God – Page 26 – Word for the Soul

Can I Trust Him?

May 16, 2024May 14, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Photo by Ana Madeleine Uribe on Pexels.com

Life is complicated for most people. Even for those who live in rural communities where not too much is going on, there’s always something going on, yes life is complicated. We all need a little guidance to help us along. Guidance is needed not only to be successful in life, but to have continued joy and contentment. Given over to ourselves, we are not always successful in life and our efforts for joy and contentment are but moments soon to drift away. We need someone who is bigger than ourselves, God, but can we trust Him?

The wisest man who ever lived on this earth, King Solomon, said God can be trusted. Solomon wrote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart……and he will make your paths straight.” (Pr.3:5-6 niv) The idea of making our paths straight is to remove any obstacles that are in the way. Who would better know how to remove those obstacles than one with the ability to know what we will encounter before it happens and has the power to remove them. We are often confused lacking understanding in the way God is leading us, but we must rest assured His plan for us is good and will not fail. When we fully submit to God trusting His leading as we reject our own temptation to do it ourselves, God will surely lead us to complete joy and contentment. Yes, you can trust Him!

“I cannot always understand, The Way God leadeth me, The why, and when and wherefore Is oft a mystery. But I can trust His wisdom, I know His way is best, His heart knows no unkindness And on His love I rest.” (1)

(1) Cowman, Mrs. Charles E. Streams in the Desert 2. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1966. p.138

Devotionals

Leaving Them All Behind

May 15, 2024May 11, 2024 Loring Schultz

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’” Ruth 1:16 NLT

‘“Yes,’ Jesus replied, ‘and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.’” Luke 18:29-30 NLT

Our current society has helped drive families apart with a self-interest attitude towards others, it’s a ‘me first’ society. Over time some families are restored but there needs to be forgiveness and a complete ‘same mind’ agreement for reconciliation. Many families struggle with problems in the home, forcing some to abandon their family, leaving them all behind. Societal ills make up most family break-ups today, but believe it or not, a deep faith in God and trusting in His Son Jesus for salvation made up the rest.

The book of Ruth gives us one of the earliest pictures of someone leaving their family to serve the Lord God of heaven. Ruth, a Moabite woman, became a widow at a young age. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, was returning to her homeland in Judah from where she, her husband and their two sons left due to a severe famine. Ruth wanted to return with Naomi back to Israel. She had a great love for her mother-in-law, but also a great love for God. Perhaps Ruth saw something in Naomi even through the bitterness of her sorrow of losing her husband and two sons that caused Ruth to say, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth1:16b nlt) Ruth left her family behind to serve and worship God.

Jesus confirms there is a cost in following Him. In speaking to His disciples Jesus acknowledged there will be those who leave their families for the sake of the gospel, but they will be richly rewarded. Some will leave in pursuit of ministry work for Christ, but some others will be forced to leave their families who have rejected them for following Christ. If you are in this latter group know that Jesus understands, for He was also rejected by His family. Continue to follow Jesus, pray for your family, and don’t look back.

Read: Ruth 1:1-18 NLT – Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab – In – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Sheep and Goats-Faith and Works

May 13, 2024May 9, 2024 Loring Schultz

“He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.” Matthew 25:33 NLT

Misinformation is a term that has received much recognition in recent years. Media outlets are quick to point out certain news stories are false or misleading to the public. News organizations are pitted against each other with the backing of their fact checkers to debunk a news story. There is plenty of misinformation in the news outlets of our day. But the most tragic source of misinformation are certain religious organizations, even some Christian churches, who insists your good works will get you into heaven and there is no hell to fear.

Matthew’s gospel is all about presenting Jesus as King to the Jewish people of his day. It is also relevant to all people in our day for Jesus is Lord and King. Jesus’ disciples questioned Him when the kingdom would come about. They were expecting it would be in their lifetime. Jesus’ answer to their question about His coming kingdom concludes the Olivet Discourse.

