Tag: Jesus

Devotionals

Are you following the Voice of Strangers?

Loring Schultz

“A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:5 NASB

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All of us are comfortable with familiar surroundings. The voices of those we hang around with are welcomed at any time. When having a bad day hearing a familiar voice quiets your spirit. We may be quick to follow them to an event to help shed some of those anxious feelings. There is a trust factor with one we have cultivated a relationship with. You would not hang around with a stranger, in fact you wouldn’t recognize their voice. You would not follow the voice of a stranger.

One of Jesus’ seven ‘I am’ statements found in the gospel of John is ‘I am the door.’ Jesus is saying He is the door unto salvation. In Jesus’ illustration of Him being the door, He references the doorkeeper who is an under shepherd who guards the door at night and assists the shepherd in caring for His flock. The doorkeeper recognizes the shepherd’s voice and opens the door to the sheep pen. The shepherd’s sheep have already started to gather around the door for they responded to the shepherd’s unique call from outside the door. He calls them by name, and they follow Him because they know His voice. They will not follow the voice of a stranger.

Not all the sheep in the sheep pen followed Jesus’ in this illustration. They did not recognize His voice. It was the voice of a stranger. To many people today, Jesus is a stranger. They followed the voices of those they are familiar with, the voices of the world and the world’s system. The voices that say all religions lead to God, or just do the best you on your own, or living a life a love and peace will get you a blissful afterlife.

Don’t be fooled by the voices of false teachers or the secular views of the world. These are the voices of strangers to those who truly know Christ as savior. Jesus says, “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” (Jn.10:5 nasb) If these voices are familiar to you, then you are following the voices of those outside the saving knowledge of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn.14: nasb) Accept Jesus’ call to salvation and become a sheep of His pasture recognizing His voice and never again follow the voice of strangers.

Read: John 10:1-10 NASB – Parable of the Good Shepherd – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

Let the Little Children Come to Me

Loring Schultz

 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.” Luke 18:16 NIV

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The 2024 United States Presidential election has several key issues on the minds of voters. The hot button issue of abortion is the most controversial by far. It is so controversial that one of the major parties hardly references it. The other major party has filled the airwaves making it an issue of choice. ‘Abortion’ is rarely mentioned in any campaign ad. There is controversy in how late in the pregnancy a woman may make this decision. With no definite clarity from abortion advocates, there is no time frame in which a woman does not have the right to choose.

We have all heard of the ‘exceptions rule’ allowing abortion in the case of rape, incest, or the life of the mother. Let’s look at some statistics. In a report by USA Today in 2019, “Just 1% of women obtain an abortion because they became pregnant through rape, and less than 0.5% do so because of incest, according to the Guttmacher Institute.” (1) From that same report, 74% said having a baby would dramatically change my life, 73% said they can’t afford a baby now, 48% admitted to not wanting to be a single mother or have relationship problems, and 38% referenced they completed their childbearing years. (1) The Charlette Lozier Institute reports that 0.3% of abortions are performed due to risk of the women’s life or a major body function. (2) It is quite easy to see that mostly all abortions are due to choice. Abortion advocates are right, it is all about choice. But how are Christians, followers of Jesus, to rectify this choice movement. Is it strictly a woman’s choice? It is her body made in the image of God, but does God approve of the choice that effects another one of His image bearers? “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.” Ps.127:3 (nlt) And how did Jesus did feel about children when He was on the earth.

Christians today, me included, strive to live the way Jesus lived by following His words and example. When Jesus’ disciples mistakenly were not allowing parents to bring their babies to Jesus to touch them, Jesus overruled them and invited the babies to Himself. “People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.’” (Lk.18:16 niv) Jesus’ words and feelings are the same today. He is saying ‘let the little children come to me.’

Matthew records Jesus’ words regarding children’s guardian angels, “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” (Mt.18:10 nlt) Parents refer to their children as little angels the minute they are born. It’s hard to believe they are not innocent little angels in the womb and with their guarding angel looking over them.

The choice that is being made every day does not consider the innocent who is unable to make a choice if they want to live or die. According to NPR, “More than a million abortions were provided in the U.S. in 2023. To be precise, researchers estimate there were 1,026,700 abortions in 2023. ‘That’s the highest number in over a decade, [and] the first time there have been over a million abortions provided in the U.S. formal health care system since 2012,’ explains Issac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist with Guttmacher.” (3)

So, what is a Jesus follower to do? “Rescue those being led away to death.” (Pr.24:11 niv) for Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.”

