Month: June 2018

See, Then Go Out After It

“See, Then Go Out After It” By Kirk Hunt

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,   I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.”

1 Samuel 17:34–35 NKJV

As a shepherd, David saw and understood the situation.  An apex predator was preparing to eat one of the sheep from his flock.  David also saw with vision the dead lion, then went out after the lamb.

Sight is different than vision.  Sight sees the current facts and data.  As a rational person, you see the circumstances as they are. 

Vision is different than sight.  Vision sees a future set of facts and data.  As a rational person, you see the circumstances as they will be. 

I cannot tell you that your vision is without risk or effort.  In fact, I can guarantee you that your God-given vision will require, at a minimum, figurative blood, sweat and tears.  The Apostles and Prophets (almost all) lost their lives in fulfilling the vision they received from God.

You see a set of facts and data that do not exist yet.  God has sent you that vision in order to guide the work He wants you to accomplish.  The tasks you complete will change the situation and transform you.  See your assignment, then go out after it.

Think:       Go after the vision God gives you.

Pray:         “Lord, give me the strength to go after the vision You give me.”

 

Copyright © June 2018, 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.

Quiet Lions

“Quiet Lions” By Kirk Hunt

Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!   My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

Daniel 6:21–22 NKJV
Read also Daniel 6:1–24

The angel snapped his fingers to get the lions’ attention.  “You are going to host Daniel for the night.  Sorry, but you will be hungry for the evening.”  The lion roars were deafening. 

“If you are going to respond like that, then you don’t get to open your mouths until tomorrow.”  After another snap of his fingers, complete silence fell on the lions’ den.

Daniel landed face down in the lions’ den, because he prayed.  His faith and faithfulness would not allow him to hide.  His love of God exceeded his fear of a powerful king, treacherous courtiers or hungry predators.

Godly people are, at times, thrown to the lions.  Too often, we are punished for doing the right thing.  Even men and women of the strongest faith are not eager for an eyeball-to-eyeball encounter with several Panthera leo.

God does not always deliver us from the lions’ den.  I wish I could tell you we are never lion chow.  What I can promise is that no matter where we go, or what we face, God’s will and grace remains sovereign.

Quiet lions greeted Daniel.  There may be lions roaring in your life, but the God of Daniel, your Father-God, can lead you in quiet security.  Walk with God, even among the predators.

Think:       God can silence the lions of your life.

Pray:         “Lord, help me to trust You through every episode of my life.”

 

Copyright © June 2018, 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.

Obey The Voice

“Obey The Voice” By Kirk Hunt

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.   And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NKJV

The front-line versions of the F-16 Falcon, F-18 Hornet and A-10 Warthog (uh, Thunderbolt) are single-seat aircraft.  Still, before hotshot pilots get to be lone combat aces, they fly the two-seat version.  They learn their craft from the voice of the instructor in the back seat. 

The instructor guides, exhorts and corrects.  In the heat of action and danger, his or her echoing voice and lessons are often the difference between defeat and victory.  No one interested in returning home safely would ignore wisdom and guidance in such a moment.

Moses, on the verge of his death, urged the nation of Israel to continue to obey the voice of God.  Jesus, preparing the Disciples for His sacrifice, urged the same.  He also promised the Holy Spirit would live inside any believer who would welcome Him.  No one interested in correctly living the Christian walk would ignore the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit at any time.

Christian men and women face the heat and action of this modern life, every day.  In the constant give, take and turmoil it is all too easy to do badly or say wrongly, destroying your Christian walk or your righteous witness.  The Holy Spirit and God’s Word have voices and speak.  Are you listening?

Think:       Do I seek to live by the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Pray:         “Lord, give me the Holy Spirit and the heart to live by Your law.”

 

Copyright © June 2018, 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.