

The apostle Paul was addressing the church in Corinth about the gift they were gathering for the poor in Jerusalem. He wanted them to be ready when Paul’s men arrived to pick it up. Paul used the example of a farmer who plants generously will have a generous crop. Paul was not preaching a prosperity gospel. He said they must decide in their hearts how much to give and he did not want them to give reluctantly or feel pressured to do so for God loves a cheerful giver.  

When we share and give to others, especially those in need, we can be sure of a blessing from God. Let that not be our motive, but to help those God has put in our space and in our hearts this advent season. It is the season of giving; the season we celebrate God giving us His Son that we may be saved from eternal wrath. May we celebrate this season by meeting the needs of the unfortunate both physical and spiritual by introducing them to Jesus, the reason for the season.  

Devotionals

Advent 2025: You’re Not Alone

Loring Schultz

THE FOLLOWING IS A DEVOTIONAL I WROTE DURING THE COVID-19 CHRISTMAS SEASON

Photo by Keenan Constance on Pexels.com

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 NLT

The Christmas season not only brings joy, happiness, and hope for the New Year, but also with it comes the sadness for those who are no longer with us. There is not a year that goes by that many of us have not experience the loss of a loved one during the year. Perhaps this year more than any other there are more of us who have realized this and in increasing number. There will be empty places at the table that were once filled with warm smiling faces. Familiar voices will be heard only by captured video throughout the years that are shared. There will be some joy in the remembrance of them, but the emptiness continues to be felt and those moments when we are alone are too difficult to overcome. But, for Christians, we are not alone.  

One of the most comforting verses in all of scripture is Matthew 1:23 for it says, “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Yes, God was with us in the flesh as Jesus walked the earth for thirty-three years before His death on the cross. And due to His death and resurrection, those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savoir have God, the Holy Spirit with us at all times. My friend, if you’re a Christian, You’re not alone.

Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit and He has promised “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) We have the assurance that those who have gone on before us are in the presence of their Lord and Savior. And our Lord and Savior is with us also in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Take comfort this Christmas season that you are not alone even though the void of your loved one is real. But Jesus is also real. He knows your grief, and He is with you. He came to offer you Salvation so you will not be separated from Him forever. He came that He would be with you so that you will be not alone. He came because He loves you and He loves those who are now in His presence. You’re not alone!

Devotionals

God With Us

Loring Schultz

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:23 ESV

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There are many religions in the world today. Most of them serve and worship a god in some form or another. Others see this world as all there is and see themselves as gods. Most religions work towards entrance into the afterlife, whatever that looks like even though they can’t be sure if they’ll make it. There is only religion that I know of where God came to be with us and made it possible for us to be with Him forever in the afterlife.  That religion, if you allow me to use the term, is Christianity.

The gospel writer Matthew quotes from Isaiah the prophet concerning the birth of Christ. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is.7:14 kjv) Matthew confirms the meaning of ‘Immanuel’ as ‘God with us.’ Christianity is also the only religion where God is a ‘triune God,’ three persons in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three in one. God the Son, Jesus Christ, left His heavenly glories to be with us and take on sin at the cross of Calvary. The apostle Paul says it best, “(Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Ph.2:7-8 esv)

No other religion on earth has a God who came down to rescue sinners paying the penalty for their sins against Him. But Christ did just that, and like John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (kjv) God’s plan of salvation is spelled out for us in the Bible, and it started with God with us. Christ came to us on Christmas. If you haven’t gone to Him for salvation what better day is there than today! It will be a Merry Christmas!!

Devotionals

First Christmas Eve

Loring Schultz

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2 NASB

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Many families have Christmas Eve traditions they keep year after year. Some go by the wayside over the years, being replaced by new ones for the next generation and so on. There are fond memories of that first Christmas Eve you can remember as a child. Memories of the first Christmas Eve you had with your spouse or that special loved one are not forgotten. Baby’s first Christmas is cemented in your mind, along with so many memories of the ‘first’ Christmas Eve occurring during special events in your life. Memories are good for the soul and should be cherished, and remembering the first Christmas Eve, that very first Christmas Eve 2,000 years ago, should be cherished most of all.

Mary and Joseph had their baby’s first Christmas cemented in their minds. Their baby, Jesus, was Christmas. He was the Christ-child who came into the world. Jesus would save His people from their sins. It would be a Christmas Eve they would never forget. It began days before as Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem under orders from Caesar Augustus to register in their hometown for taxation. Mary, about to give birth, had the ride of her life on a donkey which she would never forget. Joseph scrambling to find a place to stay in an overcrowded small town would make for good conversation years down the road. Their accommodation for the night would be a memory they both would like to have forgotten, but I’m sure they didn’t.

While we think back and treasure our memories of a special Christmas Eve, a special Christmas Eve long ago was remembered by two willing servants of God who trusted Him in the birth of His Son. Over the years those memories for Mary and Joseph grew sweeter and sweeter, covering any smell of a dirty stable that night. For the Son of God, the savior, was born that night. That first Christmas Eve was a night to remember.