Tag: Sin

Devotionals

Judges we are not, but rescuers we are

Loring Schultz

“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Jude 1:22-23 NLT

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The small New Testament book of Jude containing only one chapter is a must read for every Christian as is all the Bible, but Jude in particular. Jude, our Lord Jesus’ brother, is warning us of false teachers who claim being saved by grace give us license for immorality. The thought is our sins will not be held against us, which is true, and we won’t lose our salvation which is also true, but sin is sin and evil in God’s sight. What Jude had written to the early Christians he could have written specifically to us today. “I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.” (Jude1:4a nlt)

Many Christian churches today are succumbing to pressure compromising the truth with voices that contradict Scripture. Some Christians are easily swayed especially if it is presented in a way that applies to our current day and culture. Accepting these new norms will confuse a new Christian and will prove disastrous for the church. False teachers seem so eloquent, reasonable, loving, knowledgeable, persuasive, and most of all seem to be telling the truth. Jude writes, “In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.” (Jude1:8 nlt) We must be aware of the progressing influence of those who want to deny Biblical truth.

There will be those among us in our church family who will fall into this trap and begin to live out and support those involved in the social norms of society that contradict Scripture. Jude encourages a gentile approach to those who are confused. “And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.” (Jude1:22 nlt) We are not to jump all over our Christian brothers and sisters but take an approach that rescues them from judgment. The consequences of sin including God’s judgement on what He hates should be presented in a gentle manner. Most importantly, the rescuer must be in a right relationship with God and living righteously with sin confessed. We all sin daily whether we think we do or not.

Paul, the apostle also gives us advice on rescuing others from coming judgment, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Gal.6:1 nlt) Let us be on the alert. There is enough of temptation to sin in the world without having false teachers who ignore or put their spin on God’s Words deceiving even the very elect of God.

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

Preventing Falls

Loring Schultz

“You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.” Psalm 18:36 NLT

 Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

As the human body ages, it can become difficult to get around. Not everyone experiences this at the same rate, but eventually most aging individuals will need to take measures to prevent them from falling. Seniors have several sources to aid them in preventing falls from their health organizations, family physicians, and government regulations. Getting a little older I find myself paying closer attention to these precautions than I did even a few years ago. I am beginning to find out things happen fast and unexpectedly.

Aging spiritually does not prevent one from a spiritual failure or fall. Whatever your age, young, old or in-between despite how many years you have been a Christian does not guarantee you will not slip and fall. In fact, when we think we have it altogether is when we lose our footing causing us to slip. And if we are unable to catch ourselves, we fall whatever our age.

Our Lord God is not going to sit back and not provide any preventive measures for us. David wrote that the Lord ‘made a wide path for (his) feet to keep them from slipping’ from the attacks and battles he faced from his enemies including King Saul. Christians are under constant attack by the deception of the evil one creating circumstances enticing us to follow his lead causing us to slip and fall. But the Lord has made a wide path for every Christian to walk through in our spiritual journey.

When we follow Him through daily prayer and reading His Word, we will be able to spot the potholes on the road of life designed to make us fall. We will be able to resist Satan’s detour signs of a shortcut or scenic route encouraging us to go another way. Preventing physical falls made be more concerning for older adults, but preventing spiritual falls is a major concern for Christians of all ages. Stay on the wide path.

Read: Psalm 18:30-39 NLT – God’s way is perfect. All the – Bible Gateway

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

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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.

Devotionals

Hope in Our Rebellion

Loring Schultz

“At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same word” Genesis 11:1 NLT

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There is always hope for those who rebel against God. An example of mass rebellion against the creator God occurred in the early chapters of the book of Genesis. One hundred years after the destructive flood that saved only Noah and his family the people rebelled against God in their pride and refused God’s command to move on and populate the earth. Everyone spoke the same language and they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” (Gen.11:4 nlt)

That famous tower they intended to build was the ‘tower of Babel.’ It was to be a symbol of their strength and achievements of what they were capable of without God’s help. They were assigning glory to themselves in building this great tower. It would stand as a monument of how great they were. They quickly forgot God and became their own god. The God of heaven quickly put an end to that by confusing their language. God who created mankind now created multiple languages among the people so they couldn’t understand each other and were forced to separate and move on.

God had caused the separation due to their sin. They wouldn’t scatter across the earth as God told them to. Sometimes we put ourselves in a position of not following God’s instructions and God separates from what is keeping us from serving Him. But there is always hope that follows. After the Lord separated the people at the tower of Babel scripture tells us that through the line Shem, one of Noah’s sons, came Abraham, and through his line came our savior Jesus Christ.

