Tag: Salvation

Devotionals

Unity in the Body of Christ

Loring Schultz

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:3 NLT

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The more our politicians try to unite us, the more divided we become. That is true around the world and here in America. Promises of uniting the country fail on the first day in office for a new president and I’m sure it will happen again in January 2025 no matter who is elected. We cannot deny we live in troubling times of division in the United States. That is why it is crucial that Christians in America are united by their bond to each other through Christ. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (nlt) Paul says, ‘make every effort.’ This is not a time to be laid back.

There is strength in numbers, but don’t let that encourage you. Our true strength is found in the Lord. Nehemiah says the ‘joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh.4:10) Couple that with God’s awesome power and we will be encouraged for our days ahead. Believers in Christ need each other. Do not be a lone ranger traveling that dusty road ahead of you. Yes, you have the Holy Spirit with you, but God also gave you brothers and sisters in Christ as your family. We travel this road together having been united in the Spirit.

Jesus, in His High Priestly prayer, prayed that all who believe in Him would be one. He prayed we would be an example of perfect unity to the world, so that God’s great gift of salvation would be seen. Christians are blessed beyond measure and as we bless each other and live in peace in the strength of the Lord, others will see the love we have for one another through Christ.

In a time of such division in the United States, the only unifying factor that works is Jesus Christ. Christians can participate in the intensifying division in the nation or set the example of unity. May we all make every effort to remain united, encouraging each other as we present to the world the great unifier, Jesus Christ.

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT – Unity in the Body – Therefore I, a – Bible Gateway

Read: John 17:20-24 NLT – “I am praying not only for these – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

What Really Matters When It Comes to Love

Loring Schultz

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” Philippians 1:9-10 NLT

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The world acknowledges every time there is a catastrophic event ‘love’ is missing, that it had been here from the beginning and now it is gone. But has it always been here? The Bible says God is love and for sure He is. There is a misunderstanding of the love of God among the people of the world which justifies sinful behavior. The love of God simply stated in scripture is, “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)

Godly love has not been in the world, outside of those who know God, since the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve. The world is incapable of this love if it does not know the true God of the Bible. John writes, “…. for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” (1Jn.4:7b nlt) Obviously those who do not know God do not possess the love needed the help the world in crisis. But Christians do! “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1Jn.4:9-10 nlt)

It is vital for every Christian to know what really matters after we have accepted Christ as savior. Paul encourages us to ‘keep on growing in knowledge and understanding’ and that our love would overflow. It is not sentimental love, but love rooted in the knowledge of God. Understanding what really matters will help us to ‘live pure and blameless lives.’ Paul writes, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” (Ph.1:11 nlt) Then we are capable to share the gospel, the love of God, with the world who so desperately needs it. That’s ‘what really matters when it comes to love.’

Devotionals

National Back to Church Sunday

Loring Schultz

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

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This Sunday September 15, 2024, is the National Back to Church Sunday. It is scheduled every year on the third Sunday in September. The movement started 15 years ago to encourage the churches to act and put forth an invitation for everyone in their communities to come through the local church doors. Since its conception almost 4 million Christians have participated through over 40,000 churches.

The average adult Church attendance in the United States is around 30% down from 42% in 2004. It is projected to continue to drop as 35% of the 18-29 age group have no religious preference, and only 22% attend church services today. So, we can see the need is great for a National Back to Church Sunday.

This is not only an invitation to non-Christians who do not attend church, but for those who profess to know the Lord but have neglected meeting with other believers for worship each Sunday. The writer of Hebrews states we should be motivating one another to acts of love and good works. We can do this as part of our daily life, but it works best in church. We’re encouraged not to neglect meeting together but to continually encourage one another, especially in the days in which we are living.

It’s not too late to invite someone to church this Sunday. There are many non-church goers, perhaps some of your friends and acquaintances. Maybe even you. You might have to invite yourself first, then bring a friend. Everyone needs the peace, love, and forgiveness that only the Lord Jesus can supply for this life and eternal life. It’s time to get back in the game rather than sitting on the sidelines, and don’t worry, in most cases you’ll be home in time to see the opening kickoff.

About | Back to Church Sunday

Devotionals

Be Ready to Give an Answer    

Loring Schultz

“And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” 1 Peter 3:15b NLT

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Presidential campaigns here in the United States have a lot of criticism between candidates the closer to election day. The opposition is quick to point out deficiencies in their opponent. Once noted it is hard to overlook. One example is the claim of not being ready to give an answer when asked a question. This is a relevant concern, of course, as the future and safety of the people are at stake. How much more the future of eternity for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their savior if we are not ready to give an answer.

Peter in addressing Christians scattered throughout the world suffering severe persecution wrote, “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” (1Pt.3:14-15 nlt) Especially when they were suffering for doing good, Peter instructed them to always be ready to explain to those who asked about their Christian hope. Peter knew most definitely that some would be asked when people observed their demeaner during insults and ridicule. (1Pt.3:9-11)

Christ followers have always suffered ridicule and persecution. Christians today are being murdered at a faster rate as any time in history. Still, we are told to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. You can be certain when those outside of Christ see Jesus’ light in you pursuing peace and working to maintain it during ridicule and persecution they will ask, where did you get this hope that is in you?