Photo by Cyrus Crossan on Unsplash

(1) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/24/rape-and-incest-account-few-abortions-so-why-all-attention/1211175001/

(2)

Fact Sheet: Reasons for Abortion

(3) https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1238293143/abortion-data-how-many-us-2023

Devotionals

Discovering Great Value

Loring Schultz

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” Matthew 13:45-46 NLT

“for God bought you with a high price……” 1 Corinthians 6:20a NLT

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What is of great value to you that you would pay an exorbitant price for it? Is there anything that you would give up all that you own to possess it? It has been said that a fair market price for something is what a person is willing to pay for it. What one considers to be of great value may not be of any interests to others. Life itself is of interest for all people. Yet the view of life differs dramatically between individuals. Most all of us guard our lives very closely, perhaps too close that we become self-absorbed and selfish. Many are concerned with this life only, the here and now, but there is a now and then to consider which is of greater value. What you discover in the ‘now’ will be of great value in the ‘then.’

Jesus, the teacher and the Son of God, describing the kingdom of Heaven says it, “is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” (Mt.13:45-46 nlt) The Kingdom of Heaven is made up of those who have let go of everything important to them in this life and accepted the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The choice pearl of great value which is accepted now in this life results in eternal life when our earthly life is over.

Those of us who have found that choice pearl should take notice of Christ’s love for us as His choice pearl. Our Lord Jesus left the glories of heaven to come down to earth and sacrifice His life in order that we may have eternal life with Him. Jesus paid the ultimate ‘high price’ by His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. He considered us as of great value to die and rise again to redeem us. Have you discovered that choice pearl, that great value of Salvation, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savoir? Don’t miss the opportunity to discover that Great Value ‘now’ for it will be too late ‘then.’ Make sure you are part of the Kingdom of Heaven by discovering great value.

Devotionals

Standing Before Pilate           

Loring Schultz

‘“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?’ Pilate demanded.” Matthew 27:13 NLT

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“But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11 NLT

When Jesus was finally brought before Pilate the second time after the various trials in front of the Jewish rulers and an appearance before Herod, He was all but officially condemned. Pilate was amazed by Jesus’ non-response to the charges against Him from the chief priests and the elders saying, “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” (Mt.27:13 nlt) Jesus did confirm He was the king of the Jews when Pilate had asked Him earlier. But he would not indulge His enemies in answering the false claims put forth from them.

Jesus’ enemies would do and say anything to condemn Him, and they had up to that point. They got Jesus in front of the one who had the authority to sentence Him to death. Jesus stood before Pilate in silence to the charges against Him, but He did speak with Him as recorded in the gospel of John chapters 18 and 19. Jesus did acknowledge He was a king, but His kingdom was not of this world, and told Pilate he would have no authority over Him if it wasn’t granted to him from the Father. Jesus spoke the truth from God’s Word and put Himself in His Fathers hands.  

Christians today can follow Jesus’ example when facing persecution by speaking the truth of God’s Word and relying on God in our time of need. There are all kinds of persecution in the world today. Most Christians are not facing life or death threats for their faith in Christ, but many are. Christians in the western part of the world are only starting to feel increased pressure to deny their faith as the culture is saturated with anti-God sentiment. Jesus told His disciples in Mark 13:11, “But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (nlt)

False charges will be brought against us as Christians according to the anti-God legislation on the books, but they will be true according to Scripture. Testifying that Jesus is the Christ the only way of salvation and completely obeying His Word will need no answer. We just need to stand and wait for the Holy Spirit to speak through us. So, will we the church, be ready when we hear the charges brought against us and stand before the Pilates of our day?

Read: Matthew 27:11-14 NLT – Jesus’ Trial before Pilate – Now – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Overthrow the Lofty Opinions Against God and His Word

Loring Schultz

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

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Some people barricade themselves in ideological forts of their choosing to justify their resentment to God and His Word. Their ideology makes perfect sense to them, and they stick to it. Dr. John MacArthur unveils these forts as thoughts, ideas, speculations, reasonings, philosophies, and false religions that keep them at bay with the God of the Bible. The forts are used to codify what they perceive to be right, regardless of what the Bible says. Christians who live by a Biblical worldview also have their own ideology that makes perfect sense. God, the creator of the world and human life, sent His Son Jesus Christ to save those who trust in Him, and He has given us His Word on the proper way to live. It’s simple and that’s all there is to it.

