Healing in The Spit

Healing in The Spit by Kirk Hunt

When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:6-7 NKJV

Faced with a blind man, Jesus chose to make mud with His own spit then anointed the man’s eyes. Some would call Jesus’ actions humiliating. The blind man called those same actions healing. Too often, we are more concerned with the means rather than the outcome.

Healing the man’s blindness was the important part. The means of healing were far less important. So the blind endured having spit and mud rubbed on his eyes. He obediently followed Jesus’ instruction to wash his face in a specific location.

The blind man wanted to see. The indignity of his healing quickly gave way to the joy of vision. The price of God’s process is a bargain, considering the outcomes He gives.

Perhaps you feel that God has anointed your life with muddy spit. Maybe You feel humiliated as you follow His instructions to parade around in public before cleaning off the mud. God’s process does not always make sense to us, but His outcomes are always a blessing.

Follow His process and receive His ordained outcome. Your obedience is the price you must pay to receive His blessings. In the end, you will consider the whole process a bargain.

Think: Regardless of the means God chooses, it is the outcome that is important.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see what You doing, not how You are doing it.”

Copyright © March 2021, 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.

Among The People

Among The People by Kirk Hunt

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

2 Peter 2:1-2 NKJV

Apostle Peter warned the early Church. False prophets and false teachers would inflict harm and destruction from within the Church. Peter’s words were true then. Peter’s words are true now. False teachers and false prophets are now among the people of God, wounding the modern Church.

False teachers and false prophets can be detected. Is someone preaching or teaching something in conflict with the Bible? Is there more confusion or strife within the Christian community after they preach or teach? Do they live a life of immorality or licentiousness? Any single “yes” should trigger a careful and open evaluation of their lives and ministries.

A true teacher or true prophet is eager to prove their ministry through Scripture. Godly men and women will always submit themselves to Church authority. Godly men and women live their lives trying to become better disciples and followers of Jesus Christ.

True teachers and true prophets may be imperfect, but they seek God in all sincerity and truth. Whoever is among you, test them with Scripture and Godly examination. The authentic do not mind.

Think: False teaching and preaching cannot hold up in the light of the Bible.

Pray: “Lord, help me to test all prophecy and teaching with Your Word.”

Copyright © February 2021, 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.

How To Correct And Rebuke Yourself

How To Correct And Rebuke Yourself by Kirk Hunt

“Your own wickedness will correct you,
And your backslidings will rebuke you.
Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing
That you have forsaken the Lord your God,
And the fear of Me is not in you,”
Says the Lord God of hosts

Jeremiah 2:19 NKJV

Instead of repenting and asking God for help, ancient Israel turned (again) to idolatry and foreign alliances. Their sin made them weaker. Their errors only served to speed up and intensify their correction and rebuke. The nation would be exiled in Babylon.

Israel came to understand, as early as their forced march to captivity, how choosing sin led to their downfall. Internal error, not external threats, led to their exile. Please know that self-correction and self-rebuke applies to whole nations as much as individual men and women.

Like the Prodigal Son, we come to ourselves in a humiliating circumstance (pig pen) of our own making. Our rebellion, lust and greed always leads us to a place of debasement away from God’s perfect will. Prayerfully, in that place of correction and rebuke, we turn back to Father-God. Know that God always loves us, despite our error and in the midst of our sin. Our chosen sin causes our separation, not His Heart.

God did not allow the Babylonians to exterminate Israel. In fact, God commanded His people to live, grow and increase during the Babylonian Captivity. Father-God loves you, even now. Allow the correction and rebuke of your circumstance to drive your heart back to Him in repentance.

Think: My self-inflicted correction and rebuke is an opportunity to repent.

Pray: “Lord, help me to repent and return to You.”

Copyright © February 2021, 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.

Be No More

Be No More by Kirk Hunt

Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.

Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

Psalms 37:34-36 NKJV

It sometimes seems that nothing can touch or impact the wicked. Do not be fooled, God’s justice and judgment cannot be delayed forever. The villains will (suddenly) be no more.

