Tag: Obedience

Devotionals

Don’t Give Up               

Loring Schultz

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” Galatians 6:9 NLT

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Have you ever reached a point in your life when you throw up your hands and say, ‘why bother?’ You obey the law, except perhaps going over the speed limit, you’re kind to your neighbors sharing what the Lord has blessed you with, you volunteer for community projects, and you give to the poor. After a while you experience unsettling times when you sense your efforts are underappreciated or not recognized at all. On top of that, you don’t see anywhere your goodness has made a difference. Indeed, it can be unsettling. Paul has some advice for us ‘don’t give up.’

As the farmer waits patiently through the hot summer months until autumn to reap his crop, so must we be patient and not give up.. Our heavenly Father is the master gardener and we are His workers in His field. Our main job is to constantly plant seed, do good works as unto the Lord allowing Him to nurture our efforts by watering the ground and providing abundant sunshine to produce a bountiful crop. Some of our efforts may fall on hard stoney ground and never have the chance to sink in and make a difference. That shouldn’t stop us from doing good. We are to faithful and give it to the Lord.

It can be frustrating not seeing results from our work and not being appreciated, but we are not doing it for ourselves but for the Lord. His command to us is to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. And remember Paul’s advice, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” So, don’t give up!

Devotionals

Back where you belong  

Loring Schultz

Read: Zechariah 10:6-12 ESV – “I will strengthen the house of – Bible Gateway

“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.” Zechariah 10:6 ESV

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Are there periods of time in your life when you feel out of place? You are not where you’re supposed to be. Maybe through a fault of or own, or not, but you are out of place. Perhaps some sin drew you to this place of discomfort and though you don’t want to admit it, you know it’s true. You either put yourself there or the Lord put you there to chastise you, or both. There is a way out, there is good news on the horizon for those who know and trust God. You are not rejected forever if you are His child. When you call out to God in repentance, asking for forgiveness He will answer you and you’ll soon be back where you belong.

Both the ten tribes of Israel in the north, and the tribes of Benjamin and Judah in the south were taken captive to a place they didn’t belong. Both due to their continual sin against the Lord God and refusing to obey His commandments. The Lord has promised to restore them fully as if He had never rejected them. The southern tribes were returned to their land seventy years after captivity but never again had full autonomy. The northern tribes never regain their self-governing either. But one day, as God has promised, both will be restored again as one nation in the millennial kingdom.

God’s promise to the children of Israel is a promise all Christians can hold to as His chosen people in Christ. The Lord will have compassion on you as you seek and obey Him bringing you back where you belong, in His will.  

Devotionals

Honest and Trustworthy

Loring Schultz

Read: 2 Kings 12:4-16 NLT – One day King Joash said to the priests, – Bible Gateway

“No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.” 2 Kings 12:15 NLT

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Being honest and trustworthy is harder for some people than you may think. It comes naturally for some, but just as naturally for others who are not honest and trustworthy. There is a story in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings that depicts both sides of being honest and trustworthy. Joash, the king of Judah, set out to have the Temple of God restored. It had been 124 years since its completion, and it had fallen into disrepair due to age. Joash’s plan was to allocate a portion of the Temple offerings to fund the necessary repairs. The priests were put in charge to oversee the operation. Sounds like a plan, but it did not succeed.

“But by the twenty-third year of Joash’s reign, the priests still had not repaired the Temple.” (2Kg.12:6 nlt) The priests did what so many of us do. They sat on it. To be fair, perhaps the offerings were small and not adequate for their own needs. This was possible due to mistrust from previous years of idolatry. Joash told them they were to receive no more money and what they had was to be used in repairing the Temple. The priests’ response is not one we would expect of God’s servants in the Temple. They agreed but also would take no part in the restoration project including paying for it. They passed it off. I would not say the priests were dishonest, but they were not trustworthy in doing all they could even with minimum funds to start the process of making repairs. They were also disobedient to the king.

King Joash came up with another plan to secure financing and it worked. The people responded and dropped their money in the chest the king provided at the entrance of the Temple under guard. As the money was collected it was given to the construction supervisors who paid for the carpenters, builders, masons, and stonecutters, along with purchasing materials. And “No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.” (2Kg.12:15 nlt) Something we would all like to be noted for, ‘honest and trustworthy.’ It shouldn’t be too difficult for us to find work and our integrity will never be in question. The priests can be given the benefit of the doubt, but they will always be the subject of conversation. May we not get sidetracked with our concerns that we lose the passion for what God has called us to do and become untrustworthy.

Devotionals

Bottomless Grace 

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Kings 17:8-16 NLT – The Widow at Zarephath – Then the LORD – Bible Gateway

“There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:16 NLT

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I enjoy going to a restaurant that serves a bottomless cup of coffee. You never worry if that second cup is coming or will I have enough coffee to finish my meal. There is a story in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings that tells of a poor widow who had a bottomless cup of grace given to her for her faith and obedience to God.

