Tag: Faithfulness

Devotionals

Procrastination; it’s not time yet

Loring Schultz

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’” Haggai 1:2 NLT

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

To procrastinate is to put off doing something until later. Unless it’s for a good reason, procrastination could be disastrous even deadly. When knowing there is a need and we do not respond looking out for our interests first, a callous attitude towards others and the things of God will quickly develop. We’ll start making excuses and getting very astute in them. Soon it becomes all about us and only if we have time then we will help others and seek what God has for us to do for Him.

The returning exiles in Judah had gone back to their land after seventy years of captivity and were to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. They encountered some push back from people who had settled in the land and soon the work stopped. Over time the work of rebuilding God’s Temple was no longer important to them, but building their own homes and neighborhoods were. People started saying that it wasn’t time yet to get back to work. Perhaps the hostilities were still there, or we still have work to do securing our homes and farmland, or the economy may not be strong enough to support the effort, were likely excuses to procrastinate. The actual reason was they were selfish and did not care about the things of God.

As Christians when a need arises that the Lord God is directing our hands to the work, may we not procrastinate and say ‘it’s not time yet’ for I have things to do first. God knows our responsibilities and He will not direct us to a work we have no time for or incapable to perform. When the Lord calls, it is always time.

Devotionals

God Rewards Faithfulness

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 1:8-21 NLT – But Daniel was determined not to defile – Bible Gateway

“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” Daniel 1:17 NLT

Photo by Hiroshi Tsubono on Unsplash

A large number of Christians fall into the trap of compromising their faith in the workplace or around friends and family. This is especially true if largely outnumbered by non-Christians. We justify it by ‘going along to get along.’ No doubt there are obstacles to overcome with the pressures of a secular worldview held by those you encounter daily. I, for one, have felt those pressures during my forty-five-year career in retail. One thing the Lord taught me, He does reward faithfulness, although I must admit, I was not always faithful.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were faced with their first big test of bowing to peer pressure, and going along to get along, in accepting the king’s daily food and wine not prepared according to the Law of God. These young Hebrew youths knew partaking of the meal was in violation of their God. No doubt, they were taught this by their parents in training them in the Law of God. They hadn’t forgotten, and they were about to be tested.

Daniel was the spokesman for the four of them. He knew the preparation process of the meal was to honor the Babylonian pagan gods. Daniel had discernment to see what this was, a slow process to gradually wean him and his friends from Hebrew culture and their God. Our secular society works the same way today, starting small and working up to full compromise, trying to get us to conform. Daniel didn’t bite but came up with an alternative plan rather than rebelling against the king. He suggested to the steward in charge to feed them vegetables and water for ten days. The steward would test their appearance and health. Whatever he decided Daniel and his friends would agree to.

Daniel had no idea what the outcome would be, but he put his faith God. The Lord rewarded Daniel and his friends in two ways for their faithfulness. First, they appeared healthier and more nourished than those eating the king’s food. Second, the Lord blessed them with an unusual aptitude in literature and wisdom. And Daniel was given the special ability to interpret visions and dreams. The Lord is in the habit of rewarding those who remain faithful to Him. It is better to go along to get along with God than compromise your convictions with the world.

Devotionals

Will He Find Us Faithful?

Loring Schultz

“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.” Matthew 24:45 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

Managing the affairs of others whether personal or business interests is a responsibility that will be either rewarded or reprimanded in some fashion. During my retail career I have managed the business interests of several companies by managing several individual locations. I had been rewarded financially and with promotions, but also had come to reprimand on occasion. The last company I worked for kept me around for 21 years before my retirement, so I guess they considered me faithful. Christians are to be faithful in all walks of life; in our families, in our jobs, with our friends and neighbors, in our social life, in our commitments, and to the Lord God we serve.

Jesus Christ promised He was going to return to earth bringing His reward with Him. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” (Rev.22:12 nlt) Before Jesus left this earth to return to heaven, He gave us both His personal and business interests to manage for Him. Jesus told His disciples and anyone of us who claim to be followers of Him, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” (Mt.28:19-20a nlt)

None of us know the date of Jesus’ return. So, we better listen when He tells us what we should be doing waiting for His return. “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.” (Mt.24:45-46 nlt) We do not have a deadline for when our project is to be completed, but it will be completed on the day of His return. We all need to ask ourselves the following. Will He find us faithful, what will our evaluation look like, and will there be a reward for it?

