Tag: God’s Love

Devotionals

God is Love

Loring Schultz

Read: John 17:20-26 NLT – “I am praying not only for these – Bible Gateway

“Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” John 17:24 NLT

Four adults hugging and smiling in a warm, sunlit living room.

God is love. A phrase we have all heard. Sadly this simple statement of truth has become somewhat of a cliché over the years. It seems ‘God is love’ has lost its true meaning as it is frequently and nonchalantly used in today’s culture. It is true that God is love, but what does that mean to us and how do we apply it in our lives.

In Jesus’ intercessory prayer in John chapter 17 Jesus makes note that God the Father loved Him before the world began. First of all, God’s love is eternal. It had no beginning as God had no beginning. God’s love is relational for He loved His Son from eternity past. Jesus, God the Son, shows His love for us by stating He wants His followers (those who truly have accepted Christ) to be with Him for all eternity. Jesus’ love towards us is relational. True love, God’s love, is relational.

Scripture says we are made in the image of God. A part of that image and character is the ability not only communicate but to be relational with others. This comes from a relational God. All of us are capable of being relational with others, but the fullness of any relationship comes only when God is involved. God created us in His image to have a relationship with Him and not only with our friends and relatives.

When we come to know God through His Son Jesus Christ who died on our behalf we have a new and true relationship with Him. God had loved us and chosen us before the world began. Our relationships with others will also take on a new meaning as we show God’s love in action and not just in frequently spoken words.

Devotionals

The Recycled Finest Robe       

Loring Schultz

Read: Luke 15:11-22 NLT – Parable of the Lost Son – To illustrate – Bible Gateway

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.’” Luke 15:22 NLT

Windows Recycle Bin window showing 23 deleted items including PDFs, images, and folders
A computer screen shows the Windows Recycle Bin open with various deleted files inside.

Recycling according to the Environmental Protection Agency is the reprocessing of discarded unless materials into new beneficial products. It helps the environment, the economy, and it makes our lives better. There is also another type of recycling. One of the definitions of ‘recycle’ as an intransitive verb is, ‘to return to an original condition so that operation can begin again as —used of an electronic device.’ Instead of using an electronic device or your computer’s recycle bin for my illustration I would like to use a garment, a fine garment, the finest robe in the story of the prodigal son.

The selfish son who only cared about himself finally came to his senses after he had gone through his inheritance rather quickly and found himself destitute. Realizing his sin, his plan was to go back to his father and asked for forgiveness and a job as one of his fathers workers. When the son arrived home and began addressing his father it was as if the father didn’t hear him but was only concerned that his son had returned. The father then instructed his servants to bring the finest robe in the house and put it on his son. He had returned home.

We do not know if there was another incident with this son doing the same thing. That is not the point of the story. The point is the father’s love for his son. It is an example of God’s continued love towards us. If it had happened again, we can be certain that the father’s love would not have changed. That finest robe the son may have thrown off was picked up by his father and held until the day his son returned home again. I guess we would say it was recycled, ‘to return to an original condition so that operation can begin.’

How many times have we had that recycled garment applied to us? Praise the Lord for His love towards us and that the garment will never get old no matter how many times it has been in the recycle bin.

Bible Studies

The Father’s Discipline

Loring Schultz

Read: Luke 15:11-24 ESV – The Parable of the Prodigal Son – And – Bible Gateway

“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.” Luke 15:13 NLT

Man in ragged clothes kneeling and embracing older man in blue robe outside stone house

One of the most favorite passages in all of scripture is found in Luke’s gospel. It is one of the many parables spoken by Jesus, The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Other names include, The Parable of Two Brothers, the Lost Son, the Forgiving Father, or my favorite The Parable of the Father’s Love. It is well represented in many sermons on Father’s Day each year. The loving father anxiously awaiting the return of his son who has left him is an example of God the Father who waits anxiously for us to return. All of us in one way or another take a step or two, or even a mile away from our heavenly Father. But we can rest assured that when we come to our senses, as the prodigal son did, our heavenly Father is there to greet us and forgive us. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 esv)

But what about the other side of the coin, the Father’s discipline? We have no indication if the prodigal son was punished after the fattened calf celebration. But that was not Jesus’s point in telling this parable. Along with the demonstration of the father’s love for his son is the demonstration that the lost can be found. But we are also confident of the father’s love especially through discipline. The writer of the book of Hebrews sets forth from the Old Testament, “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’” (Heb. 12:5, 6 ESV) He continues, “…..but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb.12:10b, 11 esv)

We have a heavenly Father who loves us enough to forgive us and restore us back to fellowship with Him, and we have a heavenly Father who loves us enough to discipline us in order that we may share His Holiness. May we cherish both.

