Tag: Obedience

Devotionals

Pushing God Aside        

Loring Schultz

Read: Numbers 20:1-13 NLT – Moses Strikes the Rock – In the first – Bible Gateway

“Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out.” Numbers 20:11a NLT

Photo by Jonas Kakaroto on Unsplash

Have you ever found yourself saying amid a problem, ‘Hey, no problem, I got this?” Maybe you asked the Lord for His help, probably not if you ‘got this’. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Our failure to ask God for His help is just that, our failure. The Lord is always there to help us even when we do not ask Him. So perhaps it was God all along who had this.

Nevertheless, Christians are to be careful of a having a smug attitude. Thinking we don’t need God in situations we deem we can handle is pushing God aside. Yes, the Lord gave us a brain to work things out, but if our attitude is ‘I’ got this ignoring God, we’re forgetting God by pushing Him aside. There may not be any consequences other than a failed project, but a continuing do-it-yourself-attitude without God will lead to disobeying to God at some point and then there will be consequences.

Moses did not have a do-it-yourself-attitude except one time, and it cost him from entering the Promised Land. The children of Israel were constantly complaining about their conditions traveling in the wilderness. Once again there was a lack of water, and they complained bitterly to Moses. They blamed Moses for no water and for making them leave Egypt entering the wilderness to die. Moses and Aaron went before the Lord and He instructed them on what to do.

The Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water.” (Num.20:8a nlt) Moses had the experience of providing water for the people of Israel years earlier through the Lord’s help. He followed the Lord’s instructions to strike the rock at Horeb and water gushed out. (Ex.17:6) But this time the Lord instructed Moses to speak to the rock and water would come forth. Frustrated with the people’s complaining, Moses basically said, ‘I got this.” “Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. ‘Listen, you rebels!’ he shouted. ‘Must we bring you water from this rock?’” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out.” (Num.20:10-11a nlt) Moses was taking the glory for himself rather than putting it on God where it belonged. He pushed God aside and the consequences of that sin was being denied entrance into the Promised Land.

We may not have such an experience as Moses but let us not carry an “I got this’ attitude thinking we don’t need God, especially if our efforts included something the Lord would disapprove of. May we be wise in what is right and wrong and not push God aside.

Devotionals

Don’t Forget to Remember

Loring Schultz

“Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day when the foundation of the LORD’s Temple was laid. Think carefully……But from this day onward I will bless you.” Haggai 2:18, 19b NLT

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

On this date December 18, 520 B.C. the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai to the people of Judah who were about to continue rebuilding the Temple. The work on the Temple had stopped ten years earlier, but the work on the people’s own homes continued to be completed. The Lord reprimanded them in Haggai chapter 1. The leadership and the people responded, and the work began again.

The Lord told the people to “Think about this eighteenth day of December” (to remember from this day forward) how their lives were before they laid the foundation to rebuild the Temple. He wanted them to think about it carefully. The efforts in their work produced only half of what was expected. The Lord had caused a drought to occur, and sent blight, mildew, and hail to destroy their crops. Their money vanished as if they had holes int their pockets. The people of Judah were to remember their previous conditions and not forget what their sin of abandoning the Lord and His work cost them.

This December 18, 2024, may find you in an abandonment situation where you started a work for God, but it has been put on the back burner. You’ve abandoned it, meaning in a sense you’ve abandoned God. Perhaps all is not well, or perhaps it is, but you know something is amiss. The work you are pouring yourself into is not achieving profitable results. Unexpected bills are piling up, and the kids need braces. When we take our eyes off God, focusing on ourselves and our needs, we forget God can take care of both our needs and His work He assigns to do. Upon doing this we create a lot of our own problems by not trusting God.

The Lord doesn’t want to see us have problems. He desires us to obey Him and trust Him for our needs. If you are ready to get back at it for the Lord, don’t forget to remember what it was like before December 18, 2024, as the Lord told the people of Judah, “from this day onward I will bless you.” (Hag.2:19b nlt) God will never abandon His children. Let us not abandon Him.

Read: Haggai 1:1-15, 2:15-19 NLT – A Call to Rebuild the Temple – On – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Bad Luck or Bad Deeds

Loring Schultz

“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12 NLT

Photo by Chiara Guercio on Unsplash

There is an old saying that goes, ‘If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.’ I suppose that is true if holding good things happening to you is a matter of luck. It is easy to assume that everything bad occurring in life is due to bad luck, therefore the old saying becomes a matter of fact. But is it always luck that is in play in the circumstances of life? Perhaps not. Perhaps it’s something more.

Peter, in writing to Christians of his day, wrote “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” (1Pt.3:10 nlt) Happy days which lead to an enjoyable life start with always telling the truth and not saying anything that is evil. You will never need to worry about anything coming back at you if you tell the truth. Peter went on to say, “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” (1Pt.3:11 nlt) Doing good things, striving for peace and living in it will never result in negative circumstances. There’s no luck involved.

