Tag: ego

Able Men And Women

Able Men And Women by Kirk Hunt

So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.   And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:24–25 NKJV

Despite his superior abilities and extraordinary accomplishments, Moses could not do it all alone.  Given excellent advice from a trusted advisor, Moses selected able men to help him lead.  Moses demonstrated that strong leaders seek out and make use of other strong leaders.

Whatever your calling or mission for the Kingdom of God, you still have human limits.  You can only be in one place at a time.  You are limited to 24 hours in a single day.  You require sleep, food and exercise.

What is far too much for one can be spread among a group of capable folk.  All it takes is for the executive leader to properly delegate tasks or responsibilities, then follow-up.  While proper delegation is also work, it allows results far beyond the capabilities of a single soul.  And rest for the weary executive.

Moses lived to the age of 120. And his displeasure could still scare folk.  Moses lived and led so long because he enabled others to help him with the work.  His good health, right to the end, was at least in part, because he did not have to it all alone.

Look around and identify the able men and women around you.  Give them part of your Kingdom work.  If Moses could, so can you.

Think:      Am I making good use of capable men and women for the Kingdom?

Pray:         “Lord, help me to share the load with Your capable men and women.”

 

Copyright © December 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.

Too Much For Even You

Too Much For Even You by Kirk Hunt

So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.   Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out.  For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.

Exodus 18:17–18 NKJV

Moses had been a busy man:  He had led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Sinai desert.  Through God’s power he had inflicted plagues on the Egyptians, parted the Red Sea for Israel and closed the Red Sea on the Egyptian army.  And leading Israel was still too much for Moses.

Human beings have limits.  Even great prophets and apostles are mere mortals, and therefore have performance and endurance maximums.  You, my brother or sister, cannot do it all.

Proper nutrition and water, regular exercise and adequate sleep help.  Still, there comes a point where you need to hand off some of the work.  If Moses’ anointing and calling had limits, so will yours.

Look around you.  There are men and women who can and will help you.  Use your wisdom, discipline and humility to match the right tasks with the right workers.

Your workers will make mistakes.  You will make mistakes as well.  The work completed will not be done exactly the way you want it done.  In many cases, that is an extremely good thing.

Kingdom work is too much for even the greatest of us.  It is not a surprise that it is too much even for you.  Share the load with your Gospel coworkers.

Think:      God’s greatest men and women have limits.  How will I deal with mine?

Pray:         “Lord, help me to share the load and expand Your Kingdom.”

 

Copyright © December 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.

God Teaches His Teacher

God Teaches His Teacher by Kirk Hunt

So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?   Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

Exodus 4:11–12 NKJV

After 80 years of living and two different careers, Moses still needed teaching and training.  Standing in front of the miracle of the burning bush, and in the very presence of God, Moses questioned Jehovah and His call.  Patiently, God taught His man how to succeed in a new career.

Even God’s strongest saints can rely too much on facts, figures and “common sense.”  We think younger men (or women) need to lead 603,550 Israelite men (plus wives, children and sojourners) out of Egypt.  Out of all the men and women God could have selected for such a task, Moses is the one He called.

Despite his royal education in Egypt, and extended training in Midian, Moses still needed God to teach him even more for the tasks ahead.  His age did not qualify him enough.  His formal education did not prepare him sufficiently.  Moses needed to be taught before he could complete his calling.

Out of all His saints, is God calling you?  Be obedient to your God and creator, and go.  Still, ask Him to train you for success.  Listen as He teaches you to succeed in your new career.

Think:      I will need God’s teaching and training to succeed in His calling.

Pray:         “Lord, help me to be a good student and worker in Your calling.”

 

Copyright © November 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.

Manipulating The King

Manipulating The King by Kirk Hunt

All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel 6:7 NKJV

King Darius’ advisors manipulated him.  Their flattery and appeal to his ego got him to sign a law designed to kill a single man, Daniel.  Were it not for God’s divine intervention, Daniel would have become lion chow.

What was Daniel’s crime that the highest advisors of the Kingdom sought his life?  Daniel, a foreign-born man had achieved high rank.  He also prayed his prayers daily and openly to a foreign God (Jehovah-Jireh).  Daniel’s righteous living matched his prayer life.  The only way to get at Daniel was to manipulate the king into executing him without good cause..

Men and women must seek and labor to do the right thing.  Righteousness does not come naturally or easily.  And there are others who will encourage, or trick you into going down a wicked, evil path.

Your advisors may, or may not, be working in your best interests.  Had King Darius stopped listening to his own ego and self-image long enough, he might have asked why this new but temporary law needed to be signed.  Seek God’s wisdom and insight at all times, no matter how you trust those around you.

Think:      Am I doing what I am doing for my ego or for God’s righteousness?

Pray:         “Lord, help me not to be manipulated by false and wicked advisors.”

 

Copyright © November 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.