Daily In His Love / Weekly Devotions for your Mind and Spirit

I am the Door

October 4, 2022October 4, 2022 Inge Schultz

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20

Do you hear Him knocking at your door? Are you safe within the sheepfold of God? Jesus said, ‘I am the door of the sheep,” [see John 10:7]. How can Jesus come and sup with us? If anyone claims to be Christ, we know it is not true, or do we? Jesus told us in verse 8 of chapter ten of John that all that ever came before him were thieves and robbers. Thieves and robbers! These days, it is all about who you trust. The door has a lock, and you have the key to unlocking it. He is knocking at the door every day. Will you open the door? The door is your relationship with God. Your communication with the almighty God. Is it open or closed? Only you yourself can answer that question. But to know God you must open the door. There are two doors that the priest goes through to the mercy seat and between the two cherubim is where God communes with the priest, [see Exodus 25:22]. This is the same place where God spoke to Moses in the tabernacle in Numbers 7:89. God desires a place to commune with His people.

The open door speaks to not only communication, but relationship. One must communicate in order to have a relationship. For many, God is distant because they do not know how to communicate to the Almighty one. Yet, Jesus said, “I will come into him and sup with him.” We must know the importance of the door that Jesus claims to be. What does it mean to hear his voice and have him [sup with us]. We can read about Jesus and the Father’s relationship in the Bible. But we must first go back to the day of atonement where the priest had to make sacrifices not only for himself but for the people as well for all their sins. This sacrifice opens the door for communications with God. But God did not take pleasure in these sacrifices for sin [see Hebrews 10:6]. He made a new covenant where only one sacrifice for sins was made forever, [see Hebrews 10:12]. It is the offering of the body of Jesus Christ who become the final and only sacrifice for sins. In this final sacrifice was God pleased. That is why Jesus is the shepherd because He laid down his own life for the sheep [see John 10:11].

I am the door; by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
John 10:9

Jesus is the door to which we can enter into the Holy place where the mercy set is. We can enter in by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, [see Hebrew 10-19-22]. When we enter the door of Jesus, we enter into the mercy seat of God. Jesus is the blood sacrifice for our sins, and therefore, we are able to commune with God. We can come boldly to the throne of grace because of Jesus. That is why we can draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Because we have had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us hold fast our profession of faith. Let us not waver in our faith in Christ Jesus. We enter in by faith and that is believing and receiving what God has revealed to us in the Scriptures. Do we trust in God and in Jesus Christ whom God sent? That is a question that each of us must answer for ourselves. Each person must answer the question if they believe in that “God so loved the world that He gave us His only son in that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life,” [see John 3:16]. One cannot come to the God any other way but through Jesus Christ who is the propitiation for our sins.

I say unto you, He that entered not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbed up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
John 10:1

There is that thief and robber again. There is only one way to come to God, and that is through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the door to eternal life. All other methods are considered as a thief or robbers of your soul and life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6]. We have a heavenly Father who is merciful.

I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
Hebrew 8:12

The heavenly Father will be merciful to us, and He will not remember your sins anymore. He will not remember your sins. He sees you through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus and the Father had a personal relationship with each other. Jesus knows the Father and that speaks to an intimate relationship. Jesus said, “as the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep,” [see John 10:15]. Take a look at the very next verse of John chapter ten. In verse 16, Jesus speaks about the other sheep he has, and those other sheep hear his voice. The other sheep are those who are not of the Jewish fold. These are the Gentiles who were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel having no hope and without God in the world, but now are a part of the commonwealth through the blood of Christ, [see Ephesians 2:12-13]. How exciting is that? Jesus is our peace who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. We are all one in Christ and the Father receives us because of Christ sacrifice. Our faith and confession are a testimony to God and to others.

Our confession of faith is very important because it speaks to where we stand. We are either in the fold of the shepherd or we stand outside of the gate/door. Jesus tells us to fear not because we are more valuable than the all the sparrows. If we confess Christ before men, then Christ will confess us before the Father who is in heaven, [see Matthew 10:32]. But look at verse 33 of Mathew chapter ten, for it states that if we deny Christ, He will deny us before the Father in heaven. We must remember that He is always faithful, but mere man stumbles in his own belief. We must repent in order to revive our soul and have the door open to the pastures again whereby we may communicate. At the end of this age the church who is in revival are those who hear his voice and God knows of their works, for he has set before them an open door and no man can shut the door that He opens. God opens the door unto those who have kept His word and who have not denied His name [see Revelation 3:8]. Those who are His know that of themselves they are nothing, but with God they have become strong. They know their position in Christ and all things become possible because of their faith.

You must know the father and the son. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Are you one with Christ? If you are one with Christ, then you are His followers and listen to His voice. This means you get acquainted with him and his ways. You read his will and testament to become familiar with his way. The Holy Spirit will teach us and guide us into its meaning [see John 14:26]. This means whatever you do, you do as unto the Lord and not unto yourselves. This means that we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works and not evil, [see Ephesians 2:10]. Jesus himself said he could do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do, He does. He had an intimate relationship with the Father and the Father revealed to Jesus what he should do. Let him teach you what you should do. Read his word daily and pray for understanding. Jesus exclaims that if you know him, you know the Father. This is such an amazing statement, and we many just gloss over it without giving it careful thought.