If anyone has doubts that Jesus is King, Jesus Himself makes clear His royalty and authority by saying, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence.” (Mt.25:31-32a nlt) Jesus always referred to Himself as the Son of Man, and this Son of Man will sit upon His throne and all the nations will be called before Him, therefore Jesus is indeed the King. And there will be a great separation of those who believed in Jesus and those who have not. “He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.’ Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.’” (Mt.25:33-34, 41 nlt)

Jesus’ reference to the sheep and goats in His answer to the disciples compares those who have treated His brothers and sisters with kindness and those who have not as if they were doing it to Him. This passage of Jesus’ words is often mistaken as the acceptance of good works for entrance into heaven. Jesus stated earlier, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.” (Mt.25:34 nlt) Salvation is a gift of God, not something to be earned through merited deeds. It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Eph.2:8-9) Those who know the Savior will indeed do good works as verification of a changed life in Christ. “I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (Ja.2:18b nlt)

We all struggle understanding Scripture and some passages are hard sayings, but it is all God’s Word to us. Some passages we would rather ignore for what it contains, but it is all truth. For us, are we among the sheep or the goats, are we people of faith or people of works?

Read: Matthew 25:31-46 NLT – The Final Judgment – “But when the – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Opportunities Lost, but not forever

May 9, 2024May 8, 2024 Loring Schultz

“…but I might have had more, I ought to have had more, I have never been straitened in thee, thou hast always placed before me an infinite fullness, and I have not taken it.” (1)

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV

The older one gets, the more they realize how many opportunities were lost along the way never to return. There are a lot of ‘should have been’; ‘I should have done this’ or ‘why did I quit school or turn down that job’ or ‘why didn’t I enlist in the military’ or ‘I should have reached out to that person while I had the chance’ and many more ‘should have been’ are now opportunities lost.

The most tragic opportunity lost, especially for Christians, is the time wasted away in activities of self-interest which took away precious moments with God. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with outside activities. They are healthy and help us live a well-balanced life, but how much time is spent is always an issue that needs to be addressed. Hobbies of all sources and recreational activities fulfill physical and mental needs, but your whole self will lack the fulfillment of joy if your relationship with your creator is ignored. As time goes by, each day is another opportunity lost if time spent with God is neglected, never to return.

The Lord has spread out before us a feast of blessings through His Word. I have heard many times at family and social gatherings ‘if you go away hungry it is your own fault there’s plenty of food here.’ A Puritan prayer includes the following, “thou hast always placed before me an infinite fullness, and I have not taken it.’ (1) The Lord blesses us and provides all we need and more. It starts with our relationship with Him and grows throughout the years of living in His presence. In your later years you don’t want to look back over your life and say, ‘I could have had more blessings from the Lord’ and ‘I was not as faithful as I could have been.’

Yes, past opportunities are gone never to appear again, but present opportunities are always there and will not be lost if taken advantage of. New and future opportunities with the Lord will continue forever as long as you have breath. Do not miss a single one. It’s not too late. Start today!

(1) Bennet, Arthur ed. The Valley of Vision A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. East Peroria: Versa Press, 2023. P. 80

Devotionals

Your Will or God’s Will Be Done?

May 8, 2024May 7, 2024 Loring Schultz

“‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’” Mark 14:36 NLT

Yesterday our devotional study focused on the two-step process in how to make God’s desires our desires. Today’s devotion falls along those same lines but with a twist. God promises our hearts will be filled with our desires when they match God’s desires for us. How well then do you handle God’s desires and His will for you when it brings pain and suffering into your life?

Jesus, the God-man, faced the reality of following His Father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion. He knew of God’s plan of salvation for each of us before the world began and He followed every detail. The time had come for the payment of sin to be completed. The sacrifice for sin would be made in a few short hours. Jesus was about to experience the most excruciating pain and suffering imaginable as the sins of the world would be laid upon Him. His Father would turn His back on Him causing Jesus to call “out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” (Mk.15:34 nlt)

In the garden that night Jesus knew His Father was capable of an alternative plan if it was His will to do so. Jesus prayed for this to be so. “‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me.” (Mk.14:36a nlt) The physical pain in the ‘cup of suffering’ will be accompanied by the spiritual separation from His Father that was forthcoming. Jesus asked that it be taken away, but then said, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mk.14:36b nlt)

