Tag: God

A Christian Perspective

Pride Month

Loring Schultz
Crowd celebrating Pride Month waving rainbow and progress Pride flags in street

Beginning next week the world will celebrate another ‘Pride Month,’ the recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community. While ‘pride flags’ and colors of this revolution will be hard to miss in public venues as sporting events, concerts, playground activities, retail establishments, restaurants, libraries, and sadly many churches, a much larger community must witness and absorb what they consider offensive and immoral. They are not alone because God Himself is offended and He has a few things to say about pride and ‘Pride Month.’

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.” (Pr.8:13 nasb)

“There they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men.” (Job35:12 nasb)

“In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.” (Ps.10:2 nasb)

“On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.” (Ps.59:12 nasb)

“When pride comes, then comes dishonor.” (Pr.11:2 nasb)

‘“Proud,’ ‘Haughty,’ ‘Scoffer,’ are his names, Who acts with insolent pride.’” (Pr.21:24 nasb)  

“ For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened……Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them…….For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” (Ro.1:21, 24, 26-26 nasb)

Devotionals

Do You Know God?

Loring Schultz

Read: John 1:1-5,John 1:14 NIV – The Word Became Flesh – In the – Bible Gateway

“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 1:18 NIV

Photo by Josh Eckstein on Unsplash

Do you know God? Not about God, but do you know Him? Do you know Jesus, again not about Jesus, but do you know Him? The apostle John begins his gospel by explaining that the ‘Word’ in verse one always existed. ‘In the beginning was the Word.’ The ‘Word’ was with God in the beginning and the ‘Word’ was God. So, what does that tell us? The ‘Word’ is God.

John goes on to explain the ‘Word’s’ incarnation in verse fourteen. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14 niv) The ‘Word’ (Jesus) lived among us. We saw the glory of the Son (Jesus) who came from the Father. John later writes, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (Jn.1:18 niv) The truth is, if you know Jesus, you know God. He has made Him known. Jesus is God the Son.

This is vital for Christians to understand. Our salvation depends on a perfect sacrifice being made to pay for our sins and reconcile us back to God. Jesus was not a prophet, a teacher, or an angel sent from God to show us the way; He is the way. He is God the Son. Early Christians in the New Testament were known as people of ‘The Way.’ There are several religious in the world who claim to know Jesus and follow His ways and teachings, even calling themselves Christians, but do not believe Jesus is God the Son. They are sincerely wrong! If Jesus were not God the Son, His death would be meaningless and we would still be in our sins. Know for certain who Jesus is. Your salvation depends on it!

Devotionals

Obey me, and I will be your God

Loring Schultz

“This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’” Jeremiah 7:23 NLT

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Do you believe in God? If your answer is yes, do you want Him to be your God? You may be a bit confused at this point, but just think it through. Just because you say you believe in God is He really your God or just one of many. Is He in competition with your career, your spouse, your vacation home, automobile, boat, or your favorite sports team? Does He hold first place on every shelf in your life, and do you obey Him wholeheartedly in everything you do? If not, then He is your God in name only.

The Lord speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the nation of Israel says, “…. Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” (Jer.7:23 nlt) This is what the Lord God wanted Israel to do when He led them out of Egypt. He didn’t want their offerings or their sacrifices, he only wanted their obedience. They believed in God, but also had other gods from the desires of their hearts to put alongside the God of heaven. Over time these idols, other gods, began to push the true God out of their lives. The Lord God says of them, “This is the nation whose people will not obey the LORD their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips.” (Jer.7:28 nlt)

God is not to be the top rung on the ladder of our gods. He is the whole latter from top to bottom and our access to eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son. There is no other way of salvation and there are no other gods able to bring us satisfaction and joy in this life than the true God of heaven. Believe God when He says, ‘Obey me, and I will be your God’ and know for sure that He is.

Devotionals

Where Are They Now?  

Loring Schultz

Read: Deuteronomy 32:15-39 NLT – “But Israel soon became fat and – Bible Gateway

“Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge? Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings? Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter!” Deuteronomy 32:37-38 NLT

Photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash

A good number of people worship the gods of this world. Money is a god that ranks high on the list. Popularity and fame are a favorite among today’s gods. Material possessions such as expensive cars, luxurious homes, and rare collections of art among other things, even our vocations can become objects of our worship. They become things we cannot do without and why we exist. They are dependent upon for a safe, healthy, and happy life. But what happens when safety, health, and happiness fade away, where are those gods then?

