Tag: The Gospel

Devotionals

Have you invested your mina?

Loring Schultz

Read: Luke 19:11-27 ESV – The Parable of the Ten Minas – As they – Bible Gateway

“Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’” Luke 19:13 ESV

FreeBibleimages.org

Jesus’ teaching often included speaking in parables, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. He told the parable of the ten minas to refute the idea that the kingdom of God was to occur immediately. Jesus’ followers, including His disciples, did not understand His mission, but supposed He was going to establish His kingdom by overthrowing the oppressive Roman government. Jesus’ earthly mission was to give his life as a sacrifice for sin, providing salvation for all who believe in Him. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, promising to return and then establish His kingdom. This parable connects to Jesus’ return and every Christian’s accounting for the investment we made or didn’t make.

Jesus said to those around Him, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.” (Lk.19:12 esv) This would have been understood for Herod the Great himself had gone to Rome to receive his kingdom. The nobleman calls his servants and gives each of them one mina (3 months wages) and instructs them to engage in business investing his money for a return. This is a picture of Jesus. The mina the Lord Jesus gives to every believer is the gospel message to be invested in peoples lives. There will be a day of accounting how faithful we have been to what he has given us. “When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.” (Lk.19:15 esv)

Very descriptive reports on the return of investments are given for three of the nobleman’s servants. Each apportioned by their diligence in service. The first had a 1000% return and was awarded ten cities. The second had a 500% return and was awarded 5 cities. Both these servants loved their master and wanted to please him, taking risks to ensure an increase. The third servant did nothing at all with what he was given but kept it to himself. The nobleman takes the mina from him and assigns it to where it will have the largest prospect of return.

Our Lord Jesus has gone away as the nobleman but will also return as he did. Jesus has given us the gospel message to invest by sharing it with others while He is away. Will we have a return on His investment? Will you have a return? You won’t have a return if you don’t invest it. Have you invested your mina, the gospel?  

A Christian Perspective

Embrace the Gift of Peace for 2025

Loring Schultz

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

As 2024 is rapidly coming to a close, the hope for peace and prosperity is wished for all people and nations in the New Year. As the world looks forward to the horizon of 2025, it can’t help but to be reminded of the sunset we are seeing in the present year. So many conflicts among nations continue to rise. Social issues are still demanding their presence on the world stage, and the attack on the nuclear family is ever increasing. World Peace may seem to be hard to come by in 2025. It is not only hard to come by but will not happen despite the best efforts of world leaders. But there is peace available to every man, woman, and child in the New Year, and it is a gift we only need to receive.

 This gift of peace was first given to us as a promise from God the Father bridging the gap between us and God created by Adam and Eve. A gift of peace, a savior, would come into the world. (Gen.3:15) The gift of peace was born to us over 2,000 years ago in a stable in the town of Bethlehem. “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Lk.2:11, 14 nlt) This gift of peace, Jesus Christ, came into an unpeaceful, sinful world and has provided peace for all who believe in His name, accepting Him as savior.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gave His disciples a deeper meaning to the salutation ‘Shalom’ meaning peace. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (Jn.14:27 nlt) This peace reflects our reconciliation with God the Father through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. This is true peace and nothing the world can provide. The world can only crave lasting peace which they cannot provide. Jesus’ peace is real and is the answer for all the fears in the world.

Devotionals

Thanksgiving Travel: Following the Highway of God

Loring Schultz

“A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.” Isaiah 35:8a NKJV

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3 NKJV

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash
 

Today is the busiest travel day of the year across the United States as millions of Americans make their way to friends and family for Thanksgiving. “AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. ‘Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,’ said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. (1) Of those estimated 79.9 million travelers, 71.1 million people will go by car. That’s a lot of highway miles.

The United States has a vast interstate highway system which can get you to grandma’s house whether 50 or 500 miles away with no trouble. Years of planning the infrastructure of major roadways in America have proven successful. One only needs a roadmap from AAA or a GPS device and you’re all set.

Highways are mentioned several times in Scripture. Isaiah speaks about ‘The Highway of Holiness, a highway for our God.’ It was a prophetic exhortation to Israel for preparing for the coming of the Messiah. It foretold John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ. “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” (Mt.3:3 nkjv) The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, had come, and He has come to save those who call on His name.

