Month: February 2019

Naaman The Honorable

Naaman The Honorable by Kirk Hunt

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.

2 Kings 5:1 NKJV

Despite being a general in the army of the pagan Syrians, Naaman was an instrument of God’s will.  Being a great and honorable man (or woman) does not mean you are sinless.  Leprosy, long a symbol or analogy of sin in human lives, changed the viewpoint of others.  Naaman’s grateful king (historically, Ben-Hadad II) saw him less as a national hero and more as a dangerous threat to his own health and wellbeing.

Even today, Naaman’s leprosy can serve as an object lesson:  Being good and moral is not enough.  Christians, God’s people, must live more than clean lives.  We must live separate from the sin that can so easily taint and contaminate our lives.

Despite all of his achievements and benefits to the Syrian King and nation, Naaman lived as a separated pariah.  Even his wife would have shunned his immediate presence, or merest touch.  Naaman’s bacterial infection defined him more than his courage, valor or noble character.

The sin in your life defines you more than your generosity, virtue or clean living.  Some souls who see your taint and contamination will shun you as one of the unredeemed.  Other souls will seek to drag you further into the worst of sinful living.

Leprosy, the disease, can be cured.  Sin, the corruption of your soul, can be cleansed and avoided through the salvation of Jesus Christ.  I pray you are honorable, but know it is more important to be sinless.

Think:      Honorable is good.  Sinless is better.

Pray:         “Lord, help me to live sinlessly through Your Holy Spirit and power.”

 

Copyright © February 2019, 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.

Who Have You Received?

Who Have You Received? by Kirk Hunt

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,   preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Acts 28:30-31 NKJV

Chained to a Roman soldier, Paul received everyone who came to him.  The prisoner freely taught and preached about Jesus Christ.  For two years, handcuffed to his captors, Paul repeated the crime that brought him to trial in Rome. 

It took courage to visit Paul in Nero’s Rome.  Christians were already under suspicion and discrimination.  Still, the opportunity to learn of Jesus, directly from Paul, brought men and women to his door.

Paul welcomed his guests, then generously gave them his richest gift: Jesus Christ.  In the face of political, social and religious (Pagans or Jews) opposition, Paul insisted on sharing his knowledge of the Gospel.  Whether with those in the room, or with saints around the known world, Paul spoke God’s truth to all who could hear.

Who do you receive?  What do you give them?  Why should they want what you give?

Under the watching eyes and listening ears of the elite Praetorian Guard, Paul taught the Gospel to all who asked.  The Apostle used his adverse circumstances to build the Kingdom.  Can you do the same?

Who is at your door?  What do you give them?  Even a prisoner can be a generous host, if they have something of value to give.  What is more valuable than the Gospel?

Think:      Who have you received?  What have they received from you?

Pray:         “Lord, help me to generously receive then give You to all who come to me.”

 

Copyright © February 2019, 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.

Who Are Gathered With You?

Who Are Gathered With You? by Kirk Hunt

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.   And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

2 Samuel 22:1-2 NKJV

King Saul issued a death warrant for his loyal and valiant son-in-law, David.  Unjustly hunted and cruelly hounded, David found refuge in the cave of Adullam.  There, at his lowest point, losers, deadbeats and whiners gathered with David.

David could have easily become a brigand and villain, leading a band of cutthroats.  Instead he transformed himself into a valiant king-like leader.  The crybabies and snotnoses who gathered with him?  They became an elite fighting force who championed the defenseless.

You always have a choice.  There is the easy way or the right way.  You can choose to walk upward in righteousness or slide downward in villainy.  It is just that easy.

Insist that the people who gather around you have a simple choice:  1) Get with your program or 2) leave.  Keep their immediate decision clear and simple. 

It takes courage, fortitude and intention to choose righteousness.  There will be confrontations and conflicts, but insist that anyone who stays with you does the same.  No one said it would be easy.

Who is gathered with you?  You can help them change their story.  Make sure you choose the right story to tell with your life and theirs.

Think:      Who is gathered with me and why do they stay?

Pray:         “Lord, help me and those gathered with me to choose Your righteousness.”

 

Copyright © February 2019, 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.