Tag: Jesus

Devotionals

Shifting Sands

Loring Schultz

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLT

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:19a NLT

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Everything is constantly changing, in fact the only thing that is constant in life is change. All changes have their own speed at which they develop. Some changes happen slowly over time in which you hardly notice and some very quickly that you need to hold on to get through it. Constant unpredictable changes that are difficult to handle at times not knowing where to turn is known as ‘shifting sands.’ We have all gone through them, perhaps you may be going through shifting sands this day, well there is good news. There is someone to turn to for help.

Managing change is not easy for some people. It takes us out of our comfort zone. We like things to stay the same as they are. Shifting sands tend to move quickly causing anxiety. The unexpected of what may occur next is in the forefront of our minds. How do I deal with this change before the next one comes along? Shifting sands are aways moving and are not limited to any one scope, but to every individual, all matters of business, society and culture, family structures, and even in the church. So OK, who do I turn to?

There is no one who knows more about change than one who does not change. This sounds like an oxymoron. Who would know more about the effects of change and how to deal with it than one who has experienced quite a bit of it. This may be true for us who are able to help our friends and loved ones handle changes they are going through, but not all of us experience changes in the same way. There is only one true source of help in our time of changing needs and that is the one who does not change, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the one constant in life we can count on not to change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is also our strong anchor in the storms of life to hold on to. His love, mercy, and grace towards us are the same, and His will for us is the same. The shifting sands in our lives are all part of God’s design for us and He who does not change will see us through the constant unpredictable changes. You can count on it!

Devotionals

Your Will or God’s Will Be Done?

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

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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

My Thorn in the Flesh

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

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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

A Little Straight Talk

Loring Schultz

“After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.’” Matthew 17:22-23 NLT

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There comes a time in everyone’s life when a little straight talk is needed. The best way to handle this is to give it to them straight. Important matters needing attention should not be dismissed due to not wanting to hurt or offend someone. When one is mature enough to handle the truth, an honest conversation from one who is trustworthy will be beneficial helping them to go forward in life.

Jesus’ disciples needed a little straight talk. It is not that Jesus was not forthright in speaking to them. In manners they were able to understand, Jesus explained everything to them plainly. Jesus didn’t ignore His disciples’ questions answering them in their ability to comprehend. When Jesus spoke in parables to the people, He then privately explained them to the disciples. But when the disciples began to realize that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the time had come for some straight talk. Jesus was about to tell them of His betrayal, His death, and His resurrection; His mission.

It was difficult for the disciples for accept this especially Peter who ‘took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.’ (Mt. 16:22 nlt) Sometimes straight talk is hard to handle but it is necessary. In Peter’s case and in ours as hard as it is to accept, Jesus’ mission on earth was to live a perfect life and to lay it down by being betrayed, crucified, and rising from the dead so that we may have eternal life with Him. It has been said, ‘a little straight talk never hurt anyone’, and in fact this straight talk saves everyone who believes.

“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)

Bible Studies

God’s Vineyard of Grace: The Parables of Jesus

Loring Schultz

“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 NLT

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

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            This week our parable is the ‘Parable of the Vineyard Workers in God’s Vineyard of Grace.’ As last week’s parable had a backstory to it, so does the Vineyard Workers. Again, it is Peter who has asked Jesus a question. Peter’s concern was he and the other disciples sacrificed their livelihood in following Jesus and thought they would get shortchanged in the kingdom. He asked Jesus, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” (Mt.19:27 nlt) The sentiment was that the disciples should be ranked on a higher scale in the kingdom than others who have not given up as much. Jesus sets them all straight by explaining the measure of God’s grace to everyone in the kingdom of heaven. He tells them, “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” (Mt. 19:30 nlt) Jesus then proceeds to teach “The Parable of the Vineyard Workers in God’s Vineyard of Grace.”  

            The parable begins with a landowner going out to hire workers for his vineyard. This most likely occurred during harvest season as landowners would hire day workers gathered in the marketplace looking for work. Workers were hired at the start of the day for an agreed amount of pay for a day’s wages. Throughout the day the landowner would return to the marketplace and find those who needed work. Arriving at 9 o’clock, at noon, and right up until the last hour, he found others who needed work and sent them into the vineyard agreeing to pay them what was right. At the end of the day the workers got paid, and each received the same amount, a full day’s wages. Those who worked all day were upset either that they did not receive more or that the others were treated the same by the gracious landowner. The landowner answered them by saying, “Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?” (Mt.20:13-15 nlt)

            Jesus is saying all those in the kingdom have the same amount of grace applied to them. Those who have been Christians most of their lives and have done great service for Christ will be in the kingdom along with those who have done little due to limited time to serve Him since their conversion. God’s grace is applied equally to all.