Whatever your pain and suffering may be, it is understandable to ask the Lord to remove it and He will not fault you for that. There are times when He will remove it completely or partially, and times when He does not. Knowing that God desires your heart to be filled with His desires and for His will to be done wouldn’t you rather God’s will than your own will? May we all be able to say with the Lord Jesus, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mk.14:36 nlt)

Read: Mark 14:32-42 NLT – Jesus Prays in Gethsemane – They went – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Desires of Your heart; it’s a two-step process

May 7, 2024May 6, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:4-5 ESV

Fulfilling a desire of your heart sometimes takes a lifetime. Striving and working towards that goal seems less strenuous as you picture that coveted desire in your mind. Finally, you reach the end of that rainbow only to find out the desire didn’t fill your heart. But take heart, there’s a better way to ensure your desires will fill your heart before you set out on that long journey. The fulfillment of the desires of your heart is a two-step process.

Step1: Delight yourself in the Lord, and totally commit your life to follow Him, trusting Him to lead you in the right way. The Lord God knows what is best you, He created you and understands you better than you understand or know yourself. Delight yourself in getting to know God more intimately through prayer and a daily reading of His Word. Commit to be obedient of all you have learned through Scripture, and trust God to help you through the Holy Spirit.

Step 2: Make sure your desires are God’s desires. It is not as difficult as it sounds if you are willing to let go and let God direct you. Take a good hard look at your desires and ask, is this a desire God would have for me? If you have strong desires that center more on yourself hoping that these are also God’s desires, ask God to change your desires to His and He will.

The Lord God promises to act on our behalf when it comes to obeying Him in desiring what He desires for us. Again, God knows how He made us and how we are wired for His service. He also knows we can only have complete fulfillment in the desires of our hearts when our desires are also His desires. If you haven’t yet begun the two-step process there is not a better time than right now, it is time to start to have the desires of your heart fulfilled.

Devotionals

My Thorn in the Flesh

May 4, 2024May 3, 2024 Loring Schultz

“……So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

Trimming rose bushes for an inexperienced gardener may be hazardous to their flesh, I know. My wife is the gardener around our home, but last fall I decided to contribute and cut down the rose bushes. They were cut down extremely low from their present state as they grew wildly blocking my view from our front porch. So, truth be told, I had a hidden agenda. But as experienced gardeners know rose bushes grow back, and with my wife’s guidance as I was trimming last fall, they are now growing rapidly and fuller and it’s only the beginning of May. Looks like I’m in for some more thorns in the flesh this fall.

A thorn in the flesh is not enjoyable, it is painful. It is a nuisance as you do your trimming. They are always in the way. There are many ‘thorns in the flesh’ in life, therefore the saying of ‘dealing with my thorn in the flesh’ is a way to express frustration with annoyances that hinder your ability to accomplish your goals or so you may think. The thorns could be a physical ailment you are dealing with, constant disruptions in your employment or place of business, or even that annoying obnoxious neighbor who knows the right thorny buttons to push. As much as we don’t appreciate the annoyances there may very well be a good reason for them. And they most likely come from a source we think not.

The apostle Paul tells us the story about his thorn in the flesh, not what it is but why he has one. Paul details an amazing experience he had fourteen years earlier, “…. I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell…. even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” (2Cor.12:4, 7 nlt)

The purpose of Paul’s thorn in the flesh was to keep him humble. The Lord did want a proud apostle boasting in himself, but in the power of the Lord Jesus. So, Paul was made weak to show the power of God through his weakness. (2Cor.12:9-10) This thorn also came from an unlikely source, Satan, but under God’s direction. And even though Paul prayed three times for it to be remove, God allowed it to remain saying to him each time, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2Cor.12:9a nlt)

Whatever your thorn in the flesh may be, thank the Lord for it and allow His love guide you through your weakness into His strength and say with the apostle Paul, “…. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2Cor.12:9b nlt)

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 NLT – Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Our Call to Love and Obedience

May 3, 2024May 2, 2024 Loring Schultz

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NLT

Some Christians today struggle with God’s call on their life and understandably so. I’ve been there along with many others of our generation and those of generations past. We’re conflicted by what may or not be a sign from God in a certain direction. We put out feelers to those we trust confiding in them our struggle. Afraid of missing God’s calling or being unable to fulfill all He has for us; we drift along anticipating that bolt of lightning to strike us making clear His will for us. Sometimes it happens that way but don’t waste precious time waiting for lightning to strike.

