Tag: Forgiveness

Devotionals

Small Beginnings

Loring Schultz

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT

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The Jews had to start over, so to speak, in formal worship to God in the Temple. The Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar during the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jews were carried off to Babylon. Judah was held in captivity for 70 years before being allowed to return home. Upon returning home, the work of rebuilding the Temple would soon take place. They had to start over.

As the work began many of the older people were dismayed at the smaller size of the Temple compared to the old Temple that was destroyed. “But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation.” (Ez.3:12 nlt) Discouragement was felt by those who saw the work as insignificant, but the Lord was pleased that the work had begun. It may have been a small beginning, but the Jews were given the opportunity to start over now that they were back in the Promised Land.

Has the Lord God given you another chance to start over and restore your relationship with Him? It may not be the same at first, and it may be a fraction of what it was. In comparison, it’s not even close to where you had been, but God will be please when you take up that opportunity and begin again. He is the God of second, third, fourth, and fifth, chances. Don’t despise these small humble beginnings He is giving you. No matter what brought you to this place, confess your sin before God, accept His forgiveness, and start a new relationship with Him however small the beginning, and thank Him for another chance He has afforded you at the start of this New Year.

Devotionals

The Stone was Rolled Away    

Loring Schultz

“Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.” Matthew 28:2 NLT

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You possibly may have heard it said when Jesus rose from the dead, ‘the stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out, but to show the tomb was empty.’ Indeed, it was. Jesus rose in His new glorified body and had no need for a door to be opened for Him. Matthew tells us an angel descended amid a great earthquake and rolled away the stone, and just in time for Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, had just arrived at the tomb. The women were discussing along the way how would they move the stone away to anoint Jesus’ body which they had intended to do. (Mk.16:3) There was a barrier of a large stone between them and Jesus that needed to be moved. But as they arrived, the stone had rolled away.

Is there a stone in your life that needs to be rolled away that is creating a barrier between you and the Lord? Your busy work schedule is causing you to lose all interests in the things of God, the things of this world are winning the battle to be on top of your priority list, or perhaps it’s some besetting sin that is continually reoccurring that is the stone needing to be rolled away. So, what do you do?

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, met Jesus on the road while running from the tomb. The stone had been rolled away and Jesus wasn’t in the tomb but stood before them alive. The stone has been rolled away to show you that Jesus has risen from the dead. He is alive, ready, willing, and able to forgive your stones of sin and break down that barrier by rolling those sins away and placing them under His blood to be remembered no more. Ask Jesus to place those sinful stones at the foot of His cross by confessing and repenting of them, and He will. The stone was rolled away for our benefit. Jesus is not dead, He’s our living savior ready to forgive.

Read: MATTHEW 28:1-15 NLT – The Resurrection – Early on Sunday – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Confession is Good for the Soul

Loring Schultz

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Psalm 32:5 NLT

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They say, ‘confession is good for the soul.’  I can testify to that myself for it is true. Whether it’s confession towards God or to a friend, co-worker, neighbor, my wife, or anyone else I may have offended or done them wrong, it is a good thing to do. It may not remove the consequences, and the hurt may take a while to dissipate but you have not only cleared the air but have lifted a burden of guilt before the Lord God.

David in one of the seven penitential psalms, Psalm 32, said the following, “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.” (Ps.32:5a nlt) The other six penitential psalms are Ps.6, 38, 51,102, 130, 143. David describes his body as wasting away as he refused to confess his sin. His body was drained, and his strength was gone as absorbed by the summer heat. He felt God’s heavy hand upon him. Keeping his sin to himself, which really wasn’t to himself for God knew, just continued to eat him up inside. David needed some good for his soul.

When David confessed his sin to the Lord, the burden was lifted. God had forgiven him and took away his guilt. David said, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” (Ps.32:1 nlt) David’s soul was restored, his body rejuvenated with God’s living water of forgiveness, he has a clean slate, and is surrounded by God’s protection. If you are in a refusal to confess state of mind, take heed to David’s testimony. It will continue to sap you of your energy until you make things right with the Lord and confess your sin to Him and whoever else needs to hear your confession. You will be forgiven, and your guilt will disappear and that will be good for your soul.

