Tag: Jesus

Devotionals

A Law of Perfect Harmony for All Time       

Loring Schultz

“……give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.” Matthew 22:21 NLT

“Christianity never should be identified with any political party or social theory, but Christians ever should take their stand for loyalty, for order, and for law.” Charles R. Erdman

Photo FreeBibleimages.org

            During Jesus’ ministry on earth, there were two influential groups who hated Him and wanted Jesus dead. One group were the Pharisees, or the Jewish religious rulers of the day. The other was known as the Herodians, supporters of Herod backed by the Roman government. These two groups hated each other, but they had a common enemy Jesus that brought them together. Their goal was to trap Jesus in questioning the legitimacy of paying taxes to the Roman government headed by Caeser. In answering, yes or no, each party would be able to claim Jesus’ disloyalty either to Rome as an act of treason, or to the Jewish nation. Jesus’ answer not only settled the matter then and there, but also set precedent for all Christ followers from that day forward.

            Jesus said very simply to give Caeser what he is owed and give God what He is owed. The Roman government, although harsh especially to the Jews, were the authority figure that provided protection and law and order in the land. Maintaining infrastructure of the region is also a reason to support the authorities for what is owed to them. God also demands what is owed to Him. God is owed the dedication of our lives through obedience, service, and worship to Him.     

The Pharisees and the Herodians had it all wrong. They calculated Jesus had to answer one way or the other sealing His fate. Jesus’ answer to them was in perfect harmony. We are obedient to God when giving to the government what is owed as a God-ordained authority, Ceaser included, and we are obedient to God when surrendering our lives to Him. An  appropriate lessons for us to heed during the upcoming tax season is to stand for loyalty, law, and order as good citizens of our country, and to stand in obedience to God as citizens of heaven for Jesus gave us a law of perfect harmony for all time!

Read: Matthew 22:15-22 NLT – Taxes for Caesar – Then the Pharisees – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

His Healing Hand

Loring Schultz

“But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.” Matthew 8:15 NLT

Many families have a tradition of gathering together after Sunday church services either in the afternoon or evening. One of my fondest childhood memories is going over to our grandparents’ house after Sunday evening services. She would always have plenty of food and snacks ready for us. It would always be a good time with my brothers, sister, and cousins, especially listening to my uncle’s jokes. The gatherings have changed over the years in different forms, over distances, and certainly not as frequent. Families today will recall their own memories of their gatherings after Church services as the tradition continues.

During Jesus’ time on earth things were not all that different. People would gather together after being at the synagogue. The gospel of Mark tells us, “After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.” (Mk. 1:29) When they arrived at the home they found Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a high fever. No doubt this caused some anxious moments for the family as guests would be soon arriving. They spoke with Jesus about her condition and Jesus touched her and she was healed immediately. Scripture confirms, “Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.” (Mt. 8:15b)

Jesus’ healing hand was all that was needed to restore Peter’s mother-in-law to full health and strength. It wasn’t a gradually healing by getting her back on her feet and being able to feel one hundred percent in a couple of days. No, she was totally healed and was able to prepare a meal. Our Lord Jesus is the great physician and still works miracles of healing today according to His will. However we gather today with friends and family, as we are together may we remember His Healing Hand.

Devotionals

My Comfortable Clothes Are Good Enough

Loring Schultz

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.” Matthew 22:11-12 NLT

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR

            Most of us possess clothes while wearing them are very comfortable. Sometimes we regret even the need to remove them for washing, but it must be done. Physical clothing may not be the only clothing that is comfortable, our garments of intellect, financial success, good looks, and popularity never want to be removed even for something better. Jesus gave us parable to show us the terrible consequences of holding on to our comfortable clothes in place of what He has to offer, eternal life with Him.

            The parable is ‘The Parable of the Great Feast,’ or the ‘Wedding Feast.’ A king prepared a wedding feast for his son. After all the preparations were made, he sent out his servants to gather all those who were invited, but they all refused to come. The king was very angry and sent his servants out again to invite others, in fact they were to invite everyone they saw. “So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.” (Mt. 22:10 NLT) Jesus told this parable in reference to the Jewish religious rulers who had rejected Him as the Messiah. The king in the parable represents God the Father, the son is Jesus the Messiah, and those invited were the Jewish people of the nation Israel.

