choice Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Shall Surely Perish

Shall Surely Perish by Kirk Hunt

Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 8:19-20 NKJV

Moses the centenarian delivered a blunt, dour message: Worship only God or perish. As an individual. As a nation.

Israel had trudged through the desert for 40 years. The choices of disbelief and disobedience had condemned a generation to death outside of the land promised to them. Even Moses had become a victim of his choice to disobey God. In unflinching honesty and clarity, Moses reminded the nation of their opportunity to chose life through obedience to God. Or death in disobedience.

Your choice today is just that stark and mutually exclusive. You are a God-follower, or you are not. You choose life in God, or death in anything else.

Learn from the example of those who have gone before. The Canaanites were driven out of the land, by God, because of their sin. God would do the same thing with Israel, if they chose rebellion and wickedness.

Israel, God’s chosen people, lived in Canaan as long as they were obedient worshipers of God. When they chose sin and idolatry, they in turn were driven out. Israel perished from the land promised by God, because of their choices.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are chosen and loved by God. You will live in His promise as long as you are an obedient and faithful worshiper of God. If you chose to worship false idols, you shall surely perish.

Think: If I follow God in truth and obedience I will live and not perish.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be a true and faithful worshiper of You.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

Obey God Or Your Hardened Heart?

Obey God Or Your Hardened Heart? by Kirk Hunt

But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus 11:9-10 NKJV

Pharaoh denied, once again, Moses’ request to end the slavery of the Israelites. Despite the prior nine plagues that had wracked and ruined Egypt, Pharaoh refused to end the injustice against the people of God. Pharaoh set the stage for the tenth plague with his hardened heart and willful disobedience.

Many Bible scholars state that the ten plagues of Egypt systematically denied and refuted the supposed power of the Egyptian pantheon. God displayed His power over His creation and the Egyptians for all to see. The pagan myths of the Egyptians failed to stand against the actual power of God.

The nationwide suffering of the Egyptians could not be denied or hidden. Still, Pharaoh persisted. As each plague grew in power and punishment, one man led his nation in opposition to God. Pharaoh could have avoided the tenth plague. Instead, He chose rebellion and disobedience.

You have a choice. You can choose to harden your heart and embrace your tenth plague. Or you can chose belief and obedience to God.

Think: I can chose between my hard heart and obedience to God.

Pray: “Lord, please make my heart obedient and pliable in Your Hands.”

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.

Does Your Love Endure?

Does Your Love Endure? by Kirk Hunt

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:12-13 NKJV

Love is something you choose. Love-in-feeling comes and goes, but love-in-action is the result of your choices. Does your love endure despite the climate around you? Your salvation, and likely the salvation of others, depends on your individual choice to continue loving God then men.

The worst version of lawlessness is the lack of compassion or caring for fellow human beings. Too many violate the law of love and use the secular legal code only as a way to inflict vengeance or retribution. The concept of forbearance or even mercy seems to have fled our national borders.

There are those who choose to love anyway. Despite the climate of resentment and callousness, they fight to endure in the love and grace that comes through Jesus Christ. Who or how many will benefit by the determined effort to bless the least of these? Only heaven knows.

The law of love does not allow anarchy, sin or injustice. Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman (or missing man) but He commanded her to stop sinning. Jesus loved her enough to endure the pressure of the Pharisees and still extend grace to the woman.

You have a choice today. You can choose to give into the current environment and punish and persecute those around you. You can also choose to endure to the end and love God’s children, extending the love and grace He has already given you.

Think: Does my love endure, despite the climate around me?

Pray: “Lord, help me to endure in my love for You and Your children.”

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.”

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.”

Spirit of Forbearance

“Spirit of Forbearance” By Kirk Hunt

And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 2:3–4 NKJV

Forbearance can be defined as the act of restraining an action, despite right or privilege. The bank can choose not to start foreclosure. The officer can choose not to write a speeding ticket. They choose to restrain their right and capacity to act. Jesus and the adulterous woman (John 7:53-8:11) is a prime example of the spirit of forbearance.

Jesus, sinless, pure and perfect, could cast the first store. The Law said He ought to cast the first stone. Instead, He refused to condemn her.