You can respond with Peter’s words in 1 Peter 3:18, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” (nlt) And you can conclude with ‘I am safely brought home and have eternal life.’ So, be ready!

Read: 1 Peter 3:8-22 NLT – All Christians – Finally, all of you – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Confidence in Christ

Loring Schultz

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 NASB

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For many Christians the idea of sharing their faith is an intimidating experience. Over the years it has become increasingly confrontational in our political and cancel culture environment. Most likely the most controversial experiences occur when quoting Jesus’s own words found in the gospel of John when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn.14:6 nasb) Jesus is stating as a matter of fact that He is the only way of salvation and eternal life with God the Father. He said it in confidence because it is true.

Peter and John, in the book of Acts, made a similar statement about Jesus. They were brought before the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, to answer by what power and name a cripple man had been healed. Peter and John wasted no time in claiming it was in Jesus’s power and name that the healing took place. Then added, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 nasb) Peter and John told the Jewish rulers that the Jesus they rejected is the only way to God and they spoke it in confidence.

The cultural climate in the days of the early church although different than ours, did possess some similarities. Many nations around them had other gods, and the Jewish leaders were stuck in their traditions.  All claimed they had the way to eternal life. Peter and John’s remarks went against the religious culture of their day, but it did not stop them from proclaiming Christ as the only way.

Christians today need to be encouraged by the confidence Peter and John had through the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Jesus promised us the helper, the Holy Spirit, would come. Every born-again Christian possesses the Holy Spirit to help us in the confidence needed in sharing our faith. Let us find our confidence in Christ and boldly speak the word.

Read: Acts 4:1-22 NASB – Peter and John Arrested – As they were – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Spiritual Hunger and Thirst

Loring Schultz

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35 NLT

Photo by Kamil Szumotalski on Unsplash

Satisfying our physical hunger and thirst is rather easy. There are a variety of foods to choose from when we are hungry. Usually, we select something we like and enjoy and after partaking our hunger is satisfied. The same holds true for quenching our thirst. It’s not very pleasing to drink something not enjoyable to us. We make sure, if possible, we get what we like. But the fact is, if we have a meal with our favorite food and beverage, it will satisfy for the moment, but it doesn’t last, and we will need to eat and drink again. Our physical bodies need to be refueled daily, and the Lord supplies what we need to survive in this life.

Spiritual hunger and thirst work similarly in satisfying our souls. We try what we like, something non-judgmental, inclusive, non-committal, and feels good. Just like physical hunger and thirst, it satisfies for a while, but spiritual hunger and thirst comes back. When we try to fill our souls with what we like we will never be satisfied, because we are filling our souls with the temporary. What we need is something that will fill us eternally. Our souls have a spiritual craving to be filled and satisfied for eternity and it can only be accomplished by a relationship with Jesus Christ, God the Son.

Jesus used the illustration of the necessity of bread for survival in physical life with Himself as the spiritual bread which will satisfy forever and necessary for eternal life. “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) God provides the bread we need to survive in our physical bodies. The same is true for our souls, God has provided the only food possible to satisfy our craving for spiritual things and for eternal life, His Son, Jesus Christ. Nothing else satisfies, but Christ.

All the religions of the world and churches who do not adhere to God’s Word for the truth of salvation will leave you empty and continually searching for truth and satisfaction. God has provided the only way for you to be filled and satisfied spiritually in this life and guaranteed eternal life, it is Jesus! You can satisfy your spiritual hunger and thirst by accepting Christ as your personal savior. No need to be refueled.

Devotionals

Finding Common Ground

Loring Schultz

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22b NLT

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The apostle Paul had a heart for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible. In order to do that effectively he had to as he says, ‘…..try to find common ground with everyone.’ Paul was aware people would not be receptive to him if he could not relate to them. He also acknowledged in his efforts to reach others for Christ that there was a red line that could be crossed. Paul was careful to say, “But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.” (1Cor.9:21b nlt) Paul understood there was no compromising his life of being set apart to God and separated from the world. Yet, he sought to find common ground.

Finding common ground is a difficult task for modern-day Christians. There are countless gray areas to avoid and soon enough if we are not careful end up finding ourselves compromising God’s standards. When our common ground is in an area that displeases God and is a violation of His laws, we lose any chance we have of appearing authentic and true to the Scriptures. It is difficult to explain God’s saving grace with verses John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9 as truth while accepting others passages of Scripture as not true or not applicable in 2024. It’s all or nothing. It’s either God’s unchanging Word for life or it is not.

Christians are still encouraged to find common ground with those outside of Christ. Paul has communicated that to us, and Jesus gave us only two these commands while he was on earth, ‘“you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.’” (Mk.12:30-31 nlt) Loving God with all your heart includes obeying and living in accordance with Scripture and loving our neighbor includes sharing Jesus’ good news of the gospel along with loving them with common ground also in accordance with God’s Word. Finding common ground without compromise is not easy, but it is necessary to accurately present the truth of the gospel.

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT – Even though I am a free man with no – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Nothing Last Forever, not so!