            God further extended His invitation of salvation to all people for John 1:11 says, “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” (NLT) Every person of all ethnicities, Jews included, male and female, black and white are invited to the wedding feast. But there is one caveat, you must remove your comfortable clothes and put on the wedding clothes the Lord has provided for you.

            In the parable, those invited the second time were given wedding clothes (God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ His Son), but some refused it as the previous invited guests had done. They were too comfortable in the clothes they were wearing and felt no need to change. In their minds the clothes they had on were good enough and they were good enough to attend the wedding feast. But the king gave the harsh reality of rejecting His Son, Jesus Christ, “Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt. 22:13 NLT) It’s time to throw away your old comfortable clothes, they are not good enough.

Read: Matthew 22:1-14 NLT – Parable of the Great Feast – Jesus also – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Rejecting the Cornerstone of Salvation         

Loring Schultz

“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 NLT

Photo by Clay LeConey on Unsplash

            The cornerstone, also called a foundational or setting stone, is the first stone set in building a brick or stone structure. Building then begins by placing bricks and stones around and on top of the foundational stone to secure a strong structure. The cornerstone must be free from defect and perfectly placed to avoid future collapse of the structure due to tilting. The term cornerstone is used several times in Scripture. In the New Testament it is applied to Jesus as being the cornerstone of salvation.

            Jesus used this term referring to Himself as He rebuked the religious rulers once again in a parable. Quoting from the book of Psalms Jesus said to them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’” (Mt. 21:42 NLT) Jesus condemned the religious rulers for rejecting Him as the only way to God, the way of salvation. The religious rulers were the wicked tenant farmers in Jesus’s parable who killed the landowner’s servants and his son to gain control of the vineyard. Jesus said to them, “I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.” (Mt. 21:43 NLT)

            Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation. Salvation is only through Him. He is the solid rock on which our salvation stands. Those who reject Him are rejecting the only sure foundation for securing eternal life. Jesus is the perfectly place setting stone. All other placed stones of good works and religious practices will crumble under the weight of self-righteousness. Do not allow your self-righteousness to continue rejecting Jesus, the cornerstone of salvation.

Read: Matthew 21:33-46 NLT – Parable of the Evil Farmers – “Now – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Come to Jesus, He will never drive you away!

Loring Schultz

“…………whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37b NIV

Photo by Alekon pictures on Unsplash

            Is there any sin you can commit that is outside the reach of God’s forgiveness? Have you found yourself in a place where you cannot approach God due to your sin, and yet knowing that you need to? Is the light of your Christian life clouded by repeated sin and keeps you from going to God for forgiveness? Have you reached a point where you feel God will or has driven you away from Him due to your sin?

            Just a couple more questions. Do you believe in God? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior? Do you believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word to us and every word is true? If you answered yes to these last three questions there is some very good news in the pages of God’s Word especially for you, the good news of God’s forgiveness and restoration for all believers saved by His grace. It is true God hates sin, but He loves you, the sinner.

            In teaching the crowd that followed Him after feeding five thousand men plus women and children, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn. 6:35 NLT) Jesus was telling them He was the way to salvation and eternal life. Those in need of repentance and forgiveness of sin leading to eternal life were to come to Him, He was the bread of life, eternal life. Jesus didn’t say to those with the most grievous sins stay away, but ‘whoever comes to me I will never drive away.’

            Jesus does not turn anyone away who comes to Him for salvation, nor He will not drive away any of those who accepted Him as savior when coming to Him in confession and asking for forgiveness. His words apply in granting salvation and in forgiving our sin after our salvation. Your sins Jesus died for covers past, present, and future sins, no matter how deplorable. Jesus wants us to come to Him with our sin, whatever it is, and confess it to Him. He will not turn His back on us, in fact, Jesus promised, “………whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Ps. 103:12 NLT)

“For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again” (Prov. 24:16 NKJV)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9 NKJV)

Devotionals

The Time of the LORD’S Favor Has Come

Loring Schultz

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19 NLT

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

            The Jewish people of the first century were looking for their Messiah as their ancestors had for centuries but were conflicted about how He was to appear to them. They did not expect Him to be one of their past neighbors from their hometown. There was a consensus among the Jews that the Messiah would be a warrior type who would come to overthrow Rome and release them from Roman oppression. It is not unlike our day where Christians are looking for the return of the Messiah (Jesus) to release us from the chaotic conditions of the world. But there is much more to it than that!

