At His Right Hand

At His Right Hand by Kirk Hunt

The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Psalms 110:1 NKJV

God invites you to sit at His right hand, a place of dignity, confidence and safety. Your enemies eventually will serve you. Your concerns and issues will soon be part of your testimony about God’s provision and care.

All too often we take too much upon ourselves. The sovereign God of the universe commands us to rest while He works. The hard part, often, is waiting in quiet reliance on God.

While we sit, God is doing what we cannot. While we wait, He uses His power to do what we cannot under any circumstances. And at the end, we receive in peace and dignity what only His power delivers.

We are human and want control. We want it our way, now. Wait for God to give you more and better than you know or understand. Wait to receive blessings and benefits that no one will be able to take away from you.

Sit on the favored side of His throne. Wait while He delivers eternal pleasures. It will be the desire of your heart, that you did not know you wanted.

Think: At His right hand is everything I need and want, delivered by my adversaries.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be obedient and patient while You work for me.”

Copyright © May 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.

Bearing With Each Other

Bearing With Each Other by Kirk Hunt

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV

Bearing with people is not easy. Folk can be so wrong, so annoying, and so in need of a slap in the head. Instead, we are commanded to treat the worst of them with forbearance which consists of patience, courtesy and dignity. This is so important that the apostle does not frame it as a request.

Keep in mind that folk, at their best, rarely change in a moment. Even when they want to badly. During the transition, they need friends, family and saints to stay with them as they do the work and follow the process.

So, with the rebels or lawbreakers disarmed and at your feet, you are commanded. Show them your best patience. Give them your sincerest courtesies. Blanket them with your richest dignity. Prove that you are one of God’s selected saints.

Somewhere in there, you will need to forgive them. For yourself, not for them. Forgiveness makes your work with and towards them lighter and easier.

Follow the forbearance commandment whether they ask for forgiveness, or not. Because you are commanded to love and forgive others as Christ forgave and loves you. And when you find yourself receiving patience, courtesy and dignity, do the math.

Think: Forbearance is a commandment to God’s people.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be forbearant with everyone, especially other saints.”

Copyright © November 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.

Wait Patiently For God’s Justice

Wait Patiently For God’s Justice by Kirk Hunt

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Psalm 37:7 NKJV

King David would understand how you feel. It can seem that folk like Nabal, King Saul and even David’s son Absalom seemed to be getting away with all the sin and wickedness. Wait patiently. God’s justice will arrive for all concerned.

Consider Nabal, the man who accepted David’s protection and support. Given a polite request for provisions Nabal not only selfishly refused but was insulting and rude. Protected from David’s rage, Nabal was not protected from God’s justice. God Himself struck Nabal and he died.

King Saul, David’s king and father-in-law, unjustly hunted David across hills and fields. Still, given more than one opportunity to kill his tormentor, David righteously withheld his hand and that of others. In 1 Samuel 26:10, David prophesied Saul’s ending, orchestrated by God. And it was so.

Even David’s own son, Absalom, tried to murder him and steal the Kingdom. Even as he out maneuvered the mutiny and crushed the opposition, David was desperate to save Absalom’s life. David wept bitterly at his son’s death, despite his own danger.

In each episode, it seemed that wicked folk were winning against David. In each case, David did the right thing and God gave him victory. David’s righteous actions and patience made the difference. God is love, but He is also justice. It is just a matter of time.

Think: God’s justice will come. Am I doing the correct things while I wait?

Pray: “Lord, help me to be patient but steadfast in waiting for Your justice.”

 

Copyright © July 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.

Yet He Passed Away

Yet He Passed Away by Kirk Hunt

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.

Psalm 37:35-36 NKJV
Please also read Psalm 37:1–40

Too often, I despair that the wicked are winning. I have caught myself fretting that the ruthless and unscrupulous are being established, never to be dislodged. Then, suddenly, they pass away and can not be found, even if you wanted to see them.

I am not the first God-follower to think so. Psalm 37, written by David, speaks to my own concerns. The wicked may indeed prosper for a season, but not they shall not triumph. No matter how it looks now, God’s justice is on the way.

In my own life, I have seen men and women suddenly receive justice. Before, it seemed the wicked ones were immune to the laws of God and man. After, I trembled at the thoroughness of God’s sovereign and merciless justice.

On bended knee, I pray that I live in obedience to His Word and law. I never want to be the one that God’s people cry out against. I want always to be found, doing Kingdom work the way God wants it done.

Play it straight, since God is watching. Follow God’s Word and law, the way you know it should be done. His sword of justice is quick, terrible and not to be denied by mere humans.

Think: The wicked will receive justice, sooner and more thoroughly than you think.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be found at all times as Your obedient servant.”

 

Copyright © April 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.

And Marched Around

And Marched Around By Kirk Hunt

But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 NKJV
Read also Joshua 6:15–20

To the untrained eye, Joshua was wasting everyone’s time and energy. Israel marched around Jericho, 14 times in silence. There were no shouts of triumph or defiance. Only the sound of trudging feet could be heard, unless the people of Jericho were hurling insults and taunts from the top of the walls.

Israel built no siege engines. Teams of sappers did not undermine the walls. Instead, Joshua and Israel were obedient to God’s instruction. “March. Then march some more.”

Perhaps you are facing a Jericho wall in your life. It is a circumstance that is big, blocks your way, and you see no way to overcome it. I implore you: Keep marching.

God’s people obey God, whether or not it makes sense to us. We insist on persistence. We patiently keep doing what He said, until our change comes. We compel ourselves to act out our faith in His Word. No matter how many laps it takes.

Too often, we obey conventional wisdom rather than God. We expect financial, political or numbers of people to carry the day. While it is good to be prepared to do the hard word, it is better to follow God’s instructions.

Even if your feet are sore, continue marching per God’s instructions. When God gets through, your Jericho wall will fall. Be read for the hard work to follow your victory.

Think: I will patiently persist at my God-given task until my Jericho wall falls.

Pray: “Lord, help me to act my faith in Your Word for my life.”

 

Copyright © September 2017, 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.

After Admonition

After Admonition By Kirk Hunt

Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Titus 3:10-11 NKJV

Admonition can be defined as authoritative counsel or warning. Nathan’s confrontation of David (2 Samuel 12:1-15) is a definitive example of how to correct even a powerful leader. Just as important, even the powerful should respond correctly to truth-speakers. Paul, speaking to Titus, plainly states there are limits to the effort to help men and women who are in error.

David’s Israel was wealthy and militarily powerful. Still, Nathan appeared in David’s throne room and rebuked him for his sin and error. Success or good performance in one area of your life is not an excuse for sin anywhere in your life.

David, thankfully, had the wisdom and imperfect righteousness enough to respond with confession and repentance. No one is so perfectly righteous, or extraordinarily wise, that they never need authoritative counsel or warning. With all of his power and authority, King David meekly and obediently accepted Nathan’s rebuke. David then patiently endured his (painful) process of repentance and restoration.

Christian men and women do not give up on someone the first (or second) time it gets hard. On the other hand, Jesus Himself said, “Go and sin no more.” Grace is not a “continue to sin” card.

Titus, on Crete, led folk who tended to go their own way, instead of following God’s path. Paul the Apostle provided clear instructions on how to handle divisive men and women. Sooner or later you will give the rebukes, or take the rebukes. How will you act in that day?

Think: After being admonished, do I, or others, sincerely seek to make a change?

Pray: “Lord, help me accept admonishment as one of Your righteous men or women.”

 

Copyright © August 2017, 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.