Loring Schultz

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NLT

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The summer months are not officially over, but here in the United States the Labor Day holiday marks the unofficial end of summer. There will be three weeks left until fall begins on September 22nd, and I might add it has become my favorite part of the summer season since relocating to southeastern Pennsylvania. But shortly after autumn begins the change of the season starts to become evident. You do not need to mow your lawn as often, the leaves on the trees begin to change color, the evenings and early mornings are much cooler, the last of the garden vegetables will be harvested, and the flowers begin to fade. Living in an area where the seasons change you are aware that whatever season it is, it will not last forever. We also see God’s faithfulness in the changing of the seasons and we are guaranteed the passing season will return. Summer may only be for a season lasting three months, but God makes sure it does last forever as He brings it around nine months later.

Unfortunately, there are things in life that do not last forever, in fact many things. Some leave a scare on our hearts, others are bid a fond ado, and still others are dealt with mixed emotions of what has faded away and is gone forever. Living life is hard without having a constant you can count on always being there, something or someone that will last forever, at least in your lifetime. There is such a constant available to you, something and someone, both in the same package.

The Lord God is eternal. He had no beginning, and He will have no end. God is responsible for the changing of the seasons. He has been faithful being right on time in changing the seasons and has never missed a year yet. God has also given us His written Word which He also guarantees will last forever. In a complicated changing world, it is a sigh of relief and comfort to know there is God who is always there and never changes, and He gave us His unchanging Word that will stand forever. As the flowers fade in your garden this autumn do you have the assurance that you too will be brought to new life in eternity as the flowers will return in the summer season.

Our earthly lives will not last forever, but our souls will live on in eternity according to God’s Word which stands forever and never changes. So, where will you spend eternity? If you’re not sure, why not make sure today. Eternity is forever!

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“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Ro.10:9 nlt)

Devotionals

Three Crosses

Loring Schultz

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:42-43 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

On a spring morning outside Jerusalem three men were sentenced to death by crucifixion by the authority of the Roman government. Crucifixion was the most barbaric and tortuous form of execution known to man. The horrors of the pain involved is accompanied by shame and humiliation all in public view. Of the three crucified that morning, two were clearly guilty of crimes deserving of death. But the man in the middle, Jesus, clearly was not. Although Jesus was not deserving of death, as confirmed by Pontius Pilate, His being on Calvary’s Hill that day with the two criminals is a picture of God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s grace, and a picture of all of us.

We may not want to admit it, but the two criminals are a picture of each and every one of us. All of us are deserving of death due to our sin. Born with a sin nature, we are sinful creatures living in a fallen world and will die physically as a result. The Bible is clear, “And just as each person is destined to die once.” (Heb.9:27a nlt) We deserve to die physically due to our sin. The two criminals on the cross deserved to die physically for their sins and specifically on that day for actions committed against humanity for which they were found guilty.

Another picture we see in the three crosses, pertaining to the two criminals, is a picture of the world in their acceptance or rejection of Christ. The two criminals each had a choice to make about Jesus. One wanted nothing but escape from his present condition, the other acknowledging his sin, realizing his spiritual condition, called out to Jesus in his time of real need asking to be with Him in paradise. It is a true picture of the world today.

God’s love is on full display as He sent His Son to die undeservedly for those who deserve to die. The picture of His mercy and grace is evident by Jesus’ words to the one criminal, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The choice is yours and mine. Which one of the three crosses are you on?

Read: Luke 23:35-43 NLT – The crowd watched and the leaders – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Why the Past Matters

Loring Schultz

“These are the clans that descended from Noah’s sons, arranged by nation according to their lines of descent. All the nations of the earth descended from these clans after the great flood.” Genesis 10:32 NLT

Photo by chan lee on Unsplash

Representatives from 195 countries have arrived in Paris, France for the XXXIII Olympiad. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution for all Member States to observe the Olympic Truce. A pause in hostilities around the globe during the games may act as a catalyst for peaceful resolutions to all worldwide conflicts. The efforts are noble, but the world has been in constant conflict since sin entered it in the Garden of Eden. The nations may be in constant conflict, but we are all one people, one family, one race, the human race.

After the Lord scattered the people from Babel by confusing their language, Genesis chapter 10 gives the breakdown of the first nations in the areas now known as Asia, Europe, and Africa. These nations all descended from Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth after the great flood. They were few in number, but 7,000 years later there are 195 countries on this planet. Why does this matter? Because all of us are decedents from people in one of those early countries. As the number of nations grew and expanded across the globe our ancestors moved right along with them to our present day.

Knowing the past matters for our understanding of who we are in relation to each other and in the eyes of God. God is our creator and despite our differences in language and culture beginning at the tower of Babel we are all part of the human race. The tragic events that occur around the world creating trauma and chaos are rooted in sin. Sin that was enacted in the beginning with Adam and Eve. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Ro.3:23 nasb)

There is a small sample of every nation, culture and language in Paris, France the next two weeks. They may be from different nations, but all are part of the human race dating back to the first nations so many years ago. Those in the human race, that’s all of us, are in need of saving grace from Jesus Christ unto salvation whether in Paris or anywhere in the world. That is why the past matters.