Month: March 2016

With Lovingkindness

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“With Lovingkindness” By Kirk Hunt

 

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

 

In recent days my heart is heavy.  Too many of God’s people speak, or ardently follow those who speak, anger, hate and fear.  Christians should be reaching out in lovingkindness to refugees and radicals alike.  Instead with angry, unforgiving words we are pushing them back into the arms of error and sin.

 

God’s people are called to disciple all of the world.  That includes reaching out in grace and patience to Muslims, Wiccans and everyone else following error instead of Christ.  In order to reach a lost soul, you must first get close enough to touch them.

 

Exclusion, walls and isolation do not touch hearts and minds for Christ.  Jesus reached out to us in service (Romans 5:8) with lovingkindness.  Christians are commanded by Scripture (Matthew 28:19) to make disciples of all nations.  Disciples are only made (or maintained) by close, personal, prolonged contact.

 

Millions of refugees from “fallen houses” (Matthew 7:26-27) seek refuge in the stability of Christian nations (Matthew 7:25).  Are they receiving the gracious words and generous actions that flow from Jesus?  Are Christians obeying Scripture by discipling the nations who plead at the door?

 

The world has come to us, seeking the Gospel.  Christians have an unprecedented opportunity to turn back the darkness.  Are we salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16) enough for the job?

 

Think:                Disciples are made using open, serving hands; not angry, striking fists.

 

Pray:                   “Lord, help me to disciple people of all nations.”

 

 

Copyright © March 2016, Kirk Hunt

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

Despite Your Outcome

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“Despite Your Outcome” By Kirk Hunt

 

Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”

1 Samuel 24:5–6 NKJV

 

David had gotten close enough to Saul to have taken his life. The cloth cut from Saul’s robe proved the operation was a success. The cut in David’s heart proved the outcome was a failure.

 

Saul unrighteously sought David’s life. The common wisdom is that a new king would rescind the execution warrant against David. David’s action represented an assault against a leader appointed by God. David’s own conscience convicted (not condemned) him about this.

 

Sometimes, God’s people produce the wrong outcomes. Provoked, we can respond the wrong way. Threatened, we may take matters into our hands, rather than wait on God. Worst of all, simple willfulness leads us down the wrong path.

 

When a skilled soldier has a “silver platter” opportunity to kill a known enemy, you can assume the outcome. When a servant of God has an opportunity to serve a known enemy, you should assume that outcome also. The difference is that God’s people should only deal in blessing and service.

 

David confessed, and made right, his slight against the king. Perhaps you need to confess and redeem a poor outcome in your life. Prayerfully, the Holy Spirit will convict (not condemn) you until you do.

 

Think:                As a servant of God, I must make sure my outcomes are correct.

 

Pray:                   “Lord, help me live, speak and act per Your heart.”

 

 

Copyright © March 2016, Kirk Hunt

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

Consider Your Output

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“Consider Your Output” By Kirk Hunt

 

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

John 20:25 NKJV

 

Often, God’s people read this verse and see “goodness out, goodness in.” While that is good, we need to also consider the other viewpoint: “garbage out, garbage in.” The output of our hearts, minds and voices always returns to us. Good or bad.

 

Too often, the good our hands do is drowned out by the bad our voices say. We heap help and support on the attractive and safe, but heap judgment and scorn on the unlovely and threatening. Sometimes regardless of the Kingdom building that could be done with more loving and accepting actions and voices.

 

We reach out to those who (say they) conform to our viewpoint and imagery. We turn away from those who do not rush to follow our formats and patterns. At the expense of those who need the Gospel, we cater to those who cynically play on our sympathies.

 

Jesus used a whip to drive out the moneychangers. He preached special rebukes against the hypocritical Priests and Pharisees. The moneychangers, priests and Pharisees were the righteous looking people. The Roman Centurion, with his foreign looks and uniform, was proclaimed by Him as an example of real faithfulness.

 

Are you receiving much good and blessing? Good. Are you receiving some rebuke and difficulty? Perhaps you not as consistent as you thought you were.

 

Think:                My acts and my words must be consistent with each other.

 

Pray:                   “Lord, help me live, say and act per Your Word and Way.”

 

 

Copyright © March 2016, Kirk Hunt

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

The Testimony Of Scars

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“The Testimony Of Scars” By Kirk Hunt

 

The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print [scars] of the nails, and put my finger into the print [scars] of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

John 20:25 NKJV

 

Thomas wanted proof. Like the other disciples, he knew for certain Jesus had died on the Cross. Now, he wanted the same kind of certainty that Jesus again lived. He wanted to see and touch the scars of the living, breathing Jesus.

 

Enough hurt, pain and loss will rattle the confidence, or drain hope from, even those with iron wills and steel souls. Too often, the words of others mean nothing in those dark moments of distress. Only the testimony of scars can speak to those who seem to have lost everything.

 

“See? Jesus brought me through the same crisis.” “His Spirit carried me when I got the same late-night call.” “His grace healed me of the same illness.”

 

God’s people too often hide their scars. By hiding them, we also hide the evidence of God’s power and restoration in our lives. Only survivors have scars. Survivors speak with an authority that exceeds all others.

 

Thomas finally got his living proof of the resurrected Jesus. You also have proof of the resurrected Jesus. His power has brought you through. Your scars are irrefutable proof of His power and authority in the real world.

 

Think:                My scars are irrefutable proof of God’s power and supremacy in my life.

 

Pray:                   “Lord, help me to use my scars to testify of You.”

 

 

Copyright © February 2016, Kirk Hunt

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