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Take Him Or Her On Faith

“Take Him Or Her On Faith” By Kirk Hunt

If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

Philemon 1:17 NKJV

Philemon looked from Paul’s letter to Onesimus’ face. Paul, who may have still had a negative reputation among some Christians, asked his Gospel son to take in a Gospel brother. On faith alone, Paul asked Philemon to simply accept and forgive the man who robbed him.

Philemon is arguably the most communication in Scripture. Paul sends Onesimus, an escaped slave, back home to Philemon, his owner. It is implied in the epistle, though not explicit, that Onesimus stole something during his escape.

Paul had to trust Onesimus to go back to his owner. Philemon had to trust Paul’s judgment and Onesimus’ change in character. Onesimus had to trust Paul’s judgment and Philemon’s generous and forgiving character. Do you see the thread?

Somewhere or sometime during your Christian walk, you will need to take someone on faith. You will have to trust that they are who they say they are, now. No matter what you feel, remember or see.

The most calculated judgments always carry a risk. You can never know for certain that it is really different now. You will have to take the chance that the words and character match and are real. You will have to open your arms, and heart, on faith alone.

Think: Only faith with serve for some actions.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to have faith in Your people, not just You.”

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

Faith In The Rain

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“Faith In The Rain” By Kirk Hunt

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Job 13:15 NKJV

What happens to your faith when you finish your prayer and it is still raining in your life? The checkbook is still empty? The hospital bed is still full? The casket lid is still closing?

Job lay on a literal ash heap, the only comfort for his own illness. His sons and daughters were dead. His wealth had become a dimming memory. Then his friends arrived to accuse him of secret sin.

Job’s faith in God remained strong. Job trusted what God was doing or allowing in his life. His confidence in his own integrity remained firm. Job was prepared to give an account of himself to any audience, including God Himself.

The rain of circumstances pours into the life of both the redeemed and unredeemed. Hurt and battered, saints look toward heaven in faith. The redeemed respond in faith, trust and continuing integrity before God. We trust God, even as the raindrops mingle with our tears.

The rain in your life should have nothing to do with your faith. God’s people trust that God is faithful and loving, even when our circumstances are difficult. Faith is not absence of difficulty. Faith is the presence of trust in God.

Think: Is my faith strong when circumstances are difficult?

Pray: “Lord, help me to trust You despite the circumstances.

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

God Hears

“God Hears” By Kirk Hunt

And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Genesis 21:17 NKJV

Once again, Hagar encounters God in the trackless wilderness. This time, she and her 14-year old boy have been exiled permanently from Abraham’s household. Still, Jehovah Roi, the God who sees, is watching over her and the boy. God is so close, that He hears the boy crying.

Ishmael is the result of Sarah trying to fulfill God’s promise through human means. With Isaac’s birth, Ishmael became an inconvenience. Disinheritance and exile are harsh penalties for the ill-timed jeering of a 14-year old boy.

Sarah’s callous and calculating maneuver is not the final word. Ishmael, the son of a slave, remains a son of covenant. God delivers on His promised outcome for Ishmael, as well as Isaac.

Ishmael became a great nation in his own right. He and Isaac peaceably buried their father, Abraham, together. God’s covenant with Ishmael was never in doubt.

God’s covenant with you is never in doubt. Your current circumstance is never the final story. God watches and listens for you.

You are never alone. You are never uncared for. Do not let your feelings, confuse you about the facts.

Think: God sees and cares for me, no matter how my situation unfolds.

Pray: “Lord, You listen for my voice. I trust You to deliver Your promise to me.”

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

Open Our Eyes

“Open Our Eyes” By Kirk Hunt

And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:17 NKJV

Maybe your relationship with Jesus is so deep and rich that nothing surprises you. Perhaps your relationship with God is so intense that you and He discuss everything in detail. That level is my goal, not my current testimony.

Many mornings I wake up and wonder: How is God going to work it out? When? Have I been forgotten?

Don’t get me wrong: I trust God. He is sovereign. He has proven Himself over and again. If He says I should, I will. If He say it will, then it shall. Still, some days, my too human hearts longs to see. On occasion, He has let me peek.

Elisha obviously had a close relationship with God. Elisha’s servant lived and worked in the daily presence of God and supernatural miracles. Yet, he needed his eyes opened to see the divine power and provision around him.

God is too faithful to forget you. His power is more than enough for any circumstance. You need your eyes opened to see His presence and purpose in your life.

Wanting to see is okay. He understands His human children. If we seek His heart and purposes, He will let us peek.

Think: I want to see God’s presence and purpose in my life.

Pray: “Lord, open my eyes to Your power and provision for my life.”

