Month: May 2017

No Greater Love

“No Greater Love” By Kirk Hunt

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

John 15:13

 

The test came, and three true Americans passed.  Good men refused to stand by and let evil triumph.  For friends they may not have truly met, they proved their greater love. 

 

It is appropriate on this Memorial Day that we Americans recognize this fresh proof that freedom is not free.  It requires men and women, many without arms or armor, to stand in courage.  Some will make the ultimate sacrifice, out of love.

 

Real love requires standing against all enemies, foreign and domestic, natural and spiritual.  Real love stands against sin, hate and violence with grace and truth.  All too often, the enemy of our souls, or his agents, will retaliate viciously.  

 

However they act, God’s people are commanded to respond in love and grace.  Even when provoked, God’s people must respond as Jesus would.  His greater love lives in us and finds its expression through us.  Sometimes at the risk of being known as a hero. 

 

Jesus knew He would face the ultimate test.  He refused to stand by and let mankind continue in separation from God.  Jesus stood in courage and made the ultimate and eternal sacrifice, on the Cross.  He proved that the evidence of greater love requires action.

 

I pray you are never tested this way.  May His wisdom and grace lead you around or past any situation.  Still, do not hesitate to become a known hero.  True heroes are in short supply.

 

Think:        Jesus gave His life to save us from the enemy of our souls.

 

Pray:           “Lord, guide me in Your wisdom, with courage.”

 

Copyright © May 2017, 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.

At The River’s Bank

“At The River’s Bank” By Kirk Hunt

But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.

Exodus 2:3
Please read also Exodus 1:8–22

 

At the river’s bank, Jochebed carefully laid her infant son in a waterproofed basket.  Driven by a mixture of fear, hope, desperation, ingenuity and determination, she sought life and safety for her boy in the Nile.  She risked the life of her helpless infant with crocodiles or drowning.  She saved him from the certainty of death at the hands of Pharaoh’s soldiers.

 

“Amram, I put the baby in the river today.  Now I am being paid by the royal court to raise our baby.  God is good.”

 

Desperate people do extraordinary things.  Some acts, in retrospect, are unwise.  Others actions demonstrate courage and determination despite stress and danger.  In some circumstances, you must do what you can with what you have.

 

Perhaps you stand at a river’s bank in your life.  Your circumstances have driven you in ways you never imagined.  Even in a place of risk and danger, God is still with you. 

 

Turn to His wisdom and guidance.  Ask Him to guide you in what He is blessing.  God’s direction may not make sense to others.  His guidance may not make sense to you.  His path remains the way to safety and blessing.

 

Think:        God sees and cares for me, even in the worst of circumstances.

Pray:           “Lord, guide me in Your wisdom, even at the river’s edge.”

 

Copyright © May 2017, 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.

We Call Her Blessed

“We Call Her Blessed” By Kirk Hunt

Her children rise up and call her blessed

Proverbs 31:28a

 

The church was large and full.  Any one you asked would claim to be Mother Hunt’s son or daughter, regardless of age or family-line.  Certainly, we all call her blessed.

 

At first, she would convince you she was the most fragile and delicate creature you ever met.  Eventually she would target you, for your own good, with her iron determination and steely strength of character.  Still, you would love her and call her blessed.

 

Momma always appreciated what you did for her.  Then she would tell you how you could have done it better.  You might roll your eyes, but you would call her blessed.

 

She beamed with delight and pride over her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the fifth generation she held in her arms.  No matter how large the crowd near her, she concerned herself with who was far away.  We would sigh, then call her blessed.

 

Her work in God’s Kingdom generated a host of spiritual sons and daughters.  Everyone close to her understood the demands and privileges of being one of her children.  And when they rose up, they call her blessed.

 

Momma spent her life trying to lead others to Christ and Christ-like living.  Her love could be fierce and severe, but was always from the deepest part of her.  The part of her that taught and corrected loved you, and more importantly, loved God.  No wonder we call her blessed.

 

Think:        The children of a true Mother rise up and call her blessed.

 

Pray:           “Lord, thank you for providing true Mothers for Your earthly children.”

 

Copyright © May 2017, 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.

He Cried Out

“He Cried Out” By Kirk Hunt

And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.   Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”

1 Kings 17:19-20 NKJV
Please read 1 Kings 17:14-21

 

She confronted him with the boy’s cold, limp body.  Elijah took the boy’s body from his mother and went to the presence of God.  Alone with all-powerful Jehovah, Elijah used the only tool available to him:  He cried out.

 

Elijah did not understand any more than the widow.  He had no more power over the situation than the grieving mother.  All he could do is ask God for His intervention.  And he did so with force and abandon.

 

The facts are what they are, even to God’s people.  No amount of wishful thinking or force of personality will change the laws of nature.  No matter the circumstances, we can appeal to our heavenly Father.

 

God always answers prayer.  He loves us enough to say “no” when we ask for the wrong things.  He loves us enough to say “wait” when the circumstances are difficult to us.  He loves us enough to comfort us through whatever we are experiencing.

 

His power is absolute.  His will is sovereign.  His love for you is constant and unending.  Cry out to Him, wherever you are.

 

Think:        I can appeal to God in every circumstance.

 

Pray:           “Lord, I cry out to you because You have the power.”

 

Copyright © April 2017, 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.