conviction Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Christians Do Not Hate

“Christians Do Not Hate” By Kirk Hunt

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1 John 4:20 NKJV

I am always disappointed when someone, claiming to be a Christian, expresses hate for others. Jesus told us the world would hate Christians. Not once did He command us to hate sinners, even in retaliation. Multiple times, He commanded us to love those who hate us.

Jesus said in Luke 6:27, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Perhaps the hearing part is the tricky part. Perhaps the obedient to Christ part is a different tricky part.

Jesus could have called down fire on various sinners and adversaries during His earthly ministry. He did not do so, even once. Instead, He died for the Pharisees who hated him. Jesus forgave His executioners during His execution. He died for you and I, even though we were sinners.

The Christ I serve healed foreigners and aliens. He proclaimed that He came to minister to sinners and tax collectors. May I remind you that He personally refused to condemn an adulteress, caught in the very act?

Condemnation ends the conversation. Conviction leads to restoration. Christians are commanded to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) of all men and women. We cannot hate the souls we expect and want to love Jesus.

Think: I cannot (effectively) share Jesus with someone I hate.

Pray: “Lord, help me to live out my love for You by loving Your (sinful) children.”

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.

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Loving Hearts

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“Loving Hearts” By Kirk Hunt

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

John 8: 10-11 NKJV
Please read John 8:3-11

The entire concept of love, especially Christian love, has gotten jumbled in recent history. A loving heart is not blindly permissive, or afraid of holding people accountable. Loving hearts understand that people are imperfect, especially those who stand up for right and righteousness.

Jesus did not call for her stoning, but He did not let her off the hook. Godly conviction would lead her to understand her error and an opportunity to amend her life. Condemnation would have ended her life without any chance for a change in her future.

Scripture is clear on what is, and is not, sin. Scripture is also clear that God’s people are the recipients of grace and mercy. If we are to impact the culture as Jesus did, we must operate as Jesus did. With mercy. In grace.

Love often will convict, but never rushes to condemn. Grace does not condone sin but gives the gift of fresh opportunity. Mercy has the strength to hold back justice and draw in repentance and redemption.

Jesus demonstrated His loving heart to her, then you. Can they see your loving heart?

Think: Loving hearts seek to convict rather than condemn.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to have a loving heart, like Your Son.”

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.

See, Hear and Live

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“See, Hear and Live” by Kirk Hunt

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:15 KJV

Healing can rarely be forced on someone. For best results, you must cooperate with healing. And the first step to true healing is knowing you need it.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ time knew all they wanted to know. They were the judges of wellness and sickness. Their interpretation of righteousness superseded every other version.

Jesus spoke to the elite few and they rejected Him, His message and they remained soul-sick. Jesus spoke to the ordinary many and they accepted Him, His message and they were soul-healed. The difference lay in the eyes and ears. One group wanted to hear, see and understand.

Want to stay sick? Easy. Run from His Word. Refuse to hear His truth.

Want to get well? Easy. Look into His Word. Insist on hearing His truth.

Of course, His truth has a sharp edge, no matter how softly worded. God’s Word hits hard, no matter what side of the tracks you live on. The question remains: do you want to be healed?

You have a choice today: healing or sickness. It is that simple. It is that easy.

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

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

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

A Subtle Difference

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“A Subtle Difference” by Kirk Hunt

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 KJV

It doesn’t sound like it, but conviction is a good thing. It serves a useful purpose in the life of seekers and believers. Conviction points out the errors in our lives.

It’s important to say this: Conviction is different from condemnation. Conviction can be defined as “convincing someone of an error.” Condemnation can be defined as “sentencing to punishment.”

Conviction seeks to stop you from stepping off a cliff. Condemnation seeks to shove you off a cliff. Conviction points to improvement, not imprisonment. It’s a subtle, but critical difference.

When the Holy Spirit convicts, there’s a yearning to make things right. In the long-run, we’re thankful for the experience. Despite the short-run discomfort.

Condemnation is an ugly declaration of penalty and separation. There is no effort to restore or repair in condemnation. All of the energy goes to punishment of the prisoner.

It’s a subtle but important difference. Conviction concerns itself with simple correction: Making it right. Condemnation cares only for the penalty phase.

God, our heavenly Father wants to restore us in loving fellowship. The enemy of your soul wants to accuse, then condemn. Surely, you can see the difference.

Think : Conviction is the Holy Spirit pointing in a better direction.

Pray: “Lord, guide me away from my error and toward Your righteousness.”

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