In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy Israel’s enemies are being used by the Lord God to punish them. They had abandoned God for foreign gods of their day. “But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation. They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods.” (Dt.32:15-16 nlt) The foreign gods of pleasure were not much help when Lord used them in judgement against them. When their sin forced God’s hand Israel had nowhere to turn. Their foreign gods were useless. “Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge? Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter!” (Dt.32:37-38 nlt)

 Not all of our troubles and disasters are due to our sin but be aware some are most certainly from the Lord who calls us to repentance when needed. Whatever struggles we find ourselves in we will soon realize the gods of this world we have been relying on cannot help. They have fled the scene. But as the Lord God said to Isarel, He says to us, “Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals.” (Dt.32:39 nlt) The gods of this world will fail us every time when trouble comes and we’ll find ourselves asking ‘Where are they now?’

Bible Studies

“Abram’s Deception” – The Story of Abraham

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 12:10-20 NLT – Abram and Sarai in Egypt – At that time – Bible Gateway

“But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. ‘What have you done to me?’ he demanded. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?’” Genesis 12:17-18 NLT

Photo by Jordi Orts Segalés on Unsplash

The first two weeks in our story of Abraham we saw Abram, who later became Abraham, as a man of great faith and the father of all who believe. He left all that was familiar to him, his home, friends, and family to go where God called him. This took great faith as we learned last week. Unfortunately Abram paused his journey along the way and settled in Haran for a period of time. Although Abram was called of God, he was not perfect and wasn’t chosen because he was perfect. He eventually moved on after God’s repeated the call to him. Abram made it to the Promised Land and built an altar to the Lord when arriving in Shechem. This week Abram’s frailty leads him through a detour into Egypt.

The land of Canaan was suffering from severe famine. The Palestine region in ancient times often experienced famines. Abram decided to journey down to Egypt on his own under no divine guidance from God. Egypt fared well during periods of famine. It had an abundant supply of food available from the water source of the Nile River. Abram took his wife Sarai and all who were with him down into Egypt. He may not have planned to stay long, but it turned out to be long enough to bring shame on God’s chosen vessel.

As Abram nears Egypt he says to Sarai his wife, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’” (Gen.12:11-12 nlt) Abram was right in his assessment that Pharaoh would take beautiful women to be part of his Harem. He was also right in that they would kill him to take his wife. The Egyptians respected marriage but had an unusual way to show it, especially the Pharaohs. Pharaoh would have the wife of the husband killed first before he took her for his Harem. Abram, of course, didn’t want this to happen so he devised a plan, again not under God’s guidance. Abram said to Sarai, “ So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.” (Gen.12:13 nlt) Abram’s fear, and really his lack of faith at this point, caused him to deceive the Egyptians into thinking Saria was his sister. It worked, and they took her.

Abram’s scheme was a half-truth, or we could call it a half-lie, and a half-lie is really a lie. Abram’s reasoning was to deceive and that is what he did. He failed to trust in the Lord who was leading him and would protect him. He was thinking more of himself than any thought he had for his wife. But despite Abram’s failure here, the Lord is going to watch out for Sarai and protect her. “And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty. When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.” (Gen.12:14-15 nlt)

The irony of this story is that Abram is rewarded by Pharoah for taking his sister. “Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.” (Gen.12:16 nlt) Abram was right, Pharaoh did treat him well. Having livestock and servants were a indication of wealth in those days, and Abram was paid handsomely.

But as we noted, the Lord protected Sarai. He sent plagues upon Pharoah and his household. Scripture does not tell us the nature of these plagues, but they were severe enough for Pharoah to summon Abram. Some commentators speculate that Pharoah’s illness kept him from defiling Sarai. We do know from Scripture that no mention is given of Sarai being intimate with Pharaoh. We also know from history that a four-month purification process was in place for new brides before they were received into Pharoah’s Harem. God’s hand was at work in protecting Sarai.

Photo by The Cleveland Museum of Art on Unsplash

Pharoah sharply accused Abram of deception. He came to know Sarai was his wife and these plagues were the proof of it. Pharoah ordered Abram to get out of Egypt and even had his men escort him out to make sure he left. Abram was exposed as a liar. The Egyptians with their many faults were still a society that valued truthfulness. This wasn’t a good look for Abram who was called by God. Abram was kicked out of Egypt in humiliation before the Egyptians and those traveling with him who knew of his call from the Lord. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary notes, “Abram’s behavior was not worthy of the majestic soul of Jehovah’s special ambassador to the nations. He would need to grow; he would need to go back to Bethel.”

Abram will grow and God will still use him. God knew of Abram’s failures before He call him out of Ur and into the Promised Land. God knows of our failures even before we do and yet He calls us just the same. The Lord will never give up on us despite our failures. We may have a rough go of it when we decide to go our own way, but the Lord will put us back on track as we trust Him and allow Him to lead us in every situation.