You may feel torn in the spiritual battle you are in if you are a believer. You hesitate to speak the truth to not lose friends, but you are disturbed by all you see and hear from the ideologies of the world, even from your friends. You may be intimidated by the philosophies of the world system. They sound reasonable and hard to argue against. But you will never win an argument or lead someone to Christ by engaging in the ideologies of the world. And you certainly won’t do so by remaining silent. God does not want us to be silent, but to overthrow those lofty opinions and to do so by His Word and in love.

Paul said to the believers in Corinth, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” (2Cor.10:3-4 nlt) What Paul is saying is that we do not use the world’s wisdom or its ideologies to reveal truth and lead souls to Christ, but we use ‘God’s mighty weapons’ the sword of the Spirit, the Bible. Paul goes on to say in this way we overthrow every lofty opinion or ideology against God. Be bold for God, lost souls depend on it.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Devotionals

Faithfully Preach the Truth                

Loring Schultz

“We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us.” 2 Corinthians 6:7a NLT

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Have you ever traveled outside your own country either on business or a vacation? When your guide left you for a little free time on your own, how comfortable did you feel? Did you fit in as if you were one of the locals? Probably not. If we as Christians can not say that about living in this world, then something is drastically wrong. Peter addressed the Christians of his day in writing to them as ‘foreigners and exiles.’ (1Pt.2:11) They were living in a foreign land where they did not fit in. Christians today are still living in a foreign land. We may feel at home, but again that is a problem. The Lord has placed us in the country of our origin in this life, but this is not our home, heaven is. And when he has placed us here, He has given us a job to do, ‘faithfully preach the truth.’ So, it is time to get uncomfortable.

Paul, the apostle and a contemporary of Peter, is the greatest example of living as an exile outside of Jesus Himself. Paul found himself exiled from his own people after his conversion to Christ. He was a Jewish scholar studying under Gamaliel and became the strictest of Pharisees. His mission in life was to persecute the Christians, including death. When Paul started preaching Christ as Lord, he became an enemy of the Jewish leaders who were his peers. Paul’s life changed dramatically from being one the Jewish elites to going hungry, imprisoned, and being beaten. Paul had become uncomfortable in more ways than one with the world. Physically, but also with the pleasures of the world. Paul’s mission now was to ‘faithfully preach the truth.’

Paul encourages us as he encouraged the church in Corinth to live as examples of Christ in a fallen world as he was doing. To live in purity, being patience and kind, and show sincere love. (2Cor.6:6) Paul knew Christians in Corinth would begin to feel as exiles in their own hometown when they started to feel uncomfortable with the world. He knew that would be hard for them, but also knew there is joy in serving the Lord. (2Cor.6:10) The same holds true for us. Yes, we want people to like us, but this is not our home. We should live as exiles preaching the truth of salvation, bringing as many people as we can to our home country, the heavenly kingdom.

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NLT – Paul’s Hardships – We live in such a – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Seeing Clearly

Loring Schultz

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5 ESV

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Being able to see clearly is essential for us to have a good quality of life. Other physical and mental God given abilities also enrich our well-being. In many ways they complement each other and those who suffer physical blindness have leaned heavily on other abilities. Being able to compensate for a deficiency physically such as not seeing clearly unfortunately doesn’t carry over in a spiritual sense. Sadly, those who do not see clearly spiritually do not even realize that they are blind, blind to their own sin. They live their lives in a self-righteous state ignoring the possibility that they also are in need of some correction.

One of the most quoted sayings of Jesus is, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Mt 7:1 esv) Many repeat these words with the false intent to criticize anyone who would make a judgment against another. The premise being Jesus’ words, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But Jesus goes on to say, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Mt.7:2 esv) Jesus is not saying that we are never to judge, but to not be condemning, hypocritical, or with a self-righteous attitude. In order to accomplish this within God’s standards we need to remove any false righteousness that has a hold on us blocking our vision to our inner selves.

Jesus’ used of comparisons has a way of undeniably coming to the point with precise clarity. He tells His listening disciples, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Mt.7:3 esv) A ‘speck’ is a dry stalk, a twig, or a straw, in comparison to a ‘log’ which is a support beam. Obviously there is no comparison. With a strong support beam in front of you it is impossible to see a tiny wind-blown twig with any accuracy. Therefore you sense some fault and rush to condemning judgment without acknowledging your own faults. In a sense, you see right through your sin as if it didn’t exist.

As Christians, we have an opportunity to help a brother or sister in the Lord with the speck in their eye. However, we are unable to do so if we harbor sin in our lives. Let us confess our sins and rid ourselves of the log barriers affecting our vision and be able to help those in need resulting in all of us to ‘see clearly.’