Devotionals

The World Cup

Loring Schultz

“And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.’” Matthew 26:27-28 NLT

Golden FIFA World Cup trophy on a pedestal at a soccer stadium
The iconic FIFA World Cup trophy stands proudly on the pitch before a match with a packed stadium

The FIFA Men’s World Cup has once again descended on the nations of the world. This year three North American countries will host the 2026 World Cup with the United States being one of the hosting countries. Soccer is the only sport in the world that is recognized and played globally. Therefore the term, ‘World Cup,’ is appropriate. It is available to all who qualify to participate in striving to win the World Cup. Sadly, there will only be one winner and the winning nation will celebrate the accomplishment of winning the World Cup.

There is another World Cup that is available for all who qualify to participate in where there are no losers. This cup contains the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. In the first ‘Lord’s Supper,’ which we continually observe today, Jesus told His disciples the cup of wine represented His blood that ‘is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.’ It is available to all who qualify. Qualifying is simply accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup requires much training, practice, physical fitness, and teamwork. Those nations who make the cut are in the tournament but not guaranteed the victory. When making the cut with Jesus you are guaranteed victory because victory does not depend on your performance, but on God’s gift given through grace. It is truly a World Cup, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16 nlt)

Devotionals

The Reality of Uncertainty       

Loring Schultz

Read: James 4:13-17 NLT – Warning about Self-Confidence – Look – Bible Gateway

“If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:15 NLT

Photo by Frank Albrecht on Unsplash

The world of NASCAR suffered a tragedy at the death of one of its top drivers. Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion ranking ninth in all-time cup wins, died suddenly after a brief illness. Of all major sports, NASCAR embodies the spirit of family like no other. Christian faith runs deep throughout the racing industry. The danger of the sport may contribute to that, but there is spirit of joy within the NASCAR community that can only come from a living savior. Busch is one of many in the NASCAR circuit who have openly declared their Christian faith.

Less than a week before his passing Busch won the ECOSAVE 200 in the Craftsman Truck Series. His excitement after winning the race spilled over into reality as he is quoted saying, ‘you never know when the last one is.’ I am sure Kyle wasn’t referring to the shortness of our lives like the ‘morning fog’ that James writes about. He had something else in mind, the reality of uncertainty. Will another win come about? What is certain to come about is God’s plan for us.

While we live in a reality of uncertainty, it is only uncertain to us. God has a plan for each of us and it will unfold as is scheduled. We can be sure God’s purposes are best for us and always designed to bring Him glory. Unexpected tragedies may shake our faith if we lose track of the reality of what is certain, God’s sovereignty and His love for us. As NASCAR has many family members to support each other, all Christians have each other in God’s family and in that we can be certain.

Devotionals

Leaving Them All Behind

Loring Schultz

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

“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

Photo AI Generated

‘“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 selfish 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.

Devotionals

Feeling Empty; the search for fulfillment     

Loring Schultz

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NIV

Photo by Barbare Kacharava on Unsplash

Living in the 21st century there is no shortage of things to do. If looking to be entertained, there are thousands of choices to choose from, such as movies, concerts, sporting events, shopping, going for a drive, or staying home and accessing your hundreds of choices on your Smart TV. Getting away for the weekend has an abundance of venues to choose from and places to stay. Spending quality time with friends and family is always a good choice and fulfilling.

Despite the many things we do in life, entertaining ourselves, enjoying family time, achieving success in our jobs and careers, why do some people still have that empty feeling inside? How many people do you know, or perhaps yourself, that do all they can to enjoy life and live it to the fullest, and confess they still have this empty feeling. There is no fulfillment, something is missing. They need to find that missing piece to life’s puzzle. It happens more than you know and to more people than you may think. If you are not surprised by this, you may be one in need of fulfillment.

You’ve heard the cliché, ‘looking for love in all the wrong places.’ Well, it fits here. It is not that the above examples are ‘wrong places,’ they are not. But you will not find complete fulfillment in any of them until the major piece that completes the puzzle is put in place. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Mt.5:6 nlt) Jesus equates being filled with desiring righteousness. True fulfillment of one’s life occurs when Christ’s righteousness is applied to our lives as we accept Him as Lord and savior. That empty feeling disappears. What we thought would bring us fulfillment suddenly doesn’t seem so important anymore when put in proper perspective.

If you’re struggling with that empty feeling why not look for fulfillment in the right place by looking to Christ and desiring His righteousness. It’s the missing piece you need in your search for fulfillment.