Encouragement – Word for the Soul

Motivating One Another

September 5, 2025September 3, 2025 Loring Schultz

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24 NLT

The United States has an estimated 40,000 motivational speakers. Speaking as a professional rakes in quite a bit of money. It is a very lucrative position if you possess the skills to enthuse and motivate people in your area of expertise. There are a variety of categories broken into business, entrepreneurship, leadership, health and fitness, athletics, education, among others. They are also broken down at times by age groups and gender within each category. Motivational speakers seek to inspire and courage people challenging them to establish goals and be the best they can be in a desired area. The speaker’s goal is to move you into action. To stir you up to accomplish your goal.

The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages every Christian to be a motivational speaker by stirring up one another to love and good works in Hebrews10:24. This takes thought on how to do this. We are to consider or think of ways to motivate our Christian brothers and sisters. First of all, we can’t motivate anyone if we don’t know anything about them. We need to get to know each other, and that comes from being with each other. The next verse says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Heb.10:25 esv) The more we meet together with other Christians the more we get to know each other and we’ll know how to motivate one another.

We may not get rich with our motivational speaking presentations in this life, but people will be changed for the better as Christ’s love and good works are on display by the church community. As a church family, each will be encouraged as we meet together in the presence of the Lord with plenty of opportunity to motivate one another.

Devotionals

Do you have a story to tell?

May 14, 2025May 12, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 66 NLT – Psalm 66 – For the choir director: A – Bible Gateway

“Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” Psalm 66:16 NLT

Psalm 66 is a psalm of praise for God’s answer to prayer. It is a psalm of both national deliverance and individual deliverance. The psalmist and the nation have been saved from their enemies. The whole earth is encouraged to shout joyful praises to God for His awesome deeds. (Ps.66:1-4) All of us are invited to “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” (Ps.66:5 nlt) The psalmist has a story to tell.

The story is told of God dividing the Red Sea making a pathway for His children to escape from their enemies on dry ground. This same God continues to rule the nations today and they are advised not to rebel against Him. Again, the psalmist encourages praise, “Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. Our lives are in his hands.” (Ps.66:8-9 nlt)

The psalmist testifies of the trouble both he and the nation have gone through. Not unlike our troubles today. It is described as going through flood and fire, but not without God’s knowledge and His purposes. In the end the Lord brings us out to a place of great abundance. This causes the psalmist to say, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” (Ps.66:16 nlt) He has a story to tell.

How about you? Do you have a story to encourage someone today? What has God delivered you from that can help one who is struggling with the same thing? It could be something big or something small, it doesn’t matter. Sometimes small things cause us the most heartache. Share how the Lord delivered you from them, and how He answers prayer. We all have a story to tell. It’s time to be a storyteller.

Devotionals

God’s Sovereignty: The book of Daniel, a book of encouragement

December 27, 2024December 26, 2024 Loring Schultz

“….. the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.” Daniel 5:21b NLT

Webster’s New World dictionary defines ‘sovereignty’ as, “the status, rule, etc. of a sovereign (above all others), supreme and independent political authority.” There is only one sovereign, the Lord God, and one book in the Bible that describes it as none other is the Old Testament book of Daniel. The book ‘Daniel’ was written 2,500 years ago describing the events of that day with many similarities to our day.

God was in control with the state of His people living in a foreign land after being carried off to Babylon during the destruction of Jerusalem. Although they were there due to their sin, God did not forget them but worked out His purposes and shown His sovereignty through them. Christians today living in oppressed countries against Christianity face the same circumstances as the Jews living in Babylon. But God still shows His sovereignty in the events of nations including our own.

The book of Daniel is an encouragement for all believers who find themselves in uncomfortable situations in knowing the Lord God put us there, whether due to our sin or not. He is in control, God is sovereign. Indeed, God controls the events of lives and the status of the nations today and into the future. We as Christians need not worry how things will turn out in our individual lives or in world affairs. God has it planned, and it will turn out for our good as He is in control.

God’s sovereignty is on display in Daniel’s writing bringing us encouragement for the future. Daniel was a prophet who also wrote the words of Lord God concerning what we call today ‘the end times.’ We may not be able to understand it all, but it is good news for all who trust God and have accepted His Son as savior. Yes, God is in control, and He is sovereign. The book of Daniel is a book of encouragement for every believer. I encourage you to read through it with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and see how God’s sovereignty is working in your life.

Devotionals

National Back to Church Sunday

September 13, 2024September 12, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

This Sunday September 15, 2024, is the National Back to Church Sunday. It is scheduled every year on the third Sunday in September. The movement started 15 years ago to encourage the churches to act and put forth an invitation for everyone in their communities to come through the local church doors. Since its conception almost 4 million Christians have participated through over 40,000 churches.

The average adult Church attendance in the United States is around 30% down from 42% in 2004. It is projected to continue to drop as 35% of the 18-29 age group have no religious preference, and only 22% attend church services today. So, we can see the need is great for a National Back to Church Sunday.

This is not only an invitation to non-Christians who do not attend church, but for those who profess to know the Lord but have neglected meeting with other believers for worship each Sunday. The writer of Hebrews states we should be motivating one another to acts of love and good works. We can do this as part of our daily life, but it works best in church. We’re encouraged not to neglect meeting together but to continually encourage one another, especially in the days in which we are living.

It’s not too late to invite someone to church this Sunday. There are many non-church goers, perhaps some of your friends and acquaintances. Maybe even you. You might have to invite yourself first, then bring a friend. Everyone needs the peace, love, and forgiveness that only the Lord Jesus can supply for this life and eternal life. It’s time to get back in the game rather than sitting on the sidelines, and don’t worry, in most cases you’ll be home in time to see the opening kickoff.

About | Back to Church Sunday

Devotionals

Stir up one another

August 25, 2023August 24, 2023 Loring Schultz

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

The number one reason to attend church this Sunday or any Sunday is to worship God. Right alongside that reason is to hear a message from His Word. The writer of the book of Hebrews gives us another reason; “to stir up one another to love and good works.” All Christians need to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus. You may have heard the saying, “Nothing’s ever easy”, and that is particularly true of the Christian life.

Dear friend, think of the obstacles and struggles that come your way during the week. Our Christian friends are going through similar difficulties as well. We all need encouragement. We need to be there for each other; to listen, to share a word and to pray with each other. The simple fact is, if we are not attending church together, this will not happen and there will be a lot of discouraged Christians.

We are “to stir up one another to love and good works” especially in light of the difficult days that we are in. Our lives are to reflect the love of Christ and represent Him by our love for each other and our good works done in His name. Jesus says in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let us be in the habit of encouraging each other and not neglecting to meet to “stir up one another!”