Devotionals

The Unrepentant

Loring Schultz

“Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent…….…. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” Matthew 11:20, 23 ESV

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We have all heard the saying, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ Truth is often revealed by an un-expecting snapshot, or a video capturing the events of an altercation. It is hard to deny the obvious when closely examining the material presented. Opinions change as facts become a reality. The truth becomes known regardless of the narrative that is being presented.  Unfortunately there are those who will refuse to believe what the eyes see due to their indifference towards the truth as they view it.

Tragically the truth about God is being dismissed by those who are indifferent to the things of God, even though He has revealed Himself to us. The apostle Paul writing in Romans explains, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Ro.1:20 esv) Yet there are those who investigate other places, even within themselves to find the truth, to find the meaning of life, and to find the good in themselves. They fail to find the need for repentance before a holy God, even though they see miracles all around them.

Jesus denounced several cities in the New Testament, especially Capernaum, due to their unrepentance. He performed miracles in Chorazin and Bethsaida, outskirts of nearby Capernaum, and they were unresponsive to them. And in Capernaum, where Jesus made His ministry headquarters, the results were the same. Those who have seen Jesus, witnessed His miracles and heard Him preach of the kingdom of God, were indifferent to Him and their need to follow Him. Jesus’ words were strong towards them for their unrepentance, “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades.” (Mt.11:20a esv)

Today the same situation exists with even more responsibility. The knowledge of God and His plan for salvation through His Son Jesus Christ is made available in ways that would have been unimaginable in Jesus’ day. As Capernaum had a greater responsibility put upon them with Jesus conducting His business right in their hometown, we have an enormous responsibility to repent of the failure to get the Word out as Christ’s church. And for those who are indifferent to the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus, a greater knowledge of God is available to you in our day. Do not be denounce by Jesus for being one of the unrepentant.

Devotionals

Unity in the Body of Christ

Loring Schultz

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:3 NLT

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The more our politicians try to unite us, the more divided we become. That is true around the world and here in America. Promises of uniting the country fail on the first day in office for a new president and I’m sure it will happen again in January 2025 no matter who is elected. We cannot deny we live in troubling times of division in the United States. That is why it is crucial that Christians in America are united by their bond to each other through Christ. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (nlt) Paul says, ‘make every effort.’ This is not a time to be laid back.

There is strength in numbers, but don’t let that encourage you. Our true strength is found in the Lord. Nehemiah says the ‘joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh.4:10) Couple that with God’s awesome power and we will be encouraged for our days ahead. Believers in Christ need each other. Do not be a lone ranger traveling that dusty road ahead of you. Yes, you have the Holy Spirit with you, but God also gave you brothers and sisters in Christ as your family. We travel this road together having been united in the Spirit.

Jesus, in His High Priestly prayer, prayed that all who believe in Him would be one. He prayed we would be an example of perfect unity to the world, so that God’s great gift of salvation would be seen. Christians are blessed beyond measure and as we bless each other and live in peace in the strength of the Lord, others will see the love we have for one another through Christ.

In a time of such division in the United States, the only unifying factor that works is Jesus Christ. Christians can participate in the intensifying division in the nation or set the example of unity. May we all make every effort to remain united, encouraging each other as we present to the world the great unifier, Jesus Christ.

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT – Unity in the Body – Therefore I, a – Bible Gateway

Read: John 17:20-24 NLT – “I am praying not only for these – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

What Really Matters When It Comes to Love

Loring Schultz

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” Philippians 1:9-10 NLT

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The world acknowledges every time there is a catastrophic event ‘love’ is missing, that it had been here from the beginning and now it is gone. But has it always been here? The Bible says God is love and for sure He is. There is a misunderstanding of the love of God among the people of the world which justifies sinful behavior. The love of God simply stated in scripture is, “For God loved the world so much that 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)

Godly love has not been in the world, outside of those who know God, since the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve. The world is incapable of this love if it does not know the true God of the Bible. John writes, “…. for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” (1Jn.4:7b nlt) Obviously those who do not know God do not possess the love needed the help the world in crisis. But Christians do! “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1Jn.4:9-10 nlt)

It is vital for every Christian to know what really matters after we have accepted Christ as savior. Paul encourages us to ‘keep on growing in knowledge and understanding’ and that our love would overflow. It is not sentimental love, but love rooted in the knowledge of God. Understanding what really matters will help us to ‘live pure and blameless lives.’ Paul writes, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” (Ph.1:11 nlt) Then we are capable to share the gospel, the love of God, with the world who so desperately needs it. That’s ‘what really matters when it comes to love.’