Devotionals

Thank God for His Faithfulness

Loring Schultz

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground.” Isaiah 44:3a NLT

Photo by Sonika Agarwal on Unsplash

April showers have descended on Pennsylvania once again. Only on the fourth day of the month but we haven’t seen the sun yet, although I know it’s there. Steady rain most of the time with more to come. There is an old saying that helps us get through this rainy month, ‘April showers bring May flowers.’ It has always proven true due to God’s faithfulness in the changing of the seasons and maintaining His creation. So, we should thank God for the rain displaying His faithfulness.

God is faithful to us in more than His creation. He is faithful to forgive our sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn.1:9 niv) God remains faithful to us even when we deny Him, for He cannot deny who He is. (2 Tim. 2:13) He is faithful to strengthen and protect from Satan. (2 Th. 3:3) God is also faithful in not allowing us to be tempted beyond what we are able to stand and provide us an escape. The apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 niv) And our salvation is secured through God’s faithfulness once we have accepted Christ as our savior. “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:8-9 niv)

Throughout your rainy days whenever they occur always remember God’s faithfulness in all He does for us. Another old saying is, ‘Into every one’s life, a little rain must fall.’ Thank God the rain that is falling is falling from Him who is faithful.

Devotionals

Called to be a Faithful Servant

Loring Schultz

“Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.” Psalm 4:3 NIV

            What has the Lord called you to do? There are some who can respond immediately and positively as to the Lord’s calling on their life. There are others who struggle with this not being able to pinpoint an explicit calling. They wonder if their life as lived is God’s calling and according to His will. Then there are others, like myself, who throughout our lives note a specific turn in direction. This directional turn is due to changes in employment, family situations, ministry opportunities, retirement, and other events planned or unplanned.

            Knowing God’s calling and His will for your life is a challenge for most Christians, but one explicit calling is not hard to understand. It is God’s command to be faithful. Being faithful is God’s calling on every believer in His Son, Jesus Christ, and that is one thing that every Christian can do without exception. Is it easy? No, not in our own strength. But, “Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.” (Ps. 4:3 NIV)

            In our modern times of the 21st century it is becoming increasing difficult to take a stand for a Biblical worldview without being ridiculed or shamed into silence. But the Lord calls us to be faithful and that we must be. We have been set apart from the world into His Service for His Glory. We are to live lives that glorify God by following Jesus’s example. We should not be afraid or intimidated to speak the truth of God’s Word and we ought to live as faithful servants that attract the world to our saving Lord. May we be faithful in our call to be a faithful servant.

Devotionals

Have your considered my servant?

Loring Schultz

“Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8 NIV

How well do you handle adversity? The troubles that come into your life will determine your relationship with God by how you will react. Do you seek after God during a personal crisis for comfort and guidance, or do you blame God and demand an answer, even cursing God for the tragedies that are occurring? Those of us who are Christians are reminded, that no matter how hard it can be to accept, God is in control. He allows the events in our lives to happen to draw us closer to Him and for His Glory.

            We are given a glimpse of this reality in the book of Job. A conversation between God and Satan is unveiled in the first chapter of Job, verses 6-12. “Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’” Satan, the adversary, accuses Job of being upright only due to the fact that God has bless him tremendously. He goes on to say if the Lord would stretch out his hand against him, then Job would curse God to His face. Satan is given the go ahead.

            Unimaginable physical pain and suffering, along with the loss of his family and all his possessions is most likely the worst experience anyone ever encountered. As you read through the book of Job, you will find that Job, although very distraught at his suffering, never curses God, never loses his faith in God, and remains blameless and upright.

            The Lord could say to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job,” because He knew Job could be trusted in following through continuing to trust God. The question is; can you and I be trusted to follow through continuing to trust God during our trails and suffering? Can the Lord say, ‘Have you considered my servant’ (your name here)?

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