            The Kingdom of Heaven is not a commercial venture. You cannot buy your way into heaven. Nor can you earn your way or achieve greater recognition or rewards for service through hard work, helping the poor, caring for others, church attendance, or any other charitable means you may employ. It is only by God’s grace that we have access to heaven as we believe in His Son Jesus for Salvation. (Eph.2:8-9) Entrance into the kingdom is by God’s grace alone at the moment He bestows it upon us whether in our childhood or in old age while on our death bed.

For those of us who have been Christians a long time are we using the time God has given us to serve Him?  Those of you who have recently come to know the Lord, are you being faithful in the opportunity given to you to serve Him? And are we all praying for those who have not yet accepted Christ as Savior? We are all workers in God’s vineyard of grace, may we be faithful in the work He has given us.

Read: Matthew 20:1-16 NLT – Parable of the Vineyard Workers – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

The Temple of the Living God

Loring Schultz

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.” 2 Corinthians 6:14, 16a NLT

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There are deep divisions in the world in which we live. We have come to notice it more in recent years due to the political landscape of our day, but divisions have always been throughout millenniums. The bottom line is all the divisions in the world stem from one source, one’s belief or non-belief in the creator of all things. Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Lk. 11:23 nlt) It is easy to see from Jesus’ words, why there is so much division between people, nations, communities, and all the religions of the world. Jesus’ words are divisive, and in today’s world divisiveness is not tolerated. The world is to be united.

The apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth they are the temple of God. Every individual in Christ is a temple of the living God. He stresses God’s temple cannot be in union with the religions of the world (idols). In the same way, Christians (God’s temple) cannot be in union with those who oppose God by living contrary to His teachings in Scripture. Christians are not to be supportive of legislation enacted that violates God’s moral laws, but we are to pray for all those in authority. Paul again writing to Timothy says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1Tim. 2:1-2 nlt)

Christians are to be a beacon of light in a dark world, always being careful not to have our light dimmed by sin in our lives, but to live righteously. Christians are also to be careful not to alienate ourselves from others. We are to live in the world but not be part of it. (Ro.12:2) The command from Christ to tell others about Him cannot be realized if we isolate ourselves. The world must see the temple of the living God in our lives. It is a delicate balance, but scripture points to the fact no union is possible with those outside of Christ no matter how much the desire for unity.

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT – The Temple of the Living God – Don’t – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Will He Find Us Faithful?

Loring Schultz

“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.” Matthew 24:45 NLT

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Managing the affairs of others whether personal or business interests is a responsibility that will be either rewarded or reprimanded in some fashion. During my retail career I have managed the business interests of several companies by managing several individual locations. I had been rewarded financially and with promotions, but also had come to reprimand on occasion. The last company I worked for kept me around for 21 years before my retirement, so I guess they considered me faithful. Christians are to be faithful in all walks of life; in our families, in our jobs, with our friends and neighbors, in our social life, in our commitments, and to the Lord God we serve.

Jesus Christ promised He was going to return to earth bringing His reward with Him. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” (Rev.22:12 nlt) Before Jesus left this earth to return to heaven, He gave us both His personal and business interests to manage for Him. Jesus told His disciples and anyone of us who claim to be followers of Him, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” (Mt.28:19-20a nlt)

None of us know the date of Jesus’ return. So, we better listen when He tells us what we should be doing waiting for His return. “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.” (Mt.24:45-46 nlt) We do not have a deadline for when our project is to be completed, but it will be completed on the day of His return. We all need to ask ourselves the following. Will He find us faithful, what will our evaluation look like, and will there be a reward for it?

Bible Studies

The Unforgiving Debtor: Parables of Jesus

Loring Schultz

“You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Mt.18:32b-33 nlt)

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            This week in our study of the parables of Jesus we have one on forgiveness. Sometimes the hardest thing for a person to do is to forgive. This is especially true if the one extending forgiveness is extremely hurt. There are times one would finally agree to forgive the offender, but then adds they will never forget. Not much of a comfort for the one seeking forgiveness. Jesus is the perfect teacher to show us the true art of forgiveness and he did it in several ways recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible.

            Our parable this week, ‘The Unforgiving Debtor’, has a backstory to it. Peter, the always inquisitive disciple, asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Mt.18:21 nlt) Peter thought the number of seven was sufficient since Rabbinic teaching only required three. Jesus’ answer didn’t follow the teaching of three being the acceptable number. He didn’t put a number on it. Jesus told Peter his number seven was insufficient. The correct number was seventy-seven. In others words it was to an uncounted number of times. Jesus takes this opportunity to teach us all a valuable lesson on forgiveness. Christians who have received God’s forgiveness are accountable to forgive others considering the enormous debt we have been forgiven as we will see in this parable.