God had designed His infrastructure of heaven’s highway for you and me before the world began. You don’t need a GPS or a road map. The plan of salvation and the highway to heaven is to simply trust in Jesus and His work on the cross for your sin. There is only one road, one highway to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn.14:6 nkjv) Accept Christ as your savior this Thanksgiving and you’re on the highway to heaven. What a Thanksgiving feast that will be.

(1) Thanksgiving Travel Expected to Set New Record | AAA Newsroom

Devotionals

Thankfulness through Giving            

Loring Schultz

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

In gift giving, the recipient is the one giving thanks. They are thankful for the gift received and for the giver. We don’t think much about the giver being the one giving thanks, but as Christians that should be our main intent in giving any gift or doing any good deed for someone. God the Father gave the first gift, His Son Jesus Christ. No other gift will ever match or come close to the gift He gave us. We can never top it. But we can be thankful.

God gave us His only Son to redeem us from eternal separation from Him. Jesus came willingly to earth as a man to pave the way for our salvation from eternal hell fire. Thankfulness, indeed, should be our way of life. One sign of being thankful is giving. The apostle Paul describes the ministry of giving to the church in Corinth as a two-fold operation. The needs of people will be met, and God will be thanked for it. “So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.” (2Cor.9:12 nlt) Paul goes on to say, “For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.” (2Cor.9:13b nlt)

The good news of Christ is the gospel unto salvation which we have accepted and are thankful. We show our thankfulness by giving of ourselves, sharing the gospel, and meeting the needs of others. Yes, through giving. Our thankfulness through giving is not only for others, but also to the one most deserving, Jesus Christ. “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Col.3:17 nlt) May we always be giving thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus in everything we say and do, in this way we show our thankfulness through giving.  

Devotionals

Use It or Lose It

Loring Schultz

“When thou takest away my outward blessings, it is for sin,

          in not acknowledging that all I have is of thee,

          in not serving thee through what I have,

          in making myself secure and hardened.”  (1)

          Photo by Jack Niles on Unsplash      

There is an old hymn entitled “Count Your Blessings.” The chorus goes, ‘Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your blessings-see what God hath done; Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your many blessings-see what God hath done.’ (2) I’m sure most of us have see God’s blessings in our lives. If we take the time to count them, we will be overwhelmed in all God has done for us. With so many blessings we probably even forgot one or two. God not only blesses us for ourselves, but to share His blessings with others.

What has God blessed you with? What has He and gifted you with that can help present the gospel and be shared with others? The Lord may have blessed you with musical talent. Are you using that talent to the best of your ability to serve Him? The Lord may have blessed you with a brilliant mind in science, are you using it for His glory? You may be blessed with leadership skills, are you a part of an organization or company that can benefit having a Christian working among them. Whatever recognizable talent God has blessed you with can be and should be used for Him.

Some of you may feel you’re a small cog in a big wheel, but that cog is extremely vital. You’re a small piece of the puzzle, but without that piece, the picture is not complete. Take note how God has blessed you and use what he has given you to serve Him and others. School districts need crossing guards and hall monitors, not only science teachers. Churches and concert venues need ushers and set up crews for the service or concert to run smoothly. All organizations and companies need hands-on individuals who support the work through whatever their responsibilities are.

Count your blessings naming them one by one using and sharing them for God’s glory whether in public, your neighborhood, or in the home. They are yours to use or to lose. “So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.” (Mt.25:28 esv)

(1) Bennett, Arthur. The Valley of Vision. East Peoria: Banner of Truth Trust, 2023. Pg 20, Union with Christ.

(2) Johnson Oatman, Jr.                      

Devotionals

Reformation Day: the righteous shall live by faith

Loring Schultz

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:17 ESV

Photo by Wim van ‘t Einde on Unsplash

October 31st is recognized around the world as Halloween or ‘All Hallows’ Eve.’ The meaning of ‘hallows’ is ‘saints’ in the Christian tradition, All Saints Day is November 1st. However, Halloween today is nothing about Christian saints and I will leave it there. Today is Reformation Day, the day celebrated by Christians in recognizing Martin Luther’s ‘95 Theses’ nailed to the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door in 1517.

