Month: September 2016

Mature Understanding

“Mature Understanding” By Kirk Hunt

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20 NKJV

 

Paul told the saints at Corinth to be clever but guileless.  The Apostle wanted them to be people of insight and cleverness, yet without being maliciousness or conniving.  Godly men and women should always have mature understanding and never be gullible or undiscerning.

 

Jesus, at Matthew 10:16, says the same thing.  “All smarts, no venom” is for you and I, here and now.  Intelligence, intellect and insight are not the opposite of faith, innocence and integrity.  In fact, saints should be the smartest folks in the room, because the Holy Spirit empowers the mind as well as the soul.

 

There are a lot of folks who want to sell you a lot of nonsense.  A suit, tie and holy mannerisms may disguise a malicious predator.  Just because you want to hear something does not make it right or righteous.  Be smart.  Be perceptive.

 

Mature men and women examine what is presented to them.  They are smart enough to know that the easy thing is not always the right thing.  God’s people never dismiss a good messenger because of an imperfect past or difficult message. 

 

With the Holy Spirit empowering your heart, mind and spirit, you can be mature and understanding in matters both sacred and secular.  Through God, you can be perceptive and insightful, without losing your holiness or innocence.  Still, you will have to be mature enough to do the hard work of seeing past the fake to the authentic.

 

Think:        The strong and mature consider what people want them to believe.

 

Pray:           “Lord, help me to understand what I should choose for my life.”

 

 

Copyright © September 2016, Kirk Hunt

 

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

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How To Vote

“How To Vote” By Kirk Hunt

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men

2 Corinthians 3:2 NKJV

Dear Winston*,
               I often thank God for you as a friend and Gospel brother.  I have often turned to you for encouragement and advice, trusting that God’s wisdom is at work in your life.  While I have not always used your guidance exactly as given, I cannot deny the skillful and Godly nature of your counsel.  I am prayerful that I can now offer you direction on how you should vote this fall.

 

Your vote, despite all of its practical applications and greater symbolism, is nothing more than a choice.  A man of your wisdom and insight knows that choices can be categorized as either intellectual decisions or emotional reactions.  While no decision is ever purely intellectual or strictly emotional, one or the other dominates the choice(s) made. 

 

As your own experience has taught you, choices based on emotional reactions are almost never the best course of action.  Even in those rare episodes where an emotional choice worked out, you later found the facts and data that supported that path.  Conversely, when you sit in the ashes of a poorly made emotional decision, the clear-headed reasons you could have easily read and understood were right there, mocking you.

 

Neither the politicians, the political system nor special interests can overcome the good judgment of thinking voters.  Even when the choices seem dismal, the exercise of choosing, using facts and data, imposes rationality on everyone involved.  One choice is always better than the other, even if by a razor’s edge.  Set aside your emotional response and use your intellect and Godly wisdom to make a clear-headed decision.

 

Finally, I cannot urge you enough to vote this November.  Americans’ failure to participate fully and completely in the core mechanism of the democracy has impaired the function of the Government.  Those who do not vote are getting the America someone else chooses.

 

Your brother in Christ,
Cadreman

 

Copyright © September 2016, Kirk Hunt

 

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

 

* “Winston” is the fictional name of a real Gospel brother.

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Bad Princes

“Bad Princes” By Kirk Hunt

Neither our kings nor our princes,
Our priests nor our fathers,
Have kept Your law,
Nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies,

 Nehemiah 9:34 NKJV

 

Nehemiah spent a lot of his time and energy getting national leadership to do the right thing.  The Hebrew word for “princes” (see Strong’s 8269) refers to a “chief (captain), general, governor.”  Nehemiah first called to repentance the very people who should have been the best behaved.  God’s Law was not inadequate or incomplete.  They chose to ignore or violate the Law to line their pockets and fill their purses.

 

Nehemiah faced widespread corruption among those who knew better.  The leaders were supposed to respond according to the Law.  The leaders became rich while the “regular folk” became poor, or in some cases, literal slaves.  The problem was not pagan outsiders.  The problem was greedy or immoral insiders.  Nor could they claim they “did not know.”

 

Modern “princes” include more than members of Congress or State legislatures.  Relatively senior members of the Judicial, Legislative or Executive Branches of government, State or National, are “princes.”  The higher-ranking leaders of Corporations and other Commercial Interests are also “princes” by this definition.  If you have a higher rank, and/or a higher paycheck, you are included in this group.  

 

It is easy to blame foreign strangers.  It is harder work to hold insiders of rank and privilege accountable.  The problem is rarely a marauding outsider.  Much more likely, the problem is an insider who is supposed to be the solution.  

 

If you want compliance with God’s Law, as expressed in Scripture, then you have to get involved.  Do not let a “prince” claim they “did not know.”  Even “princes” can be held accountable, if you have the courage to call them on their unrighteousness. 

 

Think:        It is easy to blame others.  Usually, the problem starts among ourselves.

Pray:           “Lord, help me, and my leadership, to obey Your Scripture.”

 

Copyright © September 2016, Kirk Hunt

 

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

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Appoint Over This Business

“Appoint Over This Business” By Kirk Hunt

 

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business

Acts 6: 3 NKJV

 

Can you be impartial yet considerate?  Can you serve others honestly and graciously?  Should we appoint you to important work?

 

The widows needed the distribution.  No one suggested otherwise.  Still, whose hands and feet would conduct the business effectively and joyously?  Whose head and heart would conduct the business with compassion and efficiency?

 

I am certain there were several Spirit-filled believers available who did not make the standard.  Good reputation requires time and focus doing the right things.  Wisdom comes from God, and from the hard work of seeking wisdom.  Salvation alone is not a passkey to all jobs.

 

Salvation opens the door to God’s work and benefit in your life.  God could instantaneously and radically transform your qualifications.  Typically, the Holy Spirit makes possible the long and sweat-soaked road to new abilities and characteristics. 

 

It is possible to be full of the Holy Spirit and have a less-than-good reputation.  Being saved does not automatically fill you with wisdom.  Because God gives us free-will, you and I get to choose. 

 

You choose your reputation and wisdom.  If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then you have God’s power to carry you forward.  Still, you must make the choices, and do the work, that qualifies you for your appointment.

 

Think:        Am I qualified to be appointed over business in God’s Kingdom?

 

Pray:           “Lord, help me be qualified to serve your Kingdom.”

 

 

Copyright © September 2016, Kirk Hunt

 

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

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