Tag: Jesus

Devotionals

I Am the Greatest

Loring Schultz

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’” Matthew 18:1 NIV

Photo by Bess Hamiti on Pexels.com

In 1964 before his heavy weight title fight against Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, made his famous pronouncement, ‘I am the greatest.’ Backing up his claim he went on to defeat Liston by a TKO after six rounds. No one can deny Ali’s greatness in the ring throughout his career; retiring in 1981 with 56 wins, only 3 loses, and 3 world titles. Many consider him to be the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) at least in the boxing realm and that may indeed be true. Desiring to be the best in your sport, even considered great by working hard at it is an admirable endeavor, but be careful not to let pride get in the way.

Jesus’s disciples were eagerly waiting the Messianic kingdom He was about to bring into existence. They were also anxious about their role in the kingdom asking Jesus which of them would be the greatest. The disciples were concerned because certain ones were selected over others for specific tasks. They were more concerned with having prominence in the kingdom than what Jesus had assigned for them. They wanted to insure a favorable position, one that would meet their expectations. But they had it all wrong.

This became a teachable moment for the disciples and for us today. Jesus sat a little child before them and said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt.18:3-4) Jesus is saying entrance into the kingdom of God is not of our own works, but by the lowly position of simple faith in Him and that constitutes the greatest in the kingdom.

Let us not be prideful in our accomplishments here on earth but give the glory to God. Let us take the lowly position of childlike faith in accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, and be able to proclaim in the kingdom, ‘He is the greatest.’

Bible Studies

I AM THE VINE: Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements – 7

Loring Schultz

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 ESV

Photo by Grape Things on Pexels.com

Jesus’ seventh “I am” statement in John’s gospel is “I am the vine,” meaning He is the life. He proceeds to tell us we “are the branches,” meaning no life; for “the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine.” A branch off the vine dries up and dies, whatever fruit may have been on it will eventually rot. Jesus tells us that if we abide in Him we will bear fruit, in fact He says “much fruit.” But take note what He says next, “for apart from me you can do nothing.”

The word “abide” appears ten times in the first eleven verses of John 15. The idea is to “remain” in Christ. If your Christian life is just there going through the motions having no recognizable changes in your life, perhaps there is a separation with the vine. It is truly amazing what Christ can do for us as we remain in Him through daily Bible reading and prayer. Do not let worldly distractions keep you from what is truly important, abiding in Christ and bearing fruit.

Are you bearing fruit? Are you growing in your spiritual walk with Jesus Is your Christian life evident to those around you? Jesus said, “I am the (life) vine; you are the (dead) branches” when you do not abide in Me. Jesus says remember, “apart from me you can do nothing.” Are you abiding in Him?

Read: John 15:1-11 ESV – I Am the True Vine – “I am the true – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Nurture your Spiritual Gift    

Loring Schultz

“I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.” Luke 13:7 NLT

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

I am not much of a gardener, never have been, but I’m learning little by little the last few years. Planting a few pepper and tomato plants with my wife and caring for them has been a new experience for me. Of course, I pay particular attention to my variety of hot pepper plants, which weren’t planted until this novice got involved. One thing I do know is that if a plant does not produce its fruit, or very little, it hasn’t performed up to the potential for which it was planted. Now I realize part of the fault falls on the gardener, but I’m still learning.

The same is true for a Christian who has had a spiritual gift planted in them by the heavenly gardener. The Lord God gives a spiritual gift to every believer to be cultivated and grow for service in His church. He is the master gardener and has given us the Holy Spirit, His Word, access to Him through prayer, and encouragement of other Christians to help us reach our full potential in administering our spiritual gifts. However, failure in not producing fruit is not the fault of the master gardener, but the believer in Jesus Christ. Every Christian is responsible to nurture their spiritual lives and grow spiritually with the resources the Lord God has given us.

Jesus told a parable of a barren fig tree in the gospel of Luke. He said, “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.” (Lk.13:6-7 nlt) This is a sad example of many Christians who never mature beyond their initial acceptance of Jesus as savior. The Lord comes looking for fruitful lives but there is no fruit to be found. Their spiritual gifts lie dormant, not nurtured but neglected. It is as if Jesus said in the parable, ‘they are just taking up space in my church.’