I confess, my heart and spirit too often look on with frustration and aggravation. The wicked and unrighteous seem to enjoy wealth and ease with impunity. It seems, to my natural eyes, that the villains are having a good time and winning easily.

Of course, I have to stop and see the situation with spiritual eyes. God’s faithful people possess now, and will inherit, good things and blessed circumstances. No matter how large wicked men and women live, they will disappear with hardly a trace.

My job is to carefully work out my soul’s salvation. If I can help anyone else reach Jesus, I am blessed in great measure. In the meanwhile, I do not have the luxury of worrying, from a distance, about the spiritual lives of other men and women.

Scripture promises we will all reap what we sow. The wicked will get their harvest, sooner or later. In the meanwhile, I am sowing as much good for His Kingdom as I can.

Think: No matter what they do, I must remain a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Pray: “Lord, help me keep my eyes on You.”

Copyright © February 2021, 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.

Give Us A King

Give Us A King by Kirk Hunt

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

1 Samuel 8: 6-8 NKJV

The people of Israel demanded a king. They rejected the perfection of Jehovah-Jireh. In His place, they wanted an imperfect, fallible man.

Samuel tried to explain the error of their request. A king would demand taxes, force labor, take military conscripts and seize property and lands. Still, they answered, “We want a king like the other nations.”

God’s people, Christian disciples, are not like “other nations.” We are supposed to operate through the Holy Spirit. Our greatest power is supposed to be the love we receive from God and share with others.

For too long, too many have sought to make Christianity just another secular power group. When Christians seek mere political or financial power, we debase ourselves and reflect poorly on Father-God. God’s people should operate on a higher level.

I pray that Christians will return to God and operate in His power. After the revival in the Church, the nations will listen. Our great impact and influence in the world will flow from His power, not ours.

Like ancient Israel, modern Christians have rejected God and chosen a lesser path. It is not too late. Return to Him and wield the great power of His love in your heart and theirs.

Think: I want Father-God to reign over me, not some fallible man or woman.

Pray: “Lord, I bend my knee and heart to You alone.”

Copyright © February 2021, 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.

A Debased Mind

A Debased Mind by Kirk Hunt

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting

Romans 1:28 NKJV
Please also read Romans 1:18-32

Sin is never a victimless crime. Someone else always pays the price of your debased thoughts and actions. A sinful mind can only find the violent, abusive, unforgiving, unmerciful path to a solution.

There is always a different solution. Father-God gives wisdom to those who ask. Jesus commands us to be very cunning but without harm to others. You do not have to resort to weapons or violence (physical, mental or financial) just because they are available.

Full disclosure: Like every other human being, I am not perfect. Still, I try. I practice finding the other solution. Only a brute, or a thug, seeks only to use force.

If violence is your first solution, you probably did not think it through very well. Or your mind is trapped in the lowest, most debased responses. Father-God wants you to ask Him to raise your level. So does everyone around you.

A higher response takes longer. A clever action requires more thought. Finding the graceful way requires a mind that seeks to bless, not blast, others. Any brute or thug can swing a club.

Jesus wants His disciples to benefit Father-God’s children. When faced with their worst, that is an opportunity for you to demonstrate His best. Raise your mind in Him, so you can raise their souls to His heart.

Think: No matter what I face, I can find a higher, better solution in God’s wisdom.

Pray: “Lord, I ask for Your wisdom so I can have a higher response.”

Copyright © February 2021, 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.

Rebuked The Nobles

Rebuked The Nobles by Kirk Hunt

After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them. And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?”

Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.

Nehemiah 5:7-8 NKJV
Full account: Nehemiah 5:1-13

Nehemiah confronted the worst enemies of the emancipated Jews: Jewish nobility and rulers. In a great assembly of the people, Nehemiah publicly rebuked the nobles and rulers for their criminal behavior. Their crimes? Using usury to steal the homes and farms of other Jews and sell Jewish men and women into slavery.

The rich and powerful exploit the poor and weak before Nehemiah’s era. Current events have taught us that greed for money and lust for power still leads people down the same shameful roads. Still, what are you doing about it?