When you are reading any book, do you not look at the “characters” of the book? To know the characters is to know something about them. Thus, the Bible explains the character of God in who he is and what he has done. If you believe in God, you must also believe in Jesus Christ. If you do not, then how can He prepare a place for you in heaven. Remember that Jesus is the door, the way, the truth, and the life.

Confession, Faith, Reconciled

The Son of man cometh, Shall He find faith on the earth?

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022 Inge Schultz

When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:8

What will the Son of man find when he comes upon the earth? Will he find obedience in the faith of Jesus Christ? Will he find anyone standing fast in the faith and doing all things in love? Will he find you settled and grounded in faith to where you are not removed away from the hope of the gospel? The truth of the gospel is found in the power of God’s Son Jesus Christ who brought us with a price. The redemptive work in Christ is our saving grace towards forgiveness and eternal life. We must not devalue what Christ has done on the cross for each of us. He is our peace and has reconciled all things unto himself [see Colossians 1:20]. We are complete in him.

And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principalities and power.
Colossians 2:10

I pray that your faith is not a shallow faith. I pray that you become strengthened in the might of His Spirit, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and that you be grounded and rooted in love [see Ephesians 3:16-17]. To know the love of Christ which passes all knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God [see Ephesians 3:19]. We all must be able to comprehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of our precious Lord. The apostle Paul warns us of a perilous time that is coming, and it seems fitting to say that we may be entering a perilous time and our faith will be tested. The apostle Paul warns us that professing Christians will reject the truth that is in the Deity of Jesus Christ. The snare of Satan is to deny our Lord’s provision in the power of his resurrection. Our faith in Christ alone guarantee’s our inheritance of eternal life. Do not let anyone take that away from you. Paul tells us that in the last days of perilous times men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, and disobedient [ 2 Timothy 3:2].

Those who boast the loudest have lost something in life. We should question why they are boasting. What are they trying to gain except their own recognition. Our recognition is in Christ Jesus, and we can only boast what he has given us which is mercy, love, forgiveness, and a new life. There will be men who are high-minded, heady, false accusers, despisers of those that are good, and traitors because they deny the power of our LORD in vain believing in their own form of godliness. We are to turn away from those who are like this for they are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth [see 2 Timothy 3:7]. We are to continue in the love of our Lord and stand firm in the faith that is through our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the death and resurrection of our Lord, for He alone is able to save us from death and hell. Keep the word of God nigh thee even in thy mouth speak the word.

Preach the word; be diligent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.”
2 Timothy 4:2

Yes, we are to preach the word, and fight the good fight of faith. We all should have a good profession [see 1 Timothy 6:12]. Is your profession a good profession before many witnesses? Check thy mouth for it will speak what is in your heart. You may have to pray and ask the Lord to deliver you from evil speaking and from every evil work. I pray that He will preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom, and not your own kingdom. Those who have departed from the faith within their heart but still confess they are Christian will be awaiting judgement. The scripture tells us that their folly shall be manifested unto all men [2Timothy 3:9]. There is reconciliation through Jesus Christ for our sins if we confess them before our Lord. We should all continue to grow as the scripture helps us towards correction and it is the instruction into righteousness. It reveals the truth of the folly of humanity. Paul tells us to examine ourselves whether or not we are standing in faith [see 2 Corinthians 13:5]. Our faith is our confession, for whatever is not of faith is dead. Faith in Christ Jesus is alive and carries the power to save and heal us.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.”
Hebrews 10:23

That is why it is so important that we hold fast our profession of our faith without wavering. We declare the Lord Jesus who is the final sacrifice for our sins. He died and arose from the cross to give us eternal life. Profession is our declaration, a public announcement of what we believe in. If we lack faith, we can ask in prayer for help of our unbelief like the father of the child who had a dumb and deaf spirit [see Mark 9:24]. He is faithful to help us in our weaknesses. It is interesting to note that the disciples could not cast out the spirit of dumbness and deaf out of the child and they asked Jesus why? Jesus answered, “this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” [Mark 9:29]. Prayer and fasting are needed at times to gain understanding of the revelation about a situation that God can only reveal through prayer and fasting. The believer is complete in Christ.

Buried with him in baptism, in which also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:12

Through the faith of the operation of God, yes, the operation of God and not of man. Christ was raised from the dead, and so shall we if we continue in the faith. We have a part in the ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors for Christ bearing the word of God and declaring the truth of the gospel of Christ. Christ is our redemption and reconciliation to God. The operation of God is through faith in Christ.

The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Luke 18:27

Whatever is impossible with men are possible with God. How exciting is this. Our God of mercy makes it possible if only we would believe in his provision through his son Jesus Christ. Our faith in Christ can move mountains. Remember what Jesus said to the disciples, “whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith,” [Mark 11:23]. Jesus also told the disciples to have faith in God. Have faith in God.