Next week Abram and his nephew Lot have a decision to make. Until next week trust the Lord completely even in a famine.

Bible Studies

“The Call of Abram” – The Story of Abraham

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 11:26-12:9 NLT – After Terah was 70 years old, he became – Bible Gateway

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.’” Genesis 12:1 NLT

Our story of Abraham begins with God calling him as a pagan and probably a worshiper of the moon-god ‘sin’ His name at this point is Abram and is living in Ur of the Chaldeans, a prosperous commercial city of early the Sumerian kingdom in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq. We find Abraham’s family and his ancestors in Genesis chapter 11. Abram, whose name means ‘exalted father’ is a descendant in the line of Shem one of Noah’s sons after the flood. His father’s name is Terah meaning ‘delay’ which is significant. Abram had two brothers, Nahor and Haran who had died. Abram adopted his nephew Lot after Haran died. “Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. Milcah and her sister Iscah were daughters of Nahor’s brother Haran.” (Gen.11:29 nlt) Abram’s wife was his half-sister and Nahor’s wife was his brother Haran’s daughter. Prohibition against such marriages were unknown in patriarchal times. Later Mosaic law did not permit such marriages.

“One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.” (Gen.11:31 nlt) This is Abram on the move obeying God’s call. It sounds as if Terah made the call to move on, but it was God speaking to Abram. The call would be repeated after an unadvised stay in Haran until Terah died. The book of Acts confirms Abram’s original call was in Ur. Steven in speaking to the Jewish council said, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you. So, Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died.’” (Acts 7:2-4 nlt) We don’t know why there was a stay in Haran. Some of the reasons for the stay may have been due to Terah’s age. The city of Haran was also a thriving city and also worshiped the moon-god, perhaps Terah felt at home there. An important note to make, Abram was not told to bring the family along, but to “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” (Gen.12:1 nlt) We are left with not knowing why Abram stopped and stayed in Haran for he was there for a considerable amount of time. He left Haran with “all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran.” (Gen.12:5 nlt) Abram is now on his way with his wife, Sarai, and his nephew Lot to the land God has called him.

Abram had great faith that God would fulfil his promises to him. He left his homeland and family twice giving up his familiar way of life. Bishop Ryle notes, “He was to ‘renounce certainties of the past’ ‘face uncertainties of the future’ look for and follow the direction of Jehovah’s will.’” The promises God made to Abraham were seven-fold, 1. ‘I will make you a great nation’ 2. ‘I will bless you’ 3. ‘I will make your name great’ 4. ‘You shall be a blessing’ 5. ‘I will bless those who bless you’ 6. I will curse those who curse you 7. ‘in you all the families of the earth will be blessed’ Abram’s faith started with the very first promise. God promised to make him a great nation. Abram was 75 years old when God spoke this promise to him and Sarai was barren and not much younger. Relating that to us today, can we find it within ourselves to have the same faith? It might be a little hard. But these stories in scripture are put in there for our benefit to find encouragement and to learn from them when and where we live.

Abraham has certainly become famous, he has been greatly blessed by God, Israel has become a great nation, Abraham had been a blessing to others, God has blessed those who bless Israel and the Jewish people and continues to do so until this day. One of the reasons I believe nations are blessed today is they are supportive of the nation Israel. And as we noted last week all the families of the earth will be blessed through Abraham for Jesus, the Messiah, came through the line of Abraham providing salvation to all who accept Him.

Abram’s first stop when entering Canaan was Shechem, a major settlement at the crossroads of two main commercial highways, 40 miles north of Jerusalem. He came into the land God has promised and the Lord appeared to him again. “Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” (Gen.12:7 nlt) This is the first of several altars Abram built along the way when encountering a spiritual experience. He knew the land of Canaan belonged to the Lord and he consecrated that Promised Land to God. Abram then traveled south and camped near Bethel where he built another altar and worshiped the Lord God. Abram was no longer a moon-god worshiper. By setting up camp he also declared permanent residence though it was only a tent and wouldn’t be realized for many years. Here is another example of his great faith.

We close this week with Abram continuing to move south pulling up stakes and heading toward the Negev in southern Palestine southwest of the Dead Sea. Next week Abram is forced to go to Egypt as a result of a famine. Even when God is leading us things don’t always go smoothly. How does Abram handle it? Well, we will see this man of faith is just like us.