            During Jesus’s ministry He returned to Nazareth, his hometown, and was welcomed as a visiting rabbi to read from the Torah and a portion from the prophets. The section from the prophets to be read that day was from the book of Isaiah, (God’s perfect timing that Jesus would be visiting that day). It was a prophecy of the coming Messiah which after reading it, Jesus said, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Lk. 4:21b) Jesus was stating as a matter of fact that He indeed is the Messiah that was to come.

            As we anxiously await the return of Jesus Christ there are a few things to remember about His first coming. He came to bring good news to the poor, the spiritually poor. (Mt. 5:3) Jesus came to release those who are held captive by sin. (Jn. 8:31-36) He came to give sight to the spiritually blind, and to set the oppressed free from the devil. (Acts 10:38) Jesus accomplished all this by living a sinless life and sacrificing that sinless life on the cross of Calvary in payment for our sin. This is the message to be shared by all of us who profess Jesus Christ as our savior to those outside of the Lord before He does return for ‘The Time of the LORD’S Favor Has Come!’

Bible Studies

SOLA FIDE (Faith Alone)

Loring Schultz

“No doctrine is more important to evangelical theology than the doctrine of justification by faith alone—the Reformation principle of sola fide. Martin Luther rightly said that the church stands or falls on this one doctrine.” John MacArthur

 “The doctrine of justification by faith is like Atlas: it bears a world on its shoulders, the entire evangelical knowledge of saving grace.” J. I. Packer

Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash

We have come to the fourth sola of the ‘Five Solas’ of the Reformation period, ‘sola fide’ or (faith alone.) Simply put, it is by faith alone with nothing added, in Christ Jesus alone, that we enter into a saving relationship with Him securing our salvation. The apostle Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8 ESV) A part of the gift God gives to us is the gift of faith to believe. We would not believe on our own, nor would we have the faith to do so. God grants it to us. Paul goes on further to say, “not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:9 ESV) There is nothing we can do to work our way into heaven. It is all by God’s grace alone to us through faith alone and nothing else.

            It is amazing that God sees us as righteous through His Son as we put our faith in Him. Our righteousness and justification comes only through Jesus Christ and what He accomplished in our place on Calvary’s cross. The Devotional series “Heart of the Reformation” notes, “Faith alone preserves the truth that the Lord is our only Savior. Faith looks outside of ourselves and only to Jesus as the Redeemer.” Again, there is nothing we can do to gain righteousness and be justified before God except through Jesus Christ. We are sinful creatures with a sin nature and find it impossible to keep any of God’s commandments. We could never accumulate enough good deeds to be seen as righteous in God’s eyes and earn our way to heaven. Dr. R. C. Sproul notes, “The question is not whether we are going to be saved through works; the question is whose works. We saved through the works of the one who alone fulfilled the terms of the covenant works.” We are to believe in faith the works of Christ on our behalf, and believe in faith alone!

            In Jesus’s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Lk.18:9-14), Jesus points out to those who thought themselves to be righteous that they were not. The so-called righteous Pharisee in his prayer exalted himself by saying, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.’ The tax collector’s prayer was a humbling response, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Jesus explained, ‘I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.’ It couldn’t be clearer, Jesus is stating justification is by faith alone and not by works. “Martin Luther rightly said that the church stands or falls on this one doctrine.”

Devotionals

Failing to Think Outside the Box

Loring Schultz

“Philip replied, ‘Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!’ Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. ‘There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?’” John 6:7-9 NLT

Photo by Andy Sutioso on Pexels.com

            Jesus handpicked twelve men to be His followers during His three years of ministry before going to the cross. These twelve disciples got on-the-job training from the Master. Like us nowadays, some are fast learners, some need a little more explanation and direction, and some outright persuade the teacher to have great patience. The disciples probably had a mix of all these in their education process with Jesus. One thing that had not matured for the disciples early in Jesus’s teaching was faith ‘to think outside the box.’ We use that term today to: ‘explore ideas that are creative and unusual and that are not limited or controlled by rules or tradition.’ (Merriam-Webster) The disciples failed to think outside the box at a crucial time in Jesus’s teaching.