Read: Psalm 32 NLT – Psalm 32 – A psalm of David. Oh, what – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Judas Kiss

Loring Schultz

“So Judas came straight to Jesus. ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.” Matthew 26:49 NLT

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The term ‘Judas Kiss’ is not a very flattery term. In fact, it is a term that has downright severe consequences. You do not want to be accused of planting a ‘Judas Kiss’ on someone. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, has forever cemented that term in history by betraying Jesus turning Him over to His enemies for crucifixion and he did it with a kiss. Scores of individuals have been betrayed by those closest to them. Judas walked with Jesus for three years listening to His teaching and learning things of the kingdom of God along with the other disciples, and yet betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Judas betrayed Jesus in the worst way possible using an approach of affection for his Rabbi to identify Him to His captors. He wanted to make sure they got the right man so he, “had given them a prearranged signal: ‘You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.’” (Mt.26:48 nlt) The ultimate definition of betrayal was demonstrated in the devious self-interest action by Judas, one of Jesus’ own. Jesus would be arrested and handed over for trial leading to His death on the cross. But we know that through His death and resurrection those who believe in Him are guaranteed eternal life. It was His heavenly Father’s plan.

 Admittedly, the term today is frequently used in a much lighter tone, but the implications are the same. Betraying a friend or family member for self-gain or resentment hurts just the same. It is devastating to the recipient, breaks up relationships, and puts up a concrete wall between the two. Our Lord Jesus knows firsthand how it feels to be betrayed even though it was in God’s plan of salvation for us. Jesus knows the hurt feeling you are experiencing and can comfort you during this time of grief and betrayal. Jesus can also restore the broken relationships caused by the sin of betrayal. As both parties come together before the Lord in repentance and forgiveness, He will undo the ‘Judas Kiss’ bringing new life with ‘holy kiss.’

Read: Matthew 26:47-56 NLT – Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested – And – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

The Unforgiving Debtor: Parables of Jesus

Loring Schultz

“You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Mt.18:32b-33 nlt)

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            This week in our study of the parables of Jesus we have one on forgiveness. Sometimes the hardest thing for a person to do is to forgive. This is especially true if the one extending forgiveness is extremely hurt. There are times one would finally agree to forgive the offender, but then adds they will never forget. Not much of a comfort for the one seeking forgiveness. Jesus is the perfect teacher to show us the true art of forgiveness and he did it in several ways recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible.

            Our parable this week, ‘The Unforgiving Debtor’, has a backstory to it. Peter, the always inquisitive disciple, asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Mt.18:21 nlt) Peter thought the number of seven was sufficient since Rabbinic teaching only required three. Jesus’ answer didn’t follow the teaching of three being the acceptable number. He didn’t put a number on it. Jesus told Peter his number seven was insufficient. The correct number was seventy-seven. In others words it was to an uncounted number of times. Jesus takes this opportunity to teach us all a valuable lesson on forgiveness. Christians who have received God’s forgiveness are accountable to forgive others considering the enormous debt we have been forgiven as we will see in this parable.

            In Jesus’ earthly story there is a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants who did business for him. These servants could have been governors of the provinces in the kingdom. One servant was in arrears of one million dollars in today’s currency. How did this servant come to owe such a lager debt we don’t know, perhaps it was mismanagement in the taxation process, or a complete mishandling of public funds, which is just as prevalent in our day. The amount was so excessive this governor couldn’t pay it back in a lifetime. The king then ordered that he, his wife and children along with all that he owned be sold to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’” (Mt.18:26 nlt) The king knew that he had no means in which to pay the debt. There was nothing he could ever do in his lifetime that would be enough to satisfy the debt.

The king of heaven, the Lord Jesus, knew there was nothing we could ever do to pay our debt regarding our sin. We are all doomed to a Christless eternity without our debt being paid in full, and we are not able to pay it. The king in Jesus’ story “was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.” (Mt.18:27 nlt) The king forgave the servants debt completely. It was only by the king’s grace and mercy he was free from the unpayable debt. No need to worry about back payments, the debt was marked paid in full. Jesus Christ paid our sin debt on the cross of Calvary. What we cannot do for ourselves, He did for us. When we accept Christ as our savior, our account is marked paid in full.

