Tag: The Gospel

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

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

You are a manager

Loring Schultz

“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 NLT

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We often think of the business world, non-profit organizations, or educational institutions of employing managers to oversee their operations. There needs to be a responsible person who can be relied on to ensure what has been entrusted to them will run smoothly. I, for one, understand completely the role of management from my forty-five years in retailing. Even though I am no longer in retail management, I am still a manager. This website ministry needs to be managed to see it remains organized, true to the Word of God, relevant to the needs of the subscribers, and continually bring glory to God. A huge responsibility and privilege the Lord has given me in overseeing His work. But my forty-five years in retailing was also a privilege He had given me to oversee His work as well. And He has entrusted me in managing my own life with His help.

Whatever position God had placed you in, you have a responsibility to manage what has been entrusted to you. You may be a manager of a large corporation, or a team leader in your place of employment, or the head of your neighbor watch group, whatever it is Paul encourages you to be faithful, in fact he says, ‘you must be faithful.’

Perhaps you are saying to yourself, ‘I am not a manager’ but you are. The Lord has entrusted every Christian with the responsibility of the gospel and how we live our lives. We are to manage our lives in a way that pleases and brings glory to Him. Opportunities to share the gospel should not slip by due to neglect. When you are managing your affairs with your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, strangers you meet every day, and yourself, you are a manager who has God given responsibilities entrusted to you. Remember Paul’s words, “Now, a person who is put n charge as a manager must be faithful.” (1Cor.4:2 nlt)

Devotionals

What has The Lord done for you?

Loring Schultz

“Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” Psalm 105:1 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 NLT


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Role models have paved the way for successful people to reach their goals in life. Mentors are involved in a more personal and deeper approach in influencing an individual to success. Both deserve recognition for what they have done and be able to help others the same way if their efforts were well known. The same is true for Christian role models and mentors. Those who benefit from them should spread the word of their influence enabling them to help others.

Not many of us share the same role models or mentors, but every Christian has the same role model to learn from, Jesus Christ. In fact, every person living today can learn from this role model and be influenced by His mentoring if they only knew of Him.  For others to know Him, Christians need to be vocal first in telling what He has done for them personally leaving nothing out. Second, living the life that supports what was said to be true, and third mentoring them for them to mentor others.

Now to get personal. Think through very thoroughly all the Lord has done for you. It probably won’t be a bad idea if you compile a list, but make sure you have enough paper or space on your hard drive. It may surprise you and be an eye-opening experience all the Lord has done for you. Then let us as the psalmist says, “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” (Ps.105:1 nlt) Jesus calls us the light of the world. We can’t help but shine naturally so may we add words to why we shine by telling everyone what the Lord has done for us.

Read: Psalm 105:1-10 NLT – Psalm 105 – Give thanks to the LORD and – Bible Gateway

Matthew 5:13-16 NLT – Teaching about Salt and Light – “You – 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

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

Going for Eternal Gold

Loring Schultz

“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 NLT

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The XXXIII Olympiad will commence on July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Athletes from all over the world will arrive in hopes of capturing that Olympic Gold Medal. Events will take place over the next seventeen days from track and field, swimming, gymnastics, skateboarding, volleyball, basketball, equestrian, boxing, 32 sports in all with 329 medal events. That’s a lot of gold. Individual athletes train for years for the opportunity to go for the gold. Members of team sports keep themselves in shape hoping to get that invitation to try out and be part of the Olympic dream. A lot, if not all, of personal pleasures and pursuits are put on the sidelines during the training process. There are two goals, to make the cut and to earn a gold medal.

The apostle Paul used athletic imagery quite often in his writings. He referred to his preaching as running in a race as he addressed the churches at Galatia. (Gal.2:2) Paul told the church at Philippi he pressed on to finish the race to receive the prize the Lord had for him. (Phi.3:14) He told Timothy to fight the good fight for true faith, and always be careful to compete by the rules. (1 Tim.6:12, 2 Tim.2:5) Paul also put in perspective the value of the goal he was trying to reach. He was going for eternal gold.