            In Jesus’ earthly story there is a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants who did business for him. These servants could have been governors of the provinces in the kingdom. One servant was in arrears of one million dollars in today’s currency. How did this servant come to owe such a lager debt we don’t know, perhaps it was mismanagement in the taxation process, or a complete mishandling of public funds, which is just as prevalent in our day. The amount was so excessive this governor couldn’t pay it back in a lifetime. The king then ordered that he, his wife and children along with all that he owned be sold to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’” (Mt.18:26 nlt) The king knew that he had no means in which to pay the debt. There was nothing he could ever do in his lifetime that would be enough to satisfy the debt.

The king of heaven, the Lord Jesus, knew there was nothing we could ever do to pay our debt regarding our sin. We are all doomed to a Christless eternity without our debt being paid in full, and we are not able to pay it. The king in Jesus’ story “was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.” (Mt.18:27 nlt) The king forgave the servants debt completely. It was only by the king’s grace and mercy he was free from the unpayable debt. No need to worry about back payments, the debt was marked paid in full. Jesus Christ paid our sin debt on the cross of Calvary. What we cannot do for ourselves, He did for us. When we accept Christ as our savior, our account is marked paid in full.

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Christians should be the most forgiving people on the planet considering the forgiveness granted to us unto salvation. Apparently though this is not always the case. Therefore, the need for more of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus continues His parable, “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.” (Mt.18:28 nlt) This servant who was just set free from a lifetime debt was worried about a few thousand dollars owed to him by a colleague. This debtor also begged for more time, but what was different was his colleague had the ability to pay and only needed a little more time to clear the debt. But the unforgiving debtor refused and had his fellow worker put in prison.

            Needless to say, when the king heard of the matter, he was furious. He called for this servant and said to him, “You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Mt.18:32b-33 nlt) Our Lord Jesus, King Jesus, has the same right to question us the same way should we ever forsake the forgiveness He has shown us by not granting it to others. No matter what offenses may have been done to us, it pales in comparison to our sin before the Lord. Our Lord forgives us of our sin as often as we come to Him, yes even seventy-seven times. May we do the same and forgive all those who ask for forgiveness remembering the debt that was forgiven on our behalf by our king, King Jesus!

Read: Matthew 18:21-35 NLT – Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Food for the Journey

Loring Schultz

“……I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.” Matthew 15:32b NLT

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I am sure we have all heard the expression, ‘life is a journey.’ Indeed, it is. Curiously though no two people are on the exact same path in life. There may be similarities, but just as everyone is unique in their own way, their journey in life follows the course planned out for them. And for the Christian, the Lord had your life journey drawn up before you were even a thought in your parents’ mind. “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Ps.139:16 nlt)

Throughout our journey in life, we need subsistence to sustain us. We need a daily intake of food to nourish us to survive our physical life, and we need a daily intake of spiritual food to survive in our spiritual life. During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He had two occasions where He provided food for thousands of people as they were coming to Him for healing and to hear His teaching. Jesus had compassion for the people giving them both physical and spiritual food. He did not want to send the crowds away hungry for they might faint along the way.

Our Lord Jesus has the same compassion for us in our spiritual walk with Him. He does not want us to faint along the way in our life journey. He provides us with food to sustain our spiritual growth through His Word. As we have our quite time with Him, through our devotions, prayer, and Bible reading we can rest assured that we will not go away hungry. Make sure you put in the effort to get your daily spiritual nourishment for the journey. Jesus doesn’t want to send you away hungry.

Devotionals

They found Jesus, or did they?

Loring Schultz

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT

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The world has known of people who in their own words had a ‘come to Jesus’ moment. A present public life which is contrary to their previous lifestyle is doubted by some and praised by others. Over time the genuineness of their conversion is seen by the actions represented in their lives. The apostle Paul writes, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17 nlt) Truly those who have come to know the Lord will display the new life being lived out in them.

Sadly, there are many who make a profession of faith in Christ who have had an emotional experienced of some sort but have not fully committed their lives to Christ. It may have been a self-serving decision determining to be a better person, or a hope for better circumstances to influence their life. But eventually whether they found Jesus or not will be revealed.

Ezekiel prophesying of Israel’s spiritual regeneration notes it is an action of the Lord God. God says He will give them a new tender responsive heart by taking out their stony stubborn heart, and He will put a new spirit in them. His spirit will enable them to be obedient to God’s decrees. Notice it is the Lord God who gives them the new heart with the ability to obey Him. Jesus says in the gospel of John, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…… This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” (Jn. 6:44, 65 niv)

Those of us who have truly found Jesus, found Him as the Holy Spirit drew us to Him. Accepting Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit enabling us to obey Him and ‘walk the walk’ as we say. This is not to say we don’t ever sin again, but our walk will be consistent with our faith in Christ with no one needing to question did we find Jesus. No, He found us, and we accepted His free gift of salvation as His spirit drew us to Himself.

Is the Holy Spirit drawing you to salvation in Christ? Do not resist His gift of a new tender responsive heart leading to salvation and accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life.