The prophet Elijah predicted there would be no rain for the next couple of years until Elijah spoke it. No rain led to a famine that devastated all of Israel. Elijah wasn’t exempt from feeling the effects of the famine. The Lord did provide for him in miraculous ways, one of them through this poor widow. Elijah was told to go to the town of Zarephath north of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea where he would meet a woman who would feed him. He met her, but she only had enough for one last meal for her and her son and after that she expected they would die. But God told Elijah that she would feed him.

When the woman told Elijah of her dilemma he responded in a way to test her faith as she revealed an awareness of the Lord God Elijah serves. “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1Kg.17:13-14 nlt) The woman would have a bottomless flour and olive oil supply.

She obeyed the word of the Lord and was given bottomless grace for the daily provisions as long as the drought and famine continued. Perhaps you’re facing a dry spell in your life on this day. Maybe you’re in the middle of a spiritual drought. Perhaps the Lord is testing you to step out in faith and help someone at your own expense as the poor widow. She obeyed the Lord and her needs were met. Why not do the same and receive a bottomless cup of grace from the Lord. It’s much better than a bottomless cup of coffee.

Devotionals

Daniel’s Exemplary Prayer      

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 6:1-13 NLT – Daniel in the Lions’ Den – Darius the – Bible Gateway

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem.” Daniel 6:10 NLT

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Christians struggle today as to when is it appropriate to disobey the government. What would be a legitimate reason to ignore certain laws and encourage others to do the same. I’m sorry, I’m not about to give you an approved list which enables you to defy the government, but I will give us all an example of what is right when the time is right.

The prophet Daniel lived his entire adult life in captivity. Captured as a teenager and brought to Babylon during the destruction of Jerusalem, Daniel proved to be an example of one who completely trusted and obeyed God whatever the circumstances. He never wavered, and the Lord used Daniel to work out and reveal His purposes. Now in his eighties, and still well respected by those who now held him captive, Daniel was about to put his faith and obedience on display.  

Daniel was one of the top officials in the new kingdom of Medo-Persia serving Darius the king. Darius’ favoritism of his highly regarded official brough envy among his colleagues so much they concocted a plan to get rid of him. They convinced the king to sign a law stating that “for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human— (except Darius the king)—will be thrown into the den of lions.” (Dan.6:7 nlt) They knew Daniel would not comply, seeing him three times a day praying towards Jerusalem, they got him, well, sort of.

If you’re familiar with the story of ‘Daniel in the lions’ den’ you know it has a happy ending. Daniel knew that if he obeyed the king’s law, he would be disobeying God. So, he did what he always did, he reached out to God for help in his daily prayers. Daniel had no assurance that God would deliver him, but he knew that He could, and he was not going to disobey the Lord God who had blessed him all his life. Let the same be said of us.

Devotionals

A Distress Call     

Loring Schultz

Read: Jonah 2 NIV – From inside the fish Jonah prayed to – Bible Gateway

“He said: ‘In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.’” Jonah 2:2 NIV

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A ‘distress call’, also known as a distress signal, is an internationally recognized call for help. The calls are communicated through radio signals over medium to high frequencies across land or sea. The signals alert emergency units that a watercraft, aircraft, or other vehicle is in imminent danger and in need of rescue. Other forms of distress signals include an emergency aerial or handheld flare, sending morse code S.O.S., showing flames on a vessel, a continuing sound of fog-signaling devices, and firing a gun at one-minute intervals. All are forms of communication with the sole purpose of crying out for help in a desperate situation.

The prophet Jonah sent out his own distress call from the belly of a great fish. He no doubt needed a rescue. Although he was in that desperate spot due to his own disobedience to God, he cried out to the only one who could save him. Jonah had a change of heart after God kept him alive after his attempt to take his own life by having his crew mates throw him overboard. Jonah refused to follow where God told him to go and what he was to do. In fact, he went in the opposite direction.

You may find yourself in a similar situation today. You’re not where God was leading you and told you go. You’ve been running in the opposite direction doing your own thing, and it’s not working out for you. You may not be far away from danger, or perhaps you are already there needing to send out that distress call. Jonah said the Lord listened to his cry; He will listen to yours. It’s never too late to turn around and go where God is calling you and do what He has planned for you. Don’t hesitate, send out that distress call!    

Devotionals

Don’t Forget the Inbounder

Loring Schultz

“But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:25 NLT

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The other evening, I was watching the final seconds of a NCAA men’s college basketball tournament game. Game tied, the inbounder put the ball in play then immediately set himself up to retrieve the ball under the basket for an easy dunk. Game over! The commentator cried out, ‘Don’t forget the inbounder.’ He wasn’t covered. Both squads had their final instructions for that final play from their coaches. The offense played it perfectly. The defense failed to execute, forgetting what they heard in the bench huddle, leaving the inbounder wide open.