There was a time when the world had one language and although we enjoy the many different cultures and languages today as represented in Paris this week, it came about due to sin. But there is hope, for God sent His Jesus to reconcile all of us back together through Him no matter our language. “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev.7:9 nlt)

Read: Genesis 11:1-9 NLT – The Tower of Babel – At one time all – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

Be careful not to pick up stones

Loring Schultz

“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” John 8:7 NLT

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The story of a woman caught in adultery recorded in John’s gospel is a very familiar one with Christians and non-Christians alike. It reveals the hypocrisy of certain religious leaders and those who assumed the role of being one up on everyone else on morality. The main point made by many is Jesus’s words, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Admittedly there is not one of us who is able to throw that first stone, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Rom.3:23 nlt) That lesson should be applied to every Christian in our daily walk in the world in which we live. But there is also another point that lies underneath the surface of the immediate that reveals the foundation for that exchange with Jesus.

The law in which the accusers wanted evoked would have been the Old Testament law of adultery. But certain facts of the case were not presented in their entirety as only one of the participants was presented. This didn’t seem to bother those who brought the woman for their own interpretation of God’s law. The fact is they weren’t as pious towards the carrying out the law as they were about trying to set up a trap for Jesus. They cared nothing about the law, but only the response from the one who came as a fulfillment of the law.

The religious leaders brought to Jesus a woman, minus the man, caught in the act of adultery. Their intent was to corner Jesus into deciding on whether to stone her according to the Law. Jesus essentially ignored them knowing of their deception. If He agreed to stone her, Jesus would be looked upon as having no forgiveness or compassion. If He did not comply with the Law it would appear Jesus was not who He said He was, the Son of God. They did not give up but kept on asking Him. They wanted Jesus to answer them either way to discredit Him. Jesus was interfering with their authority and their way of life.

There are those today who view Jesus as interfering with their authority and their lives. They demand an answer to the laws they perceive as right and just in their own eyes. They view the commands of God found in scripture as irrelevant today. They have gathered stones in their hands and are willing to throw the first stone, believing they have no sin. But tragically their aim is at God and His Word for interfering with their way of life. Be careful not to pick up stones.

Bible Studies

“The Parables of the Lost and Found” Parables of Jesus

Loring Schultz

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Luke 15:10 NLT

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            We have come to the last week of Jesus’ parables with three more all concerning the lost and found. These parables are all aimed at the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. They despised the tax collectors and the sinners who always gathered around Jesus to hear Him teach and to eat with Him, but they despised Jesus even more. In telling these stories Jesus would contrast the Pharisees exclusiveness with His love and compassion for all including the outcasts of society. These parables relate to every person who has ever walked this earth and those who will walk it in the future. It is about the lost and found.

            “So Jesus told them this story: ‘If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?’” (Lk.15:3-4 nlt) A familiar painting comes to mind which most of us seen with Jesus carrying a lost sheep over His shoulders. That one lost sheep represents you and I lost in our sin before we came to Christ. He calls and looks for each of us individually. It’s not a group thing, it’s you by yourself and it’s me by myself. Jesus says, “…. there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Lk.15:7 nlt) It’s about you and me, the lost and found.

            In the next parable, Jesus speaks of a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. There were many women who followed Jesus, and this would be of considerable interest to them. A silver coin in those days was a day’s wages and she lost it somewhere in her house. She lights a lamp in the dark one room dwelling and sweeps until she finds it. When she finds the coin, she calls her friends to rejoice with her for finding what was lost. Jesus’ heavenly meaning in this earthly story is, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Lk.15:10 nlt) Again there is rejoicing in heaven over one individual who has come to Christ.

            Jesus is not yet finished on this subject and to drive the point home, He tells a third parable. “…. Jesus told them this story: A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.” (Lk.15:11-12 nlt) This parable, known as the ‘Parable of the Prodigal Son’, is the most familiar of all Jesus’ parables. It also has more than one heavenly meaning. The younger son was greedy and impatient wanting his share of his father’s estate while he was still alive. This would have been extremely rare but not unheard of. The father would need to sell off part of his property up to a third, which was the portion allotted to a younger son. The father had done that, perhaps unwisely, and his son took the money and ran. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.” (Lk.15:13 nlt)

            The younger son blinded by greed and selfishness failed to remember a few important things about life. Good times don’t last forever. A party life will eventually lead to ruin. Money disappears quickly when spent frivolously. And, of course, everything comes to an end. His end came sooner than expected and during the worst possible time, a serve famine. It is often during these times prodigals of all ages, both men and women, hear from the Lord and come to their senses. The fun-loving partying son finally came to his senses and started his way back home. Upon his return he would confess his foolishness to his father and ask to take a position as one of his father’s hired servants. But the father had other plans. And our heavenly Father has other plans for us when we foolishly run away from Him. “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” (Lk.15:20 nlt) This parable is sometimes referred to as the ‘Parable of the Father’s Love’, and we can see why.