As one of God’s people, you have the calling and purpose of standing up against domestic enemies. It may lead to an uncomfortable public confrontation. I cannot guarantee you that the wrongdoers will repent or become silent.

Nehemiah publicly rebuked the nobles who callously enslaved neighbors and countrymen. How are you going to stand against domestic enemies? Your friends and family are looking to see how you will live out God’s righteousness.

Think: Should I be rebuked as a domestic enemy? How can I help to make things right?

Pray: “Lord, help me to restore men and women in Your righteousness.

Copyright © January 2021, 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.

Going With You

Going With You by Kirk Hunt

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

John 21:3 NKJV

Peter and the Disciples had seen the risen Savior, but still did not know what to do with themselves. Men and women, when faced with the unknown, often return to the last thing they know worked. Peter returned to his profession of fishing. The other Disciples said, “We are going with you.”

Maybe you feel battered or beaten. Since all humans have limits, being overwhelmed does not mean you are weak. And you might still be the strongest one in the room.

Do the smart thing. Do the strong thing. Do the right thing. Return to Jesus. Others may go with you.

They are going with you because you are strong. Or at least the strongest in the room. Go back to the real source of strength. Your risen Savior, Jesus Christ, has fresh strength and clear instructions for you.

There, on the beach, Jesus met with Peter and the Disciples. They gained strength and clarity of purpose directly from Jesus, the only source. Peter was glad he went to Jesus. The Disciples were glad they went with Peter.

God’s strength flows to those who ask. Ask for strength to fulfill His calling on your life. Encourage those who are going with you to do the same.

Think: Jesus is the source of my strength and I will now turn back to Him.

Pray: “Lord, I need Your strength. Help me and those who come with me to You.

Copyright © January 2021, 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.

Strengthen Your Faith

Strengthen Your Faith by Kirk Hunt

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Luke 22:31-32 NKJV

Mere hours before His crucifixion, Jesus had to stop and help his lead disciple. Simon Peter would weep in shame and heartbreak because of his denial of Jesus. Still, Jesus knew Peter would re-strengthen his faith. Then Peter would help the other Disciples restore their faith.

Strengthen your brothers.” Peter too easily could have felt disqualified and incapable by his error and flawed faith. Jesus directly instructed Peter to help others with their faith. Peter followed Jesus commands and helped the Disciples to re-grip their faith.

Imperfect faith is still faith. Your faith is still valid, despite your questions, doubts, or concerns. Not even mistakes nullify your faith. Real faith requires serious thought about what you believe and why you believe it.

Unthinking fanaticism is not faith. Unquestioning subservience to a dogma is not faith. Your faith should flow from your relationship with Christ Jesus.

Despite his time with Jesus, Peter had to restrengthen his faith. After his renewal, Peter was able to help his brothers and sisters. Now is a good time for you to draw closer to Jesus. Restrengthen your relationship, and faith, in Him.

Think: Is my faith in Jesus based on my relationship with Him?

Pray: “Lord, help me to deepen my relationship, and faith, in You.”

Copyright © January 2021, 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.

Into The Midst

Into The Midst by Kirk Hunt

20201213DevoTherefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:22-23 NKJV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego called Nebuchadnezzar’s bluff. The king ordered them thrown into the midst of the furnace. Keep in mind, the heat of the furnace killed the men ordered to carry out the executions.

Integrity always has costs. Missed opportunities at profits or pleasures. Lost relationships or connections. Open derision or scorn from some. Naked opposition or attack from others.

The unbent knees of your integrity may start your journey into the midst of circumstances you never imagined. Or wanted. The flames in the midst of your personal furnace will be hot. The heat may hurt people close to you, whether they are friend or foe.

No matter where you go, God is there. He was present, before you got there. He is present, the entire time you are there. He remains present, even after you leave there. Rely on God’s power, no matter where you go or why you went.

It takes integrity to say “I will not serve your gods.” It takes courage to stay on your feet as they stoke the fires of the furnace. Maintain your Christian integrity, even in the midst.

Think: Am I willing to maintain my Christian integrity in the midst of opposition?

Pray: “Lord, help me to maintain my integrity before You, no matter what happens.”

Copyright © December 2020, 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.