The caretaker was told to cut down the tree by the master gardener, but a second chance was given. The Lord God gives each of us, second, third, and even fourth chances. In fact, His grace is limitless. His desire is for us to grow in Him, bearing fruit, and nurture our spiritual gifts. God wants us to live up to our full potential in serving Him in the church and to do that, we must be nurturing the spiritual gifts He has planted in us.

Read: Luke 13:6-9 NLT – Parable of the Barren Fig Tree – Then – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Hated by All

Loring Schultz

“And you will be hated by all because of My name” Matthew 10:22a NASB

Photo by Liza Summer on Pexels.com

I don’t know anyone who enjoys being hated by others. Even the slightest dislike upon us will put a damper on our emotions. Humans have the need to be loved and be accepted. We do not want others to think of us as weird, annoying, or out of touch with society. We desire to be accepted among those we have interactions with on a daily basis. The problem for Christians is this is not entirely possible if one is consistently living for Christ. Jesus Himself said, “And you will be hated by all because of My name” (Mt.10:22a nasb) ‘Hated by all’ is a powerful, all-inclusive statement. But if Jesus said it, I’ll take Him at His word. We will be hated by all.

It is important to understand who the ‘all’ are. It is all those outside of Christ, all those in need of the saving knowledge of the Savior. We are not hated by our brothers and sisters in Christ, although unfortunately we have a tendency to dislike some of them. The hatred comes from those who see us as a threat to their way of living, those who feel they have no need of ‘religion’ as they say. It comes from those who see us as judgmental for believing and obeying the scriptures. It comes from those who condemn us for believing that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Taking a stand for Christ and His Word will indeed cause some friction between us and others, even those closest to us.

Being hated or disliked by others can be avoided through the art of compromise. If you have sensed that others do not have a disregard for you concerning your belief and walk with Jesus, then perhaps you are already administrating the art of compromise. The desire to be accepted by our peers opens the door to be silent or accept alternative views on Jesus and the Bible. Sadly there are also many churches who are being silent and accepting the things of world through compromise. It is time for us to evaluate ourselves individually and as the church. Are we hated by all, hated by some, or not hated at all? Jesus said we will be ‘hated by all’.

Read: Matthew 10:16-22 NASB – A Hard Road Ahead of Them – “Behold, – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements – 6

Loring Schultz

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 ESV

Photo by Kai Gradert on Unsplash

Starting out on a journey, whether a local excursion or an extended trip across the miles, requires a knowledge of the way to get to your destination. Whether using your smart phone, a GPS system, downloaded directions from a maps web site, or perhaps if you’re like me, refer to a road map occasionally (yes they still exist), all will show various ways to get there. That’s fine when traveling from here to there in our world. At times more than one option is sometimes desirable and even recommended. Today’s GPS systems will even redirect you if you make a wrong turn. If you see your life here on earth as a journey, which it is, where is your destination at the end of your life and where are you getting your directions? Will your world religions and earthly maps warn you if you made a wrong turn and are going in the wrong direction?

Ultimately if your destination is heaven; there is only one road, only one way to eternal life in heaven with God the Father. In Jesus’ sixth “I am” statement in John’s gospel, Jesus said very clearly the He is the only way to the Father. Of the seven “I am” statements, this one is the most controversial in our day. Why, because Jesus declares there are no other roads or religions, no short cuts, no long way around, no alternative route to heaven except through Him.

If what Jesus said is not true, then He would be a liar, and if He is a liar, He could not be God the Son, and if he is not God the Son, then He could not save us from our sins. All roads do not lead to heaven, only one does, Jesus! If there are other ways to eternal life except through Jesus, then Jesus’ death on the cross was in vain. No, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (Jn.14:6 esv)

Read: John 14:1-6 ESV – I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

Be careful not to pick up stones

Loring Schultz

“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” John 8:7 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

The story of a woman caught in adultery recorded in John’s gospel is a very familiar one with Christians and non-Christians alike. It reveals the hypocrisy of certain religious leaders and those who assumed the role of being one up on everyone else on morality. The main point made by many is Jesus’s words, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Admittedly there is not one of us who is able to throw that first stone, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Rom.3:23 nlt) That lesson should be applied to every Christian in our daily walk in the world in which we live. But there is also another point that lies underneath the surface of the immediate that reveals the foundation for that exchange with Jesus.