There is also no bad luck involved when bad things happen. When we are not walking in obedience with the Lord, we should not be so surprised if bad things happen. Peter writes, “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” (1Pt.3:12 nlt) Going our way by turning our back on God, doing bad deeds, will not result in the Lord’s blessings.

Yes, bad things do happen to faithful Christians under the providence of the Lord for His purposes. But we can be sure His eye is always on us during these times, and he is attentive to our prayers. It is our disobedience that brings about most of our bad times. It is not our bad luck, but our bad deeds.

Read: 1 Peter 3:8-12 NLT – All Christians – Finally, all of you – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Obey me, and I will be your God

Loring Schultz

“This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’” Jeremiah 7:23 NLT

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Do you believe in God? If your answer is yes, do you want Him to be your God? You may be a bit confused at this point, but just think it through. Just because you say you believe in God is He really your God or just one of many. Is He in competition with your career, your spouse, your vacation home, automobile, boat, or your favorite sports team? Does He hold first place on every shelf in your life, and do you obey Him wholeheartedly in everything you do? If not, then He is your God in name only.

The Lord speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the nation of Israel says, “…. Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” (Jer.7:23 nlt) This is what the Lord God wanted Israel to do when He led them out of Egypt. He didn’t want their offerings or their sacrifices, he only wanted their obedience. They believed in God, but also had other gods from the desires of their hearts to put alongside the God of heaven. Over time these idols, other gods, began to push the true God out of their lives. The Lord God says of them, “This is the nation whose people will not obey the LORD their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips.” (Jer.7:28 nlt)

God is not to be the top rung on the ladder of our gods. He is the whole latter from top to bottom and our access to eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son. There is no other way of salvation and there are no other gods able to bring us satisfaction and joy in this life than the true God of heaven. The Lord is not pleased with our misguided thinking that God is our God simply for our weekly church attendance or our five-minute prayers. He wants us to be totally obedient to Him and to have no other gods before Him, the first commandment. Believe God when He says, ‘Obey me, and I will be your God’ and know for sure that He is.

Read: Jeremiah 7:21-29 NLT – This is what the LORD of Heaven’s – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Our Call to Love and Obedience

Loring Schultz

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NLT

Photo by Peter Laing on Unsplash

Some Christians today struggle with God’s call on their life and understandably so. I’ve been there along with many others of our generation and those of generations past. We’re conflicted by what may or not be a sign from God in a certain direction. We put out feelers to those we trust confiding in them our struggle. Afraid of missing God’s calling or being unable to fulfill all He has for us; we drift along anticipating that bolt of lightning to strike us making clear His will for us. Sometimes it happens that way but don’t waste precious time waiting for lightning to strike.

Just prior to the children of Israel entering the promised land God gave His requirements (His will) for them. His will for them was to fear Him, live for Him, love Him, and serve Him with all their heart and soul, and of course to always obey the Lord’s commands. Israel was at the starting gate and their call was to love God and obey Him. This was foundational for their own good and even survival. Love and obedience were the springboard in seeking God’s will going forward.

A good place for us to start in seeking God’s will is to put ourselves in the starting gate with the children of Israel. What does the Lord require of us in 2024? Very simple, the same requirements He had for His chosen people Israel He has for His chosen people in Christ, our call to love and obedience. If we start there, with the basics, we will be in God’s will. Over time as we grow spiritually the Lord will reveal His plans for us going forward and they will be as clear as a bright sunny day with not a cloud in the sky.

Read: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 NLT – A Call to Love and Obedience – “And – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

The Long Way Home

Loring Schultz

“Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea.” Deuteronomy 1:2 NLT

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Taking the long way home is not always your choice, but most of the time it is. You may want to enjoy the scenery the extra miles provide, or you may want to search out a certain restaurant for your next night out or explore a potential new neighborhood in which you would like to live. You may also just want to kill time. But then there are times when the choice is not yours due to detours for several reasons forcing you to take the long way home. Disappointment and frustrations set in as the miles and time added up anticipating your arrival home. There are times in our lives when we take the long way home (God’s place for us) because we were afraid to take that initial step and trust God, rather, we played it safe.

The children of Israel played it safe. The result of not trusting God and not taking that first step turned their eleven-day journey home to the promised land into forty years. When Israel was in Kadesh-barnea, the point of entry to the land God had promised them, they refused to go ahead fearing the battles that would pursue. They didn’t trust God to place them safely in the land even though they were called and chosen to enter it. They didn’t trust God to take away their fear.

The Lord calls each one of us who have trusted Him as savior to a place of His choosing to serve Him. That place is ‘home’ where we will be the most comfortable in our service to God. Not all of us are called to be pastors, missionaries, or Sunday school teachers, but we are called to serve where God directs us and in what specific area of ministry He has for us. Heed that calling whatever it may be and wherever it may be. Don’t let your fear keep you from God’s plan for your life. You’ll probably end up there eventually so quit killing time by taking the long way home and trust God to bring you into His service sooner rather than later.