Martin Luther was a German monk and a professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg who became disillusioned with the error he saw in the Catholic church, particularly the selling of indulgences. He posted his ‘95 Theses’ to spark conversation and debate among his colleagues calling for reform in the Catholic church. This, however, led to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.    

Luther was convinced through the reading of Scripture that salvation was by the grace of God alone and faith alone in Jesus Christ. It was not by any merit or works on our part that contributes to salvation and entrance into heaven. This was in contradiction to what he had observed within the church. Luther was also a staunch believer that every person should have access to the Bible and be able to read it for themselves. He had translated the entire Bible into German.  

Stephen Nichols of Ligonier Ministries writes, “The real main character in Reformation Day is not Luther. It’s the Word of God. What Luther discovered as a monk is that for centuries, the true teachings of the Word of God had been hidden by century upon century of tradition. That’s what Reformation Day is about: it’s about pulling back the covers and releasing the power of the Word of God and the beauty and the truth of the gospel. That’s why we celebrate Reformation Day.” (1)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

(1) What Is Reformation Day? | Ligonier Ministries

Devotionals

Whose Approval Are You Trying to Win?

Loring Schultz

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10 NLT

Photo by Anastasiya Badun on Unsplash

There is an old saying, ‘never discuss religion or politics.’ And never, never, never, discuss them in context with each other. The Presidential election of 2024 in the United States have tested the restrain of most Christians to remain silent when the urge is to speak in such turbulent times. That is not to say that some Christians do speak their minds. We should be ready to speak the truth when the occasion arises and not be silent. However, this is much more than speaking religion and politics but serving as an example of what Paul told the churches of Galatia. Paul told them not to be seeking the approval of people, but of God. They were not to be deceived from what they know to be true into believing a false narrative. Lives are at stake.

The apostle Paul was being accused of preaching what the Jews called ‘a cheap form of the gospel.’ They obviously were against Paul’s preaching, disagreeing on every front. These Jews tried to persuade the Gentiles to whom Paul was preaching that his message was incomplete. The gospel Paul preached required no circumcision, no dietary restrictions, and no obligation to Sabbath Laws. It was just faith in Christ alone that was needed for salvation and entrance into the kingdom of heaven. If Paul wanted to not stir up waves by remaining silent many lost souls would not have been saved and those who accepted Christ would be forever confused and unable to reach their full potential to serve Christ. Paul did not want to please and impress his fellow Jews but wanted to please his Lord and savior and lead people into the kingdom.

We have that same dilemma today. Do we risk alienation from our friends and loved ones when we speak the truth of God’s Word? The truth is, sometimes speaking the truth will result in just that. Are we willing to take the risk? Do we refrain from speaking to keep the peace? The peace will be kept, but so will their souls be kept right where they are. Christians are not to be confrontational in presenting the gospel, but to speak the truth in love. There will be natural resistance from most, and yes, there may be alienation, but whose approval are we trying to win? Remember Paul’s words, “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.” (Gal.1:10a nlt)

Read: Galatians 1:1-10 NLT – Greetings from Paul – This letter is – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Humble Yourself Before God

Loring Schultz

“Show me what sins hide thee from me and eclipse thy love;                             Help me to humble myself for past evils, to be resolved to walk with more care, For if I do not walk holily before thee, how can I be assured of my salvation?” (1)

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

                                                                                                      

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” James 4:6 ESV

Are you one who finds it hard to admit you’re wrong? You just cannot find it in yourself the possibility you didn’t have it right. This demeanor will eventually cause distance between you and others over time. Having this attitude, ‘I am always right’ will lead you into a false perception of right and wrong. It’s a sad way to live in this world, but more tragic when it comes to the things of God and eternal life after this life is over. A person will lose friends in this life by on-going pride but will forfeit eternal life with Christ in heaven by not humbling themselves before Him and acknowledging Jesus is the only way to heaven.

Human pride gets in the way of a lot of things in this life. There are times when we think we can do better with what is presented to us adding our own recipe. The good news about salvation is that there is nothing you can add to the presentation of the gospel. In fact, what is required is to take away your pride, recognizing and admitting that you are a sinner in need of a savior. The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short on God’s scale. (Ro.3:23) It takes rejecting our pride in an admission and confession of our sins by accepting Christ as savior to be assure of heaven. God does indeed oppose the proud but gives grace to those who humble before Him.