The law in which the accusers wanted evoked would have been the Old Testament law of adultery. But certain facts of the case were not presented in their entirety as only one of the participants was presented. This didn’t seem to bother those who brought the woman for their own interpretation of God’s law. The fact is they weren’t as pious towards the carrying out the law as they were about trying to set up a trap for Jesus. They cared nothing about the law, but only the response from the one who came as a fulfillment of the law.

The religious leaders brought to Jesus a woman, minus the man, caught in the act of adultery. Their intent was to corner Jesus into deciding on whether to stone her according to the Law. Jesus essentially ignored them knowing of their deception. If He agreed to stone her, Jesus would be looked upon as having no forgiveness or compassion. If He did not comply with the Law it would appear Jesus was not who He said He was, the Son of God. They did not give up but kept on asking Him. They wanted Jesus to answer them either way to discredit Him. Jesus was interfering with their authority and their way of life.

There are those today who view Jesus as interfering with their authority and their lives. They demand an answer to the laws they perceive as right and just in their own eyes. They view the commands of God found in scripture as irrelevant today. They have gathered stones in their hands and are willing to throw the first stone, believing they have no sin. But tragically their aim is at God and His Word for interfering with their way of life. Be careful not to pick up stones.

Devotionals

Never Alone

Loring Schultz

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18 KJV

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Everyone needs a little comfort every now and again. A kindly spoken word will do the trick for some while others need someone able to provide deep emotional comfort by only their presence. The frustrations of living in a complex society can be soothed quickly by others as they encourage us. They affirm the everyday struggles we all deal with, and their words are a lift to our spirit. It is often enough to help us continue. But there are times when we need the constant presence of those who comfort us in our time of need. Unfortunately, that is not always possible, if at all, in our world of responsibility. However, there is one constant companion who will never leave your side of comfort. So, you will never be alone.

In the upper room the night before going to the cross Jesus prepared the disciples for His leaving. He informed them they would not be left comfortless; He would always be with them. He promised to send the Holy Spirit, His constant presence with them. Jesus assured them, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” (Jn.14:16 nlt)

Jesus kept His promise. The Holy Spirit is with every believer in Jesus Christ. If you know the Lord as your savior, He is your constant companion and always by your side. “for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Heb.13:5b esv) What a comfort it is to know of the Lord’s presence with us in whatever we are going through. There may be times when you feel you are struggling alone, but you are not alone. Your friends and closest loved ones cannot always be there when you need them, but Jesus is always there by your side. You’re never alone.

Devotionals

Knowing God

Loring Schultz

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20 NLT

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Scores of people claim it is impossible to know God. Some find it hard to believe He is the storms of life. The western hemisphere is at the beginning of the hurricane season where tropical waves form off the coast of Africa making their way across the Atlantic Ocean. They either gain strength and become a hurricane or fizzle out along the way. If they do develop into a powerful storm, its path can be predicted well in advance, but then again it could change very rapidly. So, caution is always advised ahead of these powerful storms. This mighty power of God is seen in the forces of nature as written in the book of Psalms. “He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves.” (107:25 nlt)

Storms are one clear visible sign there is an all-powerful God. If we look around us and see all of God’s creation and His power in creating, we will see many of His invisible qualities. Breath taking views around the earth such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, the state of Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, and Niagara Falls in the United States and Canada show amazing wonder only made possible by the power of God. The world has the following list of God’s creation for all to admire; Mount Everest in Nepal’s Himalayan Range, the Amazon Rainforest in South America, the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, and the display of the Northern Lights recently enjoyed by many here in the eastern United States.