Until next week………

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

Break me, then bind me up

Loring Schultz

“Abase me to self-loathing and self-abhorrence, Open in me a fount of penitential tears, Break me, then bind me up; Thus will my heart be a prepared dwelling for my God.” (1)

Photo by Shiona Das on Unsplash

How many of us hate sin? Think it through before you answer. Yes, it disgusts us to see the devils footprint on this world and cry out against it every day, but do we see our own sin the same way? If we’re honest with ourselves we often find our sin as not that bad. Often it is repeated because God will forgive us until the next time and the time after that, and it continues on and on. Does our sin disgust us that we cry out against it every day?

In a devotion entitled ‘The Great God’ from the Puritan prayers and devotions, ‘The Valley of Vision’ the author writes, “Abase me to self-loathing and self-abhorrence.” He is asking to be humbled to feel intense hatred for his sins. He asks, to “Open in me a fount of penitential tears” to be able to repent authentically. But here is where the rubber meets the road, the author writes, “Break me, then bind me up.” He needs to be broken by the hand of God in order to see the true consequences of his sin knowing that God will also bind him up making him whole again.  

We may flirt with sin thinking it is no big deal but a little deal. Big or little it is abhorrent and loathing to God and should be to us. If it’s not, perhaps we need to be broken. Broken to the point through penitent tears that we see our sin as vile as the evil in the world around us. Then we can say with the author, “Thus will my heart be a prepared dwelling for my God.”

(1)  Bennett, Arthur The Valley of Vision. East Peoria: Versa Press, 2023. Pg. 6

Photo by Shiona Das on Unsplash

Devotionals

Daily Bible Reading: Your Guide Through Uncertainty

Loring Schultz

“The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 NKJV

When entering a dark room, the first thing we do is turn on a light. If we enter a room we haven’t been in before, we search for the light switch using the limited light illuminating from outside the room. In either case, when the room has light, we can now move around and conduct our business.

There are many dark rooms we enter in life. Some are daily decisions to be made and others major decisions made only occasionally in our lifetime. All have the uncertainty in the shadow of what’s ahead. If only there was no shadow at all with enough light to enter, we would be confident we’re making the right move.

The Psalmist wrote, ‘The entrance (or unfolding) of Your words gives light.’ The Bible contains everything we need to know in making those decisions of uncertainty. We need light to shine through the shadows of both the daily decisions and the life changing ones. Seeing that we make decisions daily, it stands to reason, the light always needs to be on. Daily reading of Scripture is a must for every Christian if we are to be in His will and make the right decisions.

Our Lord will not abandon us to make our own decisions without His guidance and for that we should be thankful. He has given us His Word in clarity so that all could obey it. The Psalmist also wrote, ‘It gives understanding to the simple,’ and that means all of us. God’s Word is the light which illuminates our ability to understand His message to us, most importantly for salvation, but also for those decisions to be made in the shadows of a dark room.

A Christian Perspective

United States: A Country Divided

Loring Schultz

 “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” Matthew 12:25 NLT

Photo by Connor Gan on Unsplash

The United States of America has established itself as the leader of the free world since its founding in 1776. Based on principles found in the Holy Scriptures from God who created the heavens, the earth, and human beings in His image, these principles have guided the nation for 250 years this July 4th. Sadly, the United States once united ‘in God we trust’ have abandon, not only the motto, but very God Himself. Although not every citizen has rejected God and His Word, enough has that the United States is now a country divided.

The founding fathers are at the heart of this current divide. Disagreements over the intent of the framers of the constitution and its stability or fluidity have risen over the years. Legislation has been created and court decisions have been entered seizing the opportunity to establish law not found in the constitution. There is naturally a division when these laws are enacted as both sides see their view as the right one. The truth is the only view that matters is God’s and what He has written in His Word.

Many laws have been passed and put into effect and by law are legal, but by God’s law they do not pursue equal justice and violate the dignity of men and women made in God’s image. The founding fathers knew they were men with human flaws and needed divine revelation in drafting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Biblical principles were applied to ensure liberty and justice for all. When these principles are neglected and God is no longer relevant in governing the nation, legislation will become law that will divide the citizens of the country.

The United States is more divided in 2026 than any time in its history including the Civil War. History books record for us the result of such division that occurred in the first half of the 1860’s. We may not be heading into a civil war as in the past, but we are in a civil war of ideas, justice, and morality. Jesus’ words need to be resounded across every state in the union, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.” (Mt.12:25 nkjv) The United States is on the verge of collapse in Jesus’ words if we don’t reunite under His rule and authority. There is some good news that a reuniting may indeed occur. President Donald Trump announced this past Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast that on May 17, 2026, at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. the United States will be rededicated as ‘One Nation under God.’ May we pray this will be a turning point as America begins its next 250 years.

Photo by Pieter Pienaar on Unsplash