Month: September 2012

What Is Your Ambition?

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“What Is Your Ambition?” by Kirk Hunt

 

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. (Mark 10:37 KJV)

Mark 10:37 KJV

Please read Mark 10:35-40

 

They were up front and personal with their request.  “Make us your chief guys.”  Straight.   To the point.  There were determined to fulfill their own ambitions.

 

Neither James or John asked what Jesus wanted.  Scripture does not record their explanation or discussion about how they wanted to serve the coming Kingdom.  All they appeared to want was important positions.

 

Ambition leads men and women to take steps.  That may include accomplishing a particular task or goal.  It could be gaining a specific ally.  Perhaps it involves removing a particular hindrance.

 

What is your ambition?  Why is that your ambition?  What will you do to achieve your ambition?

 

I pray you have ambitions.  To serve His Kingdom.  To minister to the hurting.  To save the lost.

 

Ambition is all too easily a negative.  History and current events are full of examples of self-seeking, sometimes ruthless, ambition.  James and John are exposed in this example from the Gospels.

 

Life-saving discoveries have come into the world through ambition.  Ambition has been the source of violence and chaos across the globe.   What kind of ambition do you have?

 

Think:            Is my ambition Godly, or something else?

 

Pray:             “Lord, give me ambition to build Your Kingdom, for You.”

 

Copyright © September 2012, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

How Do You Use Your Power?

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“How Do You Use Your Power?” by Kirk Hunt

 

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Luke 9:54 KJV

 

The Disciples wanted to command (not request) fire from heaven to destroy an entire village.  Admittedly, providing hospitality was an important virtue in that culture.  Refusing to provide for Jesus and the Disciples was, at a minimum, a serious breach of etiquette.

 

Even if a deliberate insult, flash-frying an entire village must count as an overreaction.  Despite teaching and training from Jesus Himself, the Disciples missed the lesson on power use.  Power should never be exercised without wisdom.

 

Did they have the power?  James and John certainly thought so.  Still, Jesus rebuked them on their purpose and motivation: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.”  Broiling folk for insults was not the lesson Jesus was trying to teach.

 

God gives His saints power and wisdom.  Every exercise of power by a Christian should be done in further building the Kingdom.  For His glory.  For His purposes.  Certainly not as a naked display of willfulness.

 

Our modern culture needs us to use His power.  To heal the wounded.  To comfort the distressed.   To unshackle the spiritually imprisoned.

 

Are you a Christian?  Then you have His power.  Always use His wisdom when you use His power.

 

Think:           God gives us power and wisdom.

Pray:             “Lord, help me to use the power You gave with, and in, Your wisdom.”

Copyright © September 2012, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

How Do You Use What You Have?

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“How Do You Use What You Have?” by Kirk Hunt

 

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:   For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Proverbs 22:22–23 KJV

 

Everything legal is not correct or moral.  Segregation was once legal in the United States.  Education and literacy is not legal for everyone in the world today.

 

What the oppressors do not seem to understand is the price they pay when they oppress.  God Himself guards the poor and helpless.  His omniscient eye sees.  Eventually, His omnipotent hand moves.

 

Wealth and power have their place.  I certainly want them.  1 Timothy 6:10 does not criticize money directly.  Instead, Scripture condemns loving money so much that you do the wrong thing(s).

 

Money, influence and capitalism will not soon be outlawed in the world.  Nor should they.  Scripture commands you to use your wealth and influence with justice and fairness.  Do you?

 

God watches.  His blood boils when His little ones are oppressed.   Eventually, He moves against those who perpetrate injustice.

 

The more you have, the easier it is to oppress and mistreat others.  The more you have, the easier it is to act to benefit those around you, and still make a profit.  What does God see when you use your wealth and influence?

 

Think:            Justice and fairness please God.  How do I use my wealth and influence?

 

Pray:              “Lord, help me to use my wealth and influence with justice and fairness.”

 

 

Copyright © September 2012, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Does God Love You?

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“Does God Love You?” by Kirk Hunt

 

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3:12 KJV

 

I could tell you stories about Momma and Poppa disciplining me.  They were likely to chastise me (or my siblings) at any time or place.  Not once did they ever say, “This hurts me, as much as it hurts you.”

 

Do I remember their discipline with fondness?  Not so much.   Do I appreciate their correction now?  Yes.   Do I doubt their love?  Not one iota.

 

God loves us so much he does not allow us to stay in our error(s).  He corrects us.  He guides us back to His Word and Way, when we stray.

 

When He corrects us, God denies justice.  We do not get all we deserve.  Instead of getting the full penalty of our sins, He guides us back to righteousness with mercy and kindness.

 

Of course, it is better to stay the straight and narrow.  Still, we mere mortals occasionally get out in the weeds.  It is then that His love for us shines most brightly.

 

He brings us back to the right path.  Through His full love.  In His grace.  And sometimes with a switch.  At least it is not with the sword we deserve.

 

He loves you.  More than you know or understand.  Accept His correction.  Even when it hurts a little (or a lot).

 

Think:                        Father, you love me too much to let me stay wrong.

 

Pray:              “Lord, help me to appreciate your love, even in correction.”

 

Copyright © September 2012, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.