Devotionals

Trusting God Completely

Loring Schultz

“But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!’” Numbers 20:12 NLT

Photo by Frankie Thomas on Pexels.com

Learning from past experiences in life is valuable. Life lessons are to be adhered to not make the same mistake again. If we do not learn from our history, we are sure to repeat it, mistakes, and all. The Christian life is full of learning experiences. A deep soul search for each of us will reveal the Lord’s presence and guidance through each one. Maybe not all of them were pleasant but reassuring of God’s guiding hand. Throughout all our experiences the Lord wants to build our trust in Him. He wants us to trust Him completely, not taking anything into our own hands.

Moses, the man of God, had more life experiences with the Lord’s help than anyone throughout history. He saw God work in miraculous ways in Israel’s release from slavery in Egypt, the opening of the Red Sea, mamma falling for food each day without exception, among other notable events in his time in the wilderness. He had learned to trust God, and his faith in Him grew stronger each year, but Moses, the man of God, had a moment when he failed to trust God completely.

The Israelites, known for their constant grumbling for forty years finally got to Moses. They were complaining again, this time, about the lack of water. Even after all they had witnessed all of God’s provisions over the last forty years, the Israelites still looked to Egypt as a better place. The Lord gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions to provide water, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water.” (Num.20:8a nlt) Moses took the staff, as instructed, but did not speak to the rock, but struck it twice in anger. Moses may have reasoned to himself that striking the rock was in order, for on a previous occasion the Lord told him to strike the rock for water, but not this time. (Ex. 17:6) He not only struck it once, but twice, and did not speak to it all. Moses didn’t trust God completely adding his own measures to it.

Failure to trust God has its consequences, both for Moses and for us. Moses and Aaron were prevented from entering the Promised Land due to their sin of not trusting God completely and taking the glory for themselves. We, too, at times run ahead of God assuming what worked the first time will work this time, failing to listen for God’s instructions for there may be a slight a change in them. God wants us to daily walk with Him, building our trust in Him, listening for His still small voice as He leads us. Out life lessons are learned by trusting God completely.

Read: Numbers 20:1-13 NLT – Moses Strikes the Rock – In the first – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

God’s Overlapping Provisions

Loring Schultz

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.” Leviticus 26:3-5 NLT

Photo by April Klein on Unsplash

The Lord God does not neglect His own. He has promised to provide for us, His children. Christians can take comfort in God supplying all our needs. Paul confirmed this as he told the church in Philippi, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ph. 4:19 nlt) How is it then, that from time to time we suffer a shortage of provisions? There are some uncontrollable factors such as the economy of any country in the world you reside in, and the fact we live in a broken world. But there are some things we can control and they’re as old as God’s instructions to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.” (Lev. 26:4-5 nlt)

The Lord promised the children of Israel He would supply their need if they obeyed the Lord their God. They would not have any lack between seasons. The threshing season started in March and would continue until the grape harvest in July. The grape harvest would then overlap with the season of planting grain. God’s continual provisions would satisfy all their needs.

God’s promise of overlapping provisions is still in effect today for every Christian claiming Jesus Christ as their savior, and the same conditions still apply. Paul warns us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” (Gal. 6:7 nlt) We are to be obedient to God in all we do as the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. If we obey God’s commands, we will witness His overlapping provisions in every season of our lives.  

Devotionals

I Pledge Allegiance

Loring Schultz

“Then she cried out, ‘Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!’ When he woke up, he thought, ‘I will do as before and shake myself free.’ But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.” Judges 16:20 NLT

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Matthew 10:37 NLT

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The Old Testament account of Samson and Delilah is intriguing in both Delilah’s deceptive means and the secret of Samson’s strength. Delilah attempted several times to entice Samson to reveal the secret of his great strength. Of course she was doing this for her own financial gain, and Samson went along to satisfy his own need in playing a game with her. Samson, a Nazirite from birth, should not have been in the position he was in. Although a man of great strength, he had a weakness for captivating women, a weakness which led to disastrous consequences.

A Nazirite is one who is separated unto God. In Samson’s day there were three restrictions for a Nazirite; no wine, no haircuts, and no contact with a dead body. In Samson’s case the angel of the Lord announced his birth to his mother by saying, “You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5nlt)

Many view when Samson finally gave in to Delilah, and she cut his hair, that the secret of his strength was in his hair. Samson himself said to her, “……If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” (Judges 16:17nlt) But, modern day theologian John MacArthur makes the following observation, “His strength came from his unique relation to God, based on his Nazirite pledge. His long hair was only a sign of it. When, Delilah became more important to him than God, his strength was removed.” (1) Samson’s pledge of allegiance was to Delilah, not to God as before.

Jesus, in instructing His disciples, said “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.” (Mt. 10:37nlt) These sound like harsh statements, but they are from Jesus, God the Son, who sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins, in order that we may have eternal life. To whom do you pledge allegiance?

Read the rest of the story of Samson and Delilah: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+16&version=NLT

(1) The MacArthur Study Bible; Word Publishing, Thomas Nelson Bibles, 1997.    

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

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            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