Just prior to the children of Israel entering the promised land God gave His requirements (His will) for them. His will for them was to fear Him, live for Him, love Him, and serve Him with all their heart and soul, and of course to always obey the Lord’s commands. Israel was at the starting gate and their call was to love God and obey Him. This was foundational for their own good and even survival. Love and obedience were the springboard in seeking God’s will going forward.

A good place for us to start in seeking God’s will is to put ourselves in the starting gate with the children of Israel. What does the Lord require of us in 2024? Very simple, the same requirements He had for His chosen people Israel He has for His chosen people in Christ, our call to love and obedience. If we start there, with the basics, we will be in God’s will. Over time as we grow spiritually the Lord will reveal His plans for us going forward and they will be as clear as a bright sunny day with not a cloud in the sky.

Read: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 NLT – A Call to Love and Obedience – “And – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

An Endless River of Righteous Living

May 2, 2024May 1, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” Amos 5:23-24 NLT

There are many lessons in the pages of Scripture to learn from today. After all, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change. His love for us is the same. His laws do not change over time. All His holy attributes do not change as the attribute of the Immutability of God tells us. We can be confident God doesn’t change and His Word doesn’t change either. It is the same and valid for all eternity, including the year 2024.

In the Old Testament book of Amos, the prophet was called to issue a warning to the northern tribes of Israel. They were to repent of their social evils and pagan worship. Their only hope to prevent judgment from God was total repentance from the blasphemous worship of God they were performing and their lack justice among the people. The Lord wanted a complete change of mind and heart towards Him, the Lord their God, which in turn would result in ‘a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.’ (Amos 5:24 nlt)

Christians today may not equate themselves with all the sins of ancient Israel, but there are similarities to be considered. Are we always just in our dealings with others? Are we more than fair in areas which are under our control? When we worship God are our hearts in the right place? Have we been living righteously throughout week as we enter to worship God on Sunday morning? No, none of us are righteous, but we can walk in step with God through the Holy Spirit. Are we doing that? As with nation of Israel in Amos’s day, the Lord wants to see justice and an endless river of righteous flowing in our lives when we come to worship Him along with our noisy hymns of praise!

Devotionals

The Long Way Home

April 27, 2024April 26, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea.” Deuteronomy 1:2 NLT

Taking the long way home is not always your choice, but most of the time it is. You may want to enjoy the scenery the extra miles provide, or you may want to search out a certain restaurant for your next night out or explore a potential new neighborhood in which you would like to live. You may also just want to kill time. But then there are times when the choice is not yours due to detours for several reasons forcing you to take the long way home. Disappointment and frustrations set in as the miles and time added up anticipating your arrival home. There are times in our lives when we take the long way home (God’s place for us) because we were afraid to take that initial step and trust God, rather, we played it safe.

The children of Israel played it safe. The result of not trusting God and not taking that first step turned their eleven-day journey home to the promised land into forty years. When Israel was in Kadesh-barnea, the point of entry to the land God had promised them, they refused to go ahead fearing the battles that would pursue. They didn’t trust God to place them safely in the land even though they were called and chosen to enter it. They didn’t trust God to take away their fear.

The Lord calls each one of us who have trusted Him as savior to a place of His choosing to serve Him. That place is ‘home’ where we will be the most comfortable in our service to God. Not all of us are called to be pastors, missionaries, or Sunday school teachers, but we are called to serve where God directs us and in what specific area of ministry He has for us. Heed that calling whatever it may be and wherever it may be. Don’t let your fear keep you from God’s plan for your life. You’ll probably end up there eventually so quit killing time by taking the long way home and trust God to bring you into His service sooner rather than later.