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Christians should be the most forgiving people on the planet considering the forgiveness granted to us unto salvation. Apparently though this is not always the case. Therefore, the need for more of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus continues His parable, “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.” (Mt.18:28 nlt) This servant who was just set free from a lifetime debt was worried about a few thousand dollars owed to him by a colleague. This debtor also begged for more time, but what was different was his colleague had the ability to pay and only needed a little more time to clear the debt. But the unforgiving debtor refused and had his fellow worker put in prison.

            Needless to say, when the king heard of the matter, he was furious. He called for this servant and said to him, “You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Mt.18:32b-33 nlt) Our Lord Jesus, King Jesus, has the same right to question us the same way should we ever forsake the forgiveness He has shown us by not granting it to others. No matter what offenses may have been done to us, it pales in comparison to our sin before the Lord. Our Lord forgives us of our sin as often as we come to Him, yes even seventy-seven times. May we do the same and forgive all those who ask for forgiveness remembering the debt that was forgiven on our behalf by our king, King Jesus!

Read: Matthew 18:21-35 NLT – Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Perpetual Fire of Forgiveness

Loring Schultz

“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” Leviticus 6:13 NIV

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The third book of the Law of Moses is the Old Testament book of Leviticus. Its theme is God’s holiness, and God’s will for Israel’s holiness. God’s teaching to Israel in Leviticus is how to approach their holy God in worship and in the sacrifices required of them, especially those concerning their sin. Much emphasis is placed on the priests in establishing this reverent and holy approach to God. All animals sacrificed on the altar had to be perfect without defect. “In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.” (Lev. 4:35niv)

The Lord gave Moses detailed instructions for all the sacrifices the priests were going to perform. The most significant command was that the fire on the altar was to be continuous. “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.” (Lev. 6:12niv) The people of Israel were assured of God’s readiness to always forgive their sin at any time of the day or night.

The same assurance has been granted us today. God is always there waiting for us to come before Him with our confession. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9niv) No need to bring a perfect animal to an altar for sacrifice every time we sin. A perfect lamb was sacrificed on the cross at Calvary to take away our sin. Jesus, the lamb of God paid the penalty for our sin ‘once for all.’ But we still sin and for that there is the perpetual fire of God’s readiness to forgive.

Devotionals

Can you keep a Secret?

Loring Schultz

“And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.” Romans 2:16 NLT

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There are specific things in our lives we would like to remain secret. Not all these things are of a sinful nature, referred to as secret sins, but also certain matters of embarrassment we rather not be made public. I can recall many dumb and embarrassing things I have done in my life I’d rather be left in the memory of those who have witnessed them. True friends will keep the secret, but others are not so obliged in revealing the episode to others. There is not much you can do after the fact except hope it will not be used against you as a butt of a joke or even worse to make sport of you to harm you. 

Some people are good at keeping certain areas of their lives extremely private and secret. This is not to condemn one who does, but for whatever reason you choose not to share and keep secret, there is one who knows everything. God the Father knows every detail and the deep dark secrets of our lives. We are unable to keep any secret from God. He even knows what we are thinking, or what we are about to think. But God will not reveal what He knows about us to anyone. God can keep a secret.

Although God can keep a secret, He will never allow us to get away with any sin in our lives unconfessed. And there will be a day when all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of our lives, both public and private. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” (NLT) May we keep in mind even though God forgives us of our sin, and can keep a secret, “that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.” (Rom. 2:16 NLT)

Devotionals

Come to Jesus, He will never drive you away!

Loring Schultz

“…………whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37b NIV

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            Is there any sin you can commit that is outside the reach of God’s forgiveness? Have you found yourself in a place where you cannot approach God due to your sin, and yet knowing that you need to? Is the light of your Christian life clouded by repeated sin and keeps you from going to God for forgiveness? Have you reached a point where you feel God will or has driven you away from Him due to your sin?

            Just a couple more questions. Do you believe in God? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior? Do you believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word to us and every word is true? If you answered yes to these last three questions there is some very good news in the pages of God’s Word especially for you, the good news of God’s forgiveness and restoration for all believers saved by His grace. It is true God hates sin, but He loves you, the sinner.

