God – CadreMen Press

Shall Surely Perish

Shall Surely Perish by Kirk Hunt

Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 8:19-20 NKJV

Moses the centenarian delivered a blunt, dour message: Worship only God or perish. As an individual. As a nation.

Israel had trudged through the desert for 40 years. The choices of disbelief and disobedience had condemned a generation to death outside of the land promised to them. Even Moses had become a victim of his choice to disobey God. In unflinching honesty and clarity, Moses reminded the nation of their opportunity to chose life through obedience to God. Or death in disobedience.

Your choice today is just that stark and mutually exclusive. You are a God-follower, or you are not. You choose life in God, or death in anything else.

Learn from the example of those who have gone before. The Canaanites were driven out of the land, by God, because of their sin. God would do the same thing with Israel, if they chose rebellion and wickedness.

Israel, God’s chosen people, lived in Canaan as long as they were obedient worshipers of God. When they chose sin and idolatry, they in turn were driven out. Israel perished from the land promised by God, because of their choices.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are chosen and loved by God. You will live in His promise as long as you are an obedient and faithful worshiper of God. If you chose to worship false idols, you shall surely perish.

Think: If I follow God in truth and obedience I will live and not perish.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be a true and faithful worshiper of You.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

You Pass Through

You Pass Through by Kirk Hunt

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Isaiah 6:1 NKJV

First, the bad news: You will pass through hard, difficult places. Now, the good news: God will be with you, and help you, through every moment.

All Christians have a calling from God. If you are obedient to Him, He will lead you through deep waters, raging rivers and burning places. His promise is to carry you through those places, not over them.

In the middle of the deep deluge, you might forget. Navigating the vicious rapids, you may be distracted. Dodging flames and burning embers, you may have concerns. No matter how it looks, He is there, carrying you through.

Why do we go through these hard and harsh places? Sometimes, our trials build something into us that we need. Other times, our struggles remove the imperfections in our soul and character. Perhaