Month: September 2017

Next To You

“Next To You” By Kirk Hunt

And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.”

1 Samuel 23:17 NKJV

Jonathan, the Crown Prince of Israel, declared he would never be king.  Despite his age, position and lineage, Jonathan openly stated that David would be the next king.  Jonathan freely declared “I shall be next to you” as good news to his friend and protégé.  

Deep down, we all want to sit the “big chair” somewhere in our life and work.  Do you know the will of God enough, and have self-control enough, to say, “You, not me.”  Are you man or woman enough to be glad for your friend, despite their jump in line?

Deep in the woods, where David hid from a death warrant, Jonathan spoke gladly of David’s coming dynasty.  Jonathan would stand, or kneel, next to David’s throne and be glad of the privilege.  Only a Godly man or woman can be so pleased to be “passed over” for promotion, even for a friend.

The common wisdom is that Jonathan should have led the bounty hunters to David’s hiding place.  He could have executed David himself.   Instead he encouraged his friend, the outlaw.  Jonathan cheerfully pointed to a time when he would no longer be Crown Prince. 

Do you love God’s plan more than the big promotion?  Are you willing to push God’s choice to the position that should be yours?  Are you glad in your heart?

Think:        Do I know my place?  Am I willing to be glad, despite not getting the top spot?

Pray:           “Lord, help me to know, and be glad of, my place in Your Kingdom.”

 

Copyright © September 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.

In The Woods

“In the Woods” By Kirk Hunt

Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.

1 Samuel 23:16 NKJV

Jonathan, the Crown Prince of Israel snuck out a side door and traveled across the miles.  There, in the woods, he found the outlaw the King wanted dead.  Knowing his own father wanted this criminal executed; Jonathan embraced his friend and strengthened David’s Godly faith and hope.

Maybe you are the man everyone turns to for strength.  Perhaps you are the woman others rely on for courage.  No matter your standing or track record, you will eventually need encouragement “in the woods.”

Unjustly a fugitive, and hunted for his very life, David fled alone into the wilderness.  At first only castoffs, deadbeats and losers came to him, looking for a handout.  Despite his successes in turning those men into champions, David needed encouragement in the wilderness of Ziph.  Thankfully for him, and eventually us, Jonathan strengthened his hand in God.

Real men and women have limits.  You can only be so strong, so long, for others.  Sooner, or later, you need someone to come to a lonely, isolated place and pour at least a little help and encouragement on you.

Before David sat the throne he walked (or ran) the woods.  Before he became an ancestor of Christ, David’s soul cried out for an encouraging word and a moment of reassurance.   Jonathan appeared at a dark and cold moment in David’s life and brought light and warmth.

In your woods, let them come.  Accept the blessing they bring.  God is answering your need.

Think:        God will provide encouragement and reassurance in my difficult places.

Pray:           “Lord, I accept the encouragement and blessing You send.”

 

Copyright © September 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.

And Marched Around

“And Marched Around” By Kirk Hunt

But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 NKJV
Read also Joshua 6:15–20

To the untrained eye, Joshua was wasting everyone’s time and energy.  Israel marched around Jericho, 14 times in silence.  There were no shouts of triumph or defiance.  Only the sound of trudging feet could be heard, unless the people of Jericho were hurling insults and taunts from the top of the walls.

Israel built no siege engines.  Teams of sappers did not undermine the walls.  Instead, Joshua and Israel were obedient to God’s instruction.  “March.  Then march some more.”

Perhaps you are facing a Jericho wall in your life.  It is a circumstance that is big, blocks your way, and you see no way to overcome it.  I implore you: Keep marching.

God’s people obey God, whether or not it makes sense to us.  We insist on persistence.  We patiently keep doing what He said, until our change comes.  We compel ourselves to act out our faith in His Word.  No matter how many laps it takes.

Too often, we obey conventional wisdom rather than God.  We expect financial, political or numbers of people to carry the day.  While it is good to be prepared to do the hard word, it is better to follow God’s instructions.

Even if your feet are sore, continue marching per God’s instructions.  When God gets through, your Jericho wall will fall.  Be read for the hard work to follow your victory.

Think:        I will patiently persist at my God-given task until my Jericho wall falls.

Pray:           “Lord, help me to act my faith in Your Word for my life.”

 

Copyright © September 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.

What Do You Preach?

“What Do You Preach?” By Kirk Hunt

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;   but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:22–23 NKJV

Paul would preach the same Gospel to Jews and Greeks.  Some, from each group, would reject the message, for different reasons.  Why did he continue to preach and teach the same thing?

Truth does not require agreement.  No matter how much, or in what way, you or others disagree with gravity, you still fall from high to low.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is disruptive and convicting, in different ways, to different people.  That does not change the truth of Him.

 

Greeks, using logic and rational thought, viewed the Gospel as superstition.  Jews, using history and traditional interpretation, viewed the Gospel as heresy.  Both were, and are, uniquely wrong.

Two millennia later, some folks are still getting it wrong.  The truth of the Gospel is still the ultimate truth.  His truth is almost always disruptive and convicting, even to the best of us.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still the only way to salvation.

As a Christian, you must find a way to respectfully and lovingly communicate the Gospel.  You must be prepared to just as respectfully and lovingly hear, or endure, the negative response some will give.  For the sake of the Gospel most of the Apostles died in violent, tortuous ways.  Saints in the western hemisphere rarely endure more than harsh words.

Mere disagreement, no matter who or how much, does not negate the Gospel.  Preach His truth.  Pray in faith they will receive and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Think:        God’s truth is the ultimate truth, no matter who disagrees.

Pray:           “Lord, help me to believe and teach Your Gospel, no matter who disagrees.”

 

Copyright © September 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.