            The father demands a celebration be held in honor of his son’s return. All were enjoying the celebration with music and dancing. But there was one who did not celebrate by refusing to join the party. The older brother was furious at his father’s actions that he would welcome his brother back and with a party after what he had done. He looked at his brother as unworthy of such a celebration and forgiveness. A lesson directed right back at the Pharisees who thought those tax collectors and sinners were unworthy to eat with Jesus.

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            These three parables of the lost and found show the Lord’s love for each one of us. We are all lost in our sin, and He and all of heaven rejoices when we turn to Him for salvation and for forgiveness when we go astray. As the father in the parable explained to his other son, “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found” (Lk.15:32 nlt)

Read: Luke 15 NLT – Parable of the Lost Sheep – Tax – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Restoration: A Dream Come True

Loring Schultz

“When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!” Psalm 126:1 NLT

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True restoration is only realized when one is truly broken. Brokenness shows itself in various ways. The most common form of brokenness among all of us who breathe is in personal relationships. Here again, these show themselves through various means and circumstances. The longing for a relationship to be restored at times seems an impossibility, but when it occurs is a dream come true. Restorations do occur in accordance with God’s will and timing.

The nation Israel was restored to their land after seventy years of captivity in Babylon due to their gross sin against God. Although it was prophesized that they would return it all seemed like a dream to them when it happened. They almost couldn’t believe it. Psalm 126 is a song of joy for the restoration of Israel to the land. The psalmist wrote that they were filled with laughter and sang for joy. The surrounding nations joined them in acknowledging the amazing things God had done for them. They asked the Lord to restore their fortunes by planting their seeds in tears, but they will rejoice in the harvest to come once again.

God is in the restoration business. No one is more broken than a sinner separated from God because of their sin. We were born with a sin nature, making us all broken and in need of restoration to God. With God being in the restoration business, He made it possible for each of us to be restored to Him through the blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. There is nothing we could ever do to make things right with God. It is only through our acceptance of Christ as our savior. We can rejoice with the broken people of Isarel in their restoration to their land and our salvation through Christ’s sacrifice for us as we accept Him. A dream come true.

Read: Psalm 126 NLT – Psalm 126 – A song for pilgrims – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

The Patient Endurance of Injustice

Loring Schultz

“He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” 1 Peter 2:22-23 NLT

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The American judicial system is based on justice being administered represented on the facts of the case. The defendant is found guilty or not guilty by a judge or jury. The outcome is to ensure that justice was served by not punishing the innocent or letting the guilty go free. The courts, although not perfect, strive to uphold the law as established in the United States Constitution. There have been many cases over the years, even though brought properly through the judicial process, that have clearly not resulted in justice. The innocent is guilty and the guilty go free. It is extremely difficult for one who has been tried and convicted of a crime they did not commit to patiently endure the injustice done to them. But our Lord Jesus did just that on our behalf.

Jesus was arrested by the Jewish rulers for claiming the truth that He is the Messiah and claiming to be God in the flesh, another truth. Jesus was upending the Pharisees and the scribes’ rule over the Jewish people, so they sought to have Him arrested, put on trial, found guilty, and be put to death. Even in Jesus’ day, you need witnesses to confirm a crime was committed. Jewish law demanded at least two witnesses to agree, and after patiently waiting two came forward. “The leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death…. Finally, two men came forward.” (Mt. 26:59-60 nlt) The false testimony they gave along with Jesus’ truthful response satisfied the rulers as to the decision they made.

Jesus went through the mockery of perceived justice in the various trials He went through enduring the injustice done to Him. Peter writes, “He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.” (1 Pt. 2:22 nlt) Jesus, God the Son, never sinned. How could He commit a crime? Peter goes on to say, “He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” (1 Pt. 2:23 nlt) God always judges fairly, and in this case, Jesus endured the injustice as God’s plan of justice for the payment of sin. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, was sacrificed for our sin making us just and righteous in the sight of God as we accept Christ as our savior. False witnesses may have lied abut Jesus, but it was all part of God’s plan of salvation for all who believe.