Reading a verse from the book of James this morning, I realized how easy it is to forget something we just heard or read. James writes, “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” (Ja.1:25 nlt) When things go wrong in my life most of the time it can be traced back to forgetting what I heard from Scripture. Obviously, there are no blessings when struggling with the results of disobedience. But after reading and hearing the Word preached, if we do what is heard and not forget, God promises blessings.

God’s Word is our lifeline in this world leading us to eternal life in the next. It is His game plan drawn up for us to follow in this game called life. Executing it will lead to a life full of blessings, and assurance of salvation. Forgetting what we hear will result in more than losing a game but losing our very souls.

Devotionals

Joyful Through Obedience       

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 112 NLT – Psalm 112 – Praise the LORD! How joyful – Bible Gateway

“Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.” Psalm 112:1 NLT

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Being joyful is a feeling that is expressed through gladness. It is deeper than being happy, which is momentary, and a little shallow compared to being joyful. Real joy penetrates our inner being placed there by something that stirs our hearts and doesn’t fade over time as quickly as a happy occasion. Most of us experiencing joy can testify that it does seem to slip away on occasion. We may or may not know why, but it is evident that something happens to remove the joy we had. Are there steps we can take to prevent losing our joy? Is God concerned when our joy is slowing fading like the evening sun? Yes, there are steps we can take, and God cares enough that He gave us instructions in His Word how to restore our joy.

The psalmist writes, “How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.” (Ps.112:1 nlt) Here are two steps to consider if we are not putting them into practice. Do we have the reverence for God we should have?  The creator of all things of which there would not be anything if He didn’t create, gave us life and He is worthy of our praise and reverence. We would not be here without Him. The second step we can take to not lose our joy is to obey God’s commands recorded in the Bible. And that is easier said than done.

Rest assured God knows our make-up. He knows we are dust; He created us. We are fallen creatures in Adam’s sin incapable of doing good without His help. If you have lost your joy, ask yourself, how would you answer the previous questions. You may just find the reason why. The Lord wants to restore our joy that has been slipping away due to sin in our lives and by not showing Him reverence. Let us pray along with King David when he said, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” (Ps.51:12 nlt)

Devotionals

Do Not Be Silent            

Loring Schultz

“It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.” Abraham Lincoln

“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4:17 NLT

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Today marks the 216th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday here in the United States. Born in a backwoods cabin in rural Kentucky, Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States during this country’s most turbulent times. Two months before Lincoln’s inauguration the first state to withdraw from the union took place paving the way for the start of the Civil War. Although Lincoln never joined a church or proclaimed association with any religion, he relied heavily on the truths of Scripture especially during his presidential years. Many of his quotes recorded for us in history stem from these truths.

Abraham Lincoln was not one to remain silent on the ills that plagued America during the mid-19th century. He is noted for saying, ‘It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.’ James wrote something similar, “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (Ja.4:17 nlt) President Lincoln’s greatest accomplishment was the Emancipation Proclamation that eventually ended the horror of slavery in the United States and put an end to the Civil War.

The United States still has horrors today that are afflicting the nation. Sadly, many Christians are standing on the sidelines and not engaging in the protest over evil by remaining silent. Our silence could be considered by some as agreeing with the current anti-God secular worldview. We could be considered as agreeing with the majority. Remember the majority accepted slavery in Lincoln’s time. Today, the majority accepts all kinds of evil as spelled out in God’s Word. Let us not be silent but confront the evils in our society knowing it is a sin not to do what we ought to do.

Devotionals

Guaranteed Good Things

Loring Schultz

“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11 NLT

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It’s always nice to have a guarantee on something you purchase. There is a satisfying comfort in the thought if the product breaks it can be replaced, even if you break it. But a guarantee is only as good as the word of the one backing it up. There are occasions when a guarantee is not guaranteed according to ‘the fine’ print. Always read the fine print. We all assume that there is no such thing as a sure thing, but we assume wrong. There are sure things. With the Lord God there are many sure things, and they are guaranteed.

Psalm 84:11 says, “The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Ps.84:11b nlt) It sounds to me like we are guaranteed good things from God. It certainly seems like a sure thing for God said it. There is no fine print to watch out for. The conditions are clearly spelled out for us so there is no misunderstanding. We only need to read it as it is written. It’s God speaking. But take note that it is conditional. God promises not to hold back any good thing that helps or benefits us when we obey Him and do what’s right.

With that said, we do not always see things the Lord allows in our lives as good things as we do what’s right. We must then search ourselves and ask do we trust God that His words are true? If we are in a right relationship with Him obeying His Word, and no we are not perfect, we can be assured that God will honor His Word and not withhold any good thing from us. It’s a guarantee.