When He the Son of men comes, may you be found in him standing in faith.

Confession, Separation

Come out and be ye Separate

March 15, 2022April 7, 2022 Inge Schultz

Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2 Corinthians 6:17

God is calling his people to come out and be ye separate. What does it mean to come out and be ye separate, and from what should we be separate from? To be separate has to do with being clean, but it is much more than that. Separation is whatever is contrary to the will of God and to God himself. We are to be separate in our desire, motive, and act from what we were as sinners in this world. That is why the apostle Paul stated, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” [see 2 Corinthians 5:17]. When we came to Christ and confess our sins, we were reconciled back to God. Now we are to be separate and not go back to what held us in bondage. We were slaves to evil desires and made to be something other than what God had intended. The apostle Paul is pleading and preaching to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [see 2 Corinthians 6:14].

Paul exhorts to examples of light and darkness, righteousness to unrighteousness, and even Christ as compared to Belial, which is the devil. Lest we forget that the works of evil have the acts of violence [see Isaiah 59:6]. Let us remember that adultery, fornication, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, murders, envying’s, drunkenness, strife, and heresies are acts of evil and bring bondage. We are in the world but not of the world as Jesus spoke in John 17:14. The world system has people who are children of the devil, for they do not adhere to the righteousness of God. That is why we are to separate ourselves from anyone who does acts of evil. We cannot have fellowship with those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God. There is no compromise with God as there is in the world, for God provided the perfect sacrifice. Nothing can compare to the Son of God who came in the flesh, died, and arose from the dead. Through Jesus we have the ministry of being reconciled to God. We should not compromise in any form how we were reconciled.

No teaching or preaching that does not include God’s son as part of our reconciliation is to be allowed, for it is only through Christ that we might be made the righteousness of God. We did not work for this for God himself provided it. Any form of complicity or conformity is to be questioned if it is done behind closed doors. The body of Christ is to be transparent since they are reflecting the image of Christ for the world to see. Being separate is the state of not being involved in any illegal activity of wrongdoing. If we desire to have God receive us, we must separate ourselves from all things that would keep us from growing as a true child of God. God’s desire is to dwell within us and to walk with us. However, if there is anything we are holding unto in this world, He cannot be our God. The apostle Paul tells us to let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, [2nd Corinthians 7:1]. We must know the difference between what is clean and what is not. Anything that exalted itself against the knowledge of God is to be cast down. We are to bring every thought we have to the obedience of Christ [see 2nd Corinthians 10:5].

Having purged our minds from evil intentions is the key to being separate unto the Lord. Our conscience is to be clear in every action we take. I remember a pastor who conveyed the importance of separation from all evil things that are associated with witchcraft. He talked about a large number of youths who were involved with the practices of witchcraft in his congregation. He had a burning barrel set up so they can bring items out of their homes to burn in the barrel. They brought books, games, and anything else that was associated to witchcraft for burning. This was separation from what was evil. To some this may be an easy thing to do, but do not underestimate the evil power that controls human beings. There must be a surrender of oneself from doing these evil things. I recently read chapter 9 and 10 of Ezra when God’s people fail to separate themselves from the surrounding nations and involving themselves in the customs of pagans. Ezra was a priest, and pastor who read and spoke the word of God. Many had not heed to Gods commandments in regard to taking possession of goods and people of the unclean land.

In the case of Ezra who prayed to the Lord God and confessed the fault. Reconciliation was made not only through confession but separation as well. The people who were at fault had to put away the wives of foreign lands and anything else that was associated with the people of the foreign lands. There is a list of those repentant heads of families. This is a separation from what is unclean in the eyes of God. God is in the business of reconciliation and separation. Is it any wonder that God sent His son to reconcile the world unto himself? That is why the apostle Paul was pleading to the Corinthians. We are now ambassadors for Christ stated Paul that we should be reconciled to God. Put away the unclean act, idol, or anything else that is unclean and evil and be reconciled to God. Some of us may need to do some Spring cleaning on items in our homes as well as who we are associating with.

The promise of confession and separation is having a relationship with God. He will be our God and we will be His sons and daughters. We will be a temple of the living God in order that He may dwell with us and walk with us [see 2nd Corinthians 6:16]. We will have the peace of God in our hearts, and we will have the promise of our inheritance when the Lord returns. As some celebrate St. Patrick’s Day know that He received the calling of God to be an Apostle to Ireland. In this calling St. Patrick had to separate himself from his own land and heed the voice of God to go back to Ireland. St. Patrick knew what it meant to be a slave of evil since he was kidnapped by pirates, but God gave unto Patrick the ministry of reconciliation. Confession of sin and separation unto God was St. Patrick’s life. You can read about his confession at Confession | St. Patrick’s Confessio. Be assured that God calls every true Christian to confession and separation unto God himself. We are kept in God’s mighty hand and delivered from the evil one as Paul stated in Galatians 1:4:

Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.