“It is the meek and humble who are shown thy covenant, know thy will, are pardoned and healed, who by faith depend and rest upon grace, who are sanctified and quickened, who evidence thy love.” (1)

(1) Bennett, Arthur. The Valley of Vision. East Peoria: Baer of Truth Trust, 2023. Pg 9, The Divine Will.

Devotionals

Overthrow the Lofty Opinions Against God and His Word

Loring Schultz

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

Photo by Cassidy Rowell on Unsplash

Some people barricade themselves in ideological forts of their choosing to justify their resentment to God and His Word. Their ideology makes perfect sense to them, and they stick to it. Dr. John MacArthur unveils these forts as thoughts, ideas, speculations, reasonings, philosophies, and false religions that keep them at bay with the God of the Bible. The forts are used to codify what they perceive to be right, regardless of what the Bible says. Christians who live by a Biblical worldview also have their own ideology that makes perfect sense. God, the creator of the world and human life, sent His Son Jesus Christ to save those who trust in Him, and He has given us His Word on the proper way to live. It’s simple and that’s all there is to it.

You may feel torn in the spiritual battle you are in if you are a believer. You hesitate to speak the truth to not lose friends, but you are disturbed by all you see and hear from the ideologies of the world, even from your friends. You may be intimidated by the philosophies of the world system. They sound reasonable and hard to argue against. But you will never win an argument or lead someone to Christ by engaging in the ideologies of the world. And you certainly won’t do so by remaining silent. God does not want us to be silent, but to overthrow those lofty opinions and to do so by His Word and in love.

Paul said to the believers in Corinth, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” (2Cor.10:3-4 nlt) What Paul is saying is that we do not use the world’s wisdom or its ideologies to reveal truth and lead souls to Christ, but we use ‘God’s mighty weapons’ the sword of the Spirit, the Bible. Paul goes on to say in this way we overthrow every lofty opinion or ideology against God. Be bold for God, lost souls depend on it.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Devotionals

Faithfully Preach the Truth                

Loring Schultz

“We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us.” 2 Corinthians 6:7a NLT

Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com

Have you ever traveled outside your own country either on business or a vacation? When your guide left you for a little free time on your own, how comfortable did you feel? Did you fit in as if you were one of the locals? Probably not. If we as Christians can not say that about living in this world, then something is drastically wrong. Peter addressed the Christians of his day in writing to them as ‘foreigners and exiles.’ (1Pt.2:11) They were living in a foreign land where they did not fit in. Christians today are still living in a foreign land. We may feel at home, but again that is a problem. The Lord has placed us in the country of our origin in this life, but this is not our home, heaven is. And when he has placed us here, He has given us a job to do, ‘faithfully preach the truth.’ So, it is time to get uncomfortable.

Paul, the apostle and a contemporary of Peter, is the greatest example of living as an exile outside of Jesus Himself. Paul found himself exiled from his own people after his conversion to Christ. He was a Jewish scholar studying under Gamaliel and became the strictest of Pharisees. His mission in life was to persecute the Christians, including death. When Paul started preaching Christ as Lord, he became an enemy of the Jewish leaders who were his peers. Paul’s life changed dramatically from being one the Jewish elites to going hungry, imprisoned, and being beaten. Paul had become uncomfortable in more ways than one with the world. Physically, but also with the pleasures of the world. Paul’s mission now was to ‘faithfully preach the truth.’

Paul encourages us as he encouraged the church in Corinth to live as examples of Christ in a fallen world as he was doing. To live in purity, being patience and kind, and show sincere love. (2Cor.6:6) Paul knew Christians in Corinth would begin to feel as exiles in their own hometown when they started to feel uncomfortable with the world. He knew that would be hard for them, but also knew there is joy in serving the Lord. (2Cor.6:10) The same holds true for us. Yes, we want people to like us, but this is not our home. We should live as exiles preaching the truth of salvation, bringing as many people as we can to our home country, the heavenly kingdom.

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NLT – Paul’s Hardships – We live in such a – Bible Gateway