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

Jesus Always Has Impact

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“Jesus Always Has Impact” By Kirk Hunt

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:41 NKJV

Jesus got up from sleep and faced the storm. Without hesitation or preamble, He spoke His power over the storm. His words had impact. A great calm followed.

The Disciples were awestruck by Jesus’ power. Wind and waves obeyed instantly. This came as a shock to them, despite all of the miraculous healing they had seen Jesus perform.

Perhaps their confusion comes from the duality, the two-part nature, of Jesus. Yes, He is fully man. Yes, He is fully God. Both are true of Him, at the same time.

That is why Jesus will always have impact in your life. Jesus, fully human, knows and understands the human condition. Jesus, fully God, has the power to impact your life.

His impact may not come the way you think it should. His grace and provision can be one of the most disruptive forces known to man. Still, at the end, you have a better answer than you imagined, and joy in knowing that He is part of your life.

His impact can be felt in how He calms your storm. His impact can be felt in how He calms you, despite the storm. However He moves in your situation, He will have impact. Brace yourself.

Think: Jesus always has impact on the real situations of life.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be confident in Your impact on my life.”

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

Keep Your Awe

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“Keep Your Awe” by Kirk Hunt

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

Luke 1:18 NKJV

The terrified and awe-struck man of verse 12 is gone. In verse 18, a cynical skeptic answers the angel. How do you know Zacharias crossed the line? Read verse 20.

Every disciple of Jesus lives in obedience to the laws of gravity, thermodynamics and sock disappearance. Still, we serve a God who can suspend, re-write, or reverse the laws of the universe at will. The secret of balancing the two extremes is to simply maintain your sense of awe.

Faced with an angelic messenger, Gabriel no less, Zacharias was right to respond with reverence and even concern. Yet his terror turned to disdain, all too quickly and easily. The message defied the regular rules, but God declared it would happen. What else is there to discuss?

Real Faith™ includes at least some awe. Part of that awe comes from understanding that a big, infinite God loves small, finite people. If our big God concerns Himself with little me, then anything is possible. Anything includes very late-life babies.

The things of God often defy all rational explanation. It is not crazy talk. It is awesome.

Think: My awe is a correct response to God and His love and concern for me.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see You with the awe and wonder You deserve.”

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

God Sets Your Limits

“God Sets Your Limits” by Kirk Hunt

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Job 2:6 KJV

Job lost his wealth in Chapter 1. The donkeys and oxen were rustled. The camels stolen. The sheep incinerated. Worst of all, his children died in a tornado.

I can not imagine Job’s grief, heartache and distress. Still, in the middle of loss and devastation, Job went in faith to God. Without hesitation. Without doubt.

In ultimate cruelness, the enemy of Job’s soul looked for more to take. He wanted to push Job past his limits. God, the lover of our souls, set limits on what Job would endure. In Chapter 2, Job lived through painful boils and scabs, on top of his other losses.

God, omniscient and sovereign, sets your limits. Believe it or not, this is good news. Even when it seems that you are beyond what you can endure, you are within what God allows for your life.

Often, that feels like the “scary version.” Do not be fooled. God has limited what will come. Even when it feels you can not endure more. Especially when you think the load is too much for any human, yet alone you.

We know the ending of Job’s story. He lived to raise a second set of children, and held even greater wealth. You may not know the ending of your story, but you know who writes your life. And it will be good news.

Think: God, who loves me, sets my limits.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to trust You and the limits You set for my life.”

Scorners

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“Scorners” by Kirk Hunt

And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Matthew 9:23-24 KJV

Please read Luke 8: 49-53

Admittedly, they were professional mourners. These folks were paid to loudly “grieve” and play sorrowful music. The call for them to come came after a signature on the death certificate.

Still, they must have known of Jesus. Clearly, they understood what He said. Their response indicates they thought it through, rationally.

Scorn is more than disbelief. Scorn is active rejection. Scorn and contempt usually arrive, handcuffed together.

How do you respond to Jesus’ announcements and pronouncements for you and yours? Do you respond with faith and belief? Too often, we respond with scorn.

Our professionalism looks at the facts and figures and comes to the logical conclusion(s). Regular thinking can not see the things of God. You will probably react with scorn to Jesus’ impossible statements regarding your life.

Put your professionalism to the side. Check your regular thinking at the door. Respond with faith and trust to Jesus’ promises for you and yours.

True Faith™ is not mindless, but it is at odds with regular thinking. Choose to see with spiritual eyes. Decide to believe what Jesus says, despite the facts and data.

Think: Do I really believe what God says about me and mine?

Pray: “Lord, help me believe, not scorn, what You say for my life.”

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