            The setting was on the other side of the Sea of Galilee as Jesus went up on the mountain with His disciples and notice a large crowd of people following Him. Jesus having compassion knowing they needed to eat took the opportunity for further instructing His disciples. Scripture says, “Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, ‘Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?’ He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.” (Jn. 6:5-6 NLT) Both Philip and Andrew gave logical answers. They didn’t have nearly enough money to buy food for all of them and had only a couple rolls and two fish from a boy’s lunch. Going by the numbers, they were correct. It was time to think outside the box about something creative and unusual, looking to Jesus. They had witnessed Jesus’s miracles of changing water into wine and healing the sick, even a boy from a distance away.  Surely, He could feed the crowd with what was available.

            Jesus was teaching His disciples and us to have faith in Him knowing He can meet all our needs. He wants us to put our entire trust in Him in overwhelming circumstances, not counting on our own limited capabilities or probable solutions. He wants us to get out of our own box and come to Him. What is impossible with us is possible with God. May we not fail to think outside the box in our time of need.

Read John 6:1-14:  John 6:1-14 NLT – Jesus Feeds Five Thousand – After this, – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree

Loring Schultz

“When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, ‘She is my sister.’ He was afraid to say, ‘She is my wife.’ He thought, ‘They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.’” Genesis 26:7 NLT

Photo by Zen Chung on Pexels.com

You may be familiar with the proverbial saying ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ Coming into English in the 1830’s from an existing German proverb the meaning refers to an individual’s traits resembling their parents. It is used to explain one’s actions in both a positive and negative way. One who is successful in life having successful parents is an apple from the tree of successful parents. A bad apple usually falls from a bad tree picking up undesirable traits. Now to be fair, that does not always hold true either positively or negatively, but when it is recognized, the saying seems appropriate.

 We have an example in the Old Testament of an apple not falling far from the tree in Genesis chapter 26. Issac is instructed by God to go down to Egypt due to the famine and reside there. Upon arriving Issac introduced his wife Rebekah as his sister out of fear for his life. This could have brought severe consequences for Rebekah if the king of the region took her for himself. Issac sinned by lying and having no regard for the safety of Rebekah. Abraham, Issac’s father, had done the same thing twice years earlier. (Gen. 12:23; 20:3) Although Abraham was a righteous man and justified by his faith in God, he set a bad example for his son to follow.

 All of us have sinned and have fallen short of God’s standards. (Ro.3:23) Even those of us who have accepted Christ as savior need daily forgiveness. Despite our failures, which will continue, are we still growing and producing good fruit? Are we good apples or bad apples? Jesus said in John 15:5a, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” (NLT) As others observed us, are they able to say positively in a favorable manner, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’

A Christian Perspective

It’s going to be a long year, so…….

Loring Schultz

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 ESV

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

            The early signs of 2024 seem to indicate this is going to be a very long year here in the United States. We have a Presidential election, and the news media is already taking sides. Each network has their bias and will state it loud and clear throughout the year. This may turn out to the most negative campaigning for the White House in the history of the United States. Not only do we have the news networks making noise, but social media out does the major networks by a landslide (no pun intended). Reading posts we find disturbing from people we know and respect, even from friends, will put us in an awkward position of how to respond, or even if we should. Probably we shouldn’t respond, but then again, some things just cannot be ignored, like the truth.

            Paul writing in the book of Colossians two thousand years ago gives us good advice even for today, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Col. 3:12 ESV) There are hard questions to be asked and answered this year. Many concerns need to be addressed for the safety and moral compass of the United States going forward in the future. The next president is going to have all those issues before them, whoever they may be. No doubt, a deep divide exists as to who is best qualified for the job, and how they will govern for the betterment of the nation as a whole and for the people. So, there will be a lot of loud, partisan discussion from both sides.

            As Christians we are to declare the truth, but more specifically the truth of the gospel. People need to come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. The only hope America has is Jesus. 2024 has all the markings of becoming a turbulent year. But the negative, harsh, and hateful rhetoric of this historic year can be tamed down effectively and efficiently as Paul points out by God’s chosen ones. May we who are believers in Christ start now and ‘put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience’ with those we encounter this year. Let the light of Christ be visible for all to see. It’s going to be a long year!