            In teaching the crowd that followed Him after feeding five thousand men plus women and children, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn. 6:35 NLT) Jesus was telling them He was the way to salvation and eternal life. Those in need of repentance and forgiveness of sin leading to eternal life were to come to Him, He was the bread of life, eternal life. Jesus didn’t say to those with the most grievous sins stay away, but ‘whoever comes to me I will never drive away.’

            Jesus does not turn anyone away who comes to Him for salvation, nor He will not drive away any of those who accepted Him as savior when coming to Him in confession and asking for forgiveness. His words apply in granting salvation and in forgiving our sin after our salvation. Your sins Jesus died for covers past, present, and future sins, no matter how deplorable. Jesus wants us to come to Him with our sin, whatever it is, and confess it to Him. He will not turn His back on us, in fact, Jesus promised, “………whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Ps. 103:12 NLT)

“For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again” (Prov. 24:16 NKJV)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9 NKJV)

Devotionals

God’s never-ending forgiveness

Loring Schultz

“LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you.” Psalm 130:3-4 NLT

Have you ever kept track of your sins? Do you have an on-going count for the week, month, or year? If you’re like me, the obvious answer is no. But there are some that you just can’t shake loose even after confessing them to God. They resurface in your mind from time to time causing guilt feelings and uncertainty of God’s forgiveness. Rest assured your sins are forgiven if confession to the Lord God was made. Psalm 103:2 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (NLT) Your sins are gone. The east from the west cannot be measured without any substance as starting points. Your sin, the substance, does not exist, it’s gone. Not only do they not exist, but the Lord does not remember them, “I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Is. 43:25 ESV)

 There may be some who think my sins would be easy to count as they are not many, or I have not sinned at all. But think again. Every selfish thought or mean spirited action against your neighbor, being prideful, a slip of the tongue using God’s name in vain, lying to prevent getting into trouble, going 80 mph in a 55mph zone, and being short of patience with your spouse are all examples of what the Lord considers sin, even though we made not see it that way. None of us are perfect, we were all born with a sin nature so it’s natural that we sin, but that is no excuse to sin or deny that we do.

 Think of all the little incidental sins mentioned above along with others you can think of. Add those we would consider bigger sins and try imagine how many there have been in your lifetime. Now compare that with today’s scripture verse, “LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?” I’m sure the list we compile for ourselves would not be as extensive as God’s would be, after all He doesn’t miss anything. But the good news is the Lord forgives as the rest of the verse indicates, “But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you.” God’s forgiveness is never-ending and He remembers them no more as long as we confess and ask for forgiveness. This should be of great comfort to us for our sin is also never-ending as long as we are on this side of heaven.

Read Psalm 130: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20130&version=NLT

Devotionals

Surely a ‘dumb move’

Loring Schultz

“I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.” Psalm 85:8 NASB

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            We have all done foolish things. I hate to think back of all the foolish things I’ve done, and pray they are not brought back to memory by anyone I know. But there are some things you just cannot forget. The foolish things we’ve done without any evil intent but out of what we would say was a ‘dumb move’ may be looked at, even by God, as just an embarrassment. And yes that seems bad enough, but not as bad as sinning against God which is evil and foolish, and definitely a dumb move.

            Psalm 85, A Psalm of the sons of Korah, is a prayer and a plea for pardon from the Lord. The Jews had returned from their exile in Babylon due to their many sins and turning away from God. The Lord graciously had mercy on Israel allowing them to return to the land after seventy years. The psalmist prayed that God had forgiven their sins in the past and withdrew His anger from them. Now that they are back in the land, they pray once again for forgiveness, restoration, and for God to remove His anger. There is a pause in the prayer to hear from the Lord with confidence that it will be a message of peace. Verse 8 of Psalm 85 says, “I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.” The Psalmist is certain God will be faithful to His people in His forgiveness, but is careful to add they remain faithful to God and not turn again to their folly (sin).

            Our God is a God of grace and mercy and is able and willing to forgive our foolish sins against Him. But let us be careful as we confess our sins that we do not go back to repeat them again and again, “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Pr. 26:11) Surely a ‘dumb move.’

Read Psalm 85, Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+85&version=NASB1995