These visible signs are given to us by God so none would be without an excuse that we never knew there was a God. The apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (1:20 nlt) God has not left us on this earth without revealing Himself. If we look around, we cannot deny it. Do you know God personally or just acknowledge His existence through His creation? He has also created a way to truly know Him through His Son Christ Jesus, co-creator with Him (Col.1:16) We are without excuse for not knowing God. Don’t wait until a powerful storm of life comes your way to acknowledge God and accept His Son Jesus Christ as your savior. The next storm could be just over the horizon.

Bible Studies

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE: Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements – 5

Loring Schultz

“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.’” John 11:25 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

The story is told of another miracle perform by Jesus in the eleventh chapter of the gospel of John. It is also the basis for His fifth “I AM.” This particular one is perhaps the greatest of them all. Jesus raised a person from the dead, one who had been dead four days. The person was Lazarus, a very close and personal friend of Jesus along with Lazarus’s sisters Mary and Martha. When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was before he left in response to the news. (Jn.11:6) The question immediately comes to mind, why? Why did he wait two days?

Some have suggested that Jesus knew that Lazarus was already dead when the messenger’s arrived to tell Him that His friend was sick. Perhaps so, but there seems to be a deeper explanation. For those present at Lazarus’s resurrection and for those of us in our day, it is a matter of trust (or faith) in Jesus Christ. Do we believe He is in control of every portion of our lives, that He is never late, and that He loves us knowing what is best for us? Do we believe He is God the Son, and have faith that nothing is impossible for Him to do?

Raising Lazarus from the dead was not impossible for Jesus to do, He is the resurrection and the life. Jesus also said, “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (Jn.11:26 nlt) We are assured of a place in heaven and eternal life if we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son.

Jesus is speaking to you and me when He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, (insert your name)?” (Jn.11:25-26 nlt)

Read: John 11:1-44 NLT – The Raising of Lazarus – A man named – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

With whom do you stand, with Caiaphas or Christ?

Loring Schultz

“Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death.” Matthew 26:59 ESV

FreeBibleimages.com

Caiaphas was the high priest in Jesus’ day. He was the head of the whole council of Jewish leaders. They were seeking to find an accusation against Jesus to put Him to death. A guilty verdict was already in from the leaders. They now had to find evidence to support their decision. Not finding any credible evidence Caiaphas finally asked Jesus outright, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Mt.26:63 b esv) Jesus answered He was and was guilty as charged of blasphemy by the rulers, that is if He wasn’t who He said He was.  

You may find the title of this devotional ‘with whom do you stand, with Caiaphas or Christ?’ insulting. I insulted myself by asking the question. We can’t imagine ourselves making false accusations about Jesus or denying Him in any way. Doing anything intentionally deceitful to harm His name or hurt Him would be unthinkable. But are we capable of unintentionally, and without thinking, giving in to the pressure of the world system and denying Him by not defending Him at every turn?

The world today views Jesus as a historical figure. More people than not accept the fact of a historical Jesus who walked the earth two thousand years ago. The separation comes when asserting this Jesus was more than a good man, teacher, and philosopher, but God the Son the second person in the trinity. Scores of people, even so-called Christian religious leaders of our day, discount that Jesus is God the Son denying the truth of scripture and bowing to the idols of watered-down Christianity of unity, love, peace, and inclusion.

Leaders of watered-down Christianity and those who followed them have it half right. Jesus is indeed all about unity, love, peace, and inclusion. But the missing half is the acknowledgement of sin and the need to repent and confess. Jesus provided more than an example to follow on how to live. He provided the only way on how to live righteously as a child of God. Jesus provided the only way of salvation and eternal life by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Only one who was perfect without sin, not just a good man, is capable to take away the sin of the world. We are all in need of having our sins removed, and all the unity, love, peace, and inclusion will never accomplish that.

Our modern-day world with watered-down Christianity is standing with Caiaphas denying that Jesus is the Son of God. So again, I’ll ask myself the question, ‘with whom do I stand, with Caiaphas or Christ?’ How about you?

Read: Matthew 26:57-68 ESV – Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council – Bible Gateway