Paul commended the athletes of his day by noting their extensive disciplined training. Their goal was to win a wreath of greenery at the Isthmian games in Corinth. Obviously, this prize would not last the test of time, but they strived for it, nonetheless. Paul seems to say how much better the eternal prize would be. He was not dismissing the value of going for the gold in this life, but to have our priorities in order. Even a gold medal may lose its value one day and we certainly will not outlast that product of gold in our lifetime, so let us also go, with Paul, for eternal gold.

Devotionals

Hated by All

Loring Schultz

“And you will be hated by all because of My name” Matthew 10:22a NASB

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I don’t know anyone who enjoys being hated by others. Even the slightest dislike upon us will put a damper on our emotions. Humans have the need to be loved and be accepted. We do not want others to think of us as weird, annoying, or out of touch with society. We desire to be accepted among those we have interactions with on a daily basis. The problem for Christians is this is not entirely possible if one is consistently living for Christ. Jesus Himself said, “And you will be hated by all because of My name” (Mt.10:22a nasb) ‘Hated by all’ is a powerful, all-inclusive statement. But if Jesus said it, I’ll take Him at His word. We will be hated by all.

It is important to understand who the ‘all’ are. It is all those outside of Christ, all those in need of the saving knowledge of the Savior. We are not hated by our brothers and sisters in Christ, although unfortunately we have a tendency to dislike some of them. The hatred comes from those who see us as a threat to their way of living, those who feel they have no need of ‘religion’ as they say. It comes from those who see us as judgmental for believing and obeying the scriptures. It comes from those who condemn us for believing that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Taking a stand for Christ and His Word will indeed cause some friction between us and others, even those closest to us.

Being hated or disliked by others can be avoided through the art of compromise. If you have sensed that others do not have a disregard for you concerning your belief and walk with Jesus, then perhaps you are already administrating the art of compromise. The desire to be accepted by our peers opens the door to be silent or accept alternative views on Jesus and the Bible. Sadly there are also many churches who are being silent and accepting the things of world through compromise. It is time for us to evaluate ourselves individually and as the church. Are we hated by all, hated by some, or not hated at all? Jesus said we will be ‘hated by all’.

Read: Matthew 10:16-22 NASB – A Hard Road Ahead of Them – “Behold, – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

An Unlikely Candidate

Loring Schultz

“Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.” Matthew 9:10 NLT

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Tax collectors in New Testament times were the most despised and hated group of people. They were hated as a group in their work collecting taxes for Rome and also individually for lining their own pockets through extortion. It may seem a bit strange that Jesus would call Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him and become one of His disciples. Jesus had a reputation to keep and asking Matthew to join Him in His ministry wouldn’t exactly fit that image. Even stranger would be the fact of Matthew giving up his lucrative business to follow Jesus. Matthew didn’t possess any moral qualities such as loving others or caring for the poor as he took advantage of them. Matthew most certainly was an unlikely candidate, but Jesus chose him.

The Bible says in Matthew’s gospel (yes, the unlikely candidate), “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.” (Mt. 9:9 nlt) Matthew left behind his position as a tax collector with the possibility of never returning. An opening in such a profitable business would not open for long but filled rather quickly. Matthew was convinced he was not going back, nor did he have a desire to return. Jesus’ call of Matthew is another example of His miraculous power. Matthew’s heart had changed. Just as Jesus healed the paralyzed, the blind, and the deaf physically, He transformed Matthew’s heart.

A true change of heart results in actions being taken. Matthew didn’t wait in following Jesus and learning from Him. He went right to work in his new calling by inviting his former co-workers and others of the same mind to dinner with Jesus.  The change was real in Matthew going first to those closest to him and inviting them to meet the Lord and his new colleagues. Matthew’s conversion and new found zeal in righteousness would have caused bewilderment among those present, but it could not be denied.

The Lord is still in the conversion business. Changed hearts, changed minds, and changed lives are His specialty. You may think you are an unlikely candidate for the Lord to choose. You may feel you have failed Him too many times. You may not even have any interests in Jesus or spiritual things. But the Lord specializes in calling an unlikely candidate.

Read: Matthew 9:9-13 NLT – Jesus Calls Matthew – As Jesus was – Bible Gateway