Jesus was more concerned about her soul than the opinion of the Pharisees. He had the power to act and the power to restrain Himself. Graciously, He instructed her to give up sin then sent her back to her life.

Jesus held the right, the privilege and capacity to condemn her. By restraining His action, the woman received an opportunity for repentance and restoration. Jesus’ forbearance was a strong act of mercy, grace and outreach.

The spirit of forbearance is a sister of gentleness. Forbearance and gentleness only matter where there is the ability to act. Both require you to consider the impact on others, before yourself. Do you choose to act against others at every opportunity? Can you restrain yourself, sometimes?

Think: Forbearance is the power to restrain yourself. Can you?

Pray: “Lord, help me to restrain myself in order to benefit others.”

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Transformed

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“Transformed” By Kirk Hunt

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

When I saw the photo, the theme from The Twilight Zone started playing. I assume only I could hear the tune. I recognized my Gospel brother easily. Frankly, I did not want to recognize the woman, now transformed, standing next to him.

The pre-transformation woman in the photo seemed ill-tempered and unloving. I did not want to believe she was ever my loving and gracious Gospel sister. The evidence insisted on staring at me from the living room shelf.

Transformation happens when the nature of a person (or thing) is completely changed. Wood can be transformed into heat. Wind can be transformed into electricity. Sinners can be transformed into saints.

You have a choice. You can remain as you are, or you can be transformed. God’s power stands ready to make something wonderful and saintly of you.

I have always known her as a lovely and loving woman of God. That snapshot tells me she was not always the angel I know. Her choice to embrace God’s plan for her life changed everything.

God loves you just as you are. Still, He loves you too much to leave you as you are. Choose Him and be transformed.

Think: I can be transformed by God’s power, if I choose Him.

Pray: “Lord, transform me, Your way.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Blessed Perception

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“Blessed Perception” by Kirk Hunt

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:16 KJV

There is no equipment failure. There is no some sensory denial field. There is the choice you make.

You choose to look into His Word. Or you choose to run. Probably screaming like a little kid. There is no third way.

Jesus was talking to His Disciples about the Pharisees. He was also talking to His disciples about their choices. You do not heal a sick soul by accident.

Looking into God’s truth can hurt. A lot. His Word is full of power and holiness. His truth will react fiercely with your sinful nature and imperfect character. There will be at least some fury and furor as His purity drives out your profane. I know this from experience.

The good news is that His Word will heal you. In ways you did not anticipate, yet alone desire. Folks will see your change and want to know why and how.

In the end, you will be grateful for your transformation. The folks around you will also be grateful for your healing. After giving them relief, your healing will also give them hope.

It is a blessing to look into God’s Word. Make the choice to be healed, by seeing and hearing His strong medicine. Try not to flinch too much.

Think: I want to hear God’s Word and truth because it will heal me.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see and hear Your Word so that I can be healed.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Men Of Integrity

“Men Of Integrity” by Kirk Hunt

And Nathan departed unto his house.

2 Samuel 12: 15a (KJV)
(Please read 2 Samuel 12:1-15)

Nathan humiliated David, a warrior-king. In front of the royal court, the prophet spoke God’s truth without hesitation or restraint. Then he stood there, watching for David’s reaction.

Speaking truth to power is a display of integrity. It takes courage to accuse and confront a man with David’s warrior credentials and royal prerogatives. Nathan knew David could order his death and chose to obey God anyway.

Repenting after God’s rebuke is a display of integrity. It takes courage to confess and repent in front of a crowd. David chose to retain his relationship with God rather than impress the courtiers.

Being a man or woman of integrity is not easy. It requires tough choices. It requires choosing to do what is right rather than what is convenient. Or less humiliating.

“You are the man.” Nathan’s love for God led him to speak the truth, rather than compromise. A powerful display of integrity.

The prophet walked calmly home. David’s love for God protected Nathan from retaliation. An authentic display of integrity.

You have choices today: God’s way or something less. Your choice reveals your integrity. Display the integrity that honors God.

Think: Integrity is about doing the right thing, no matter what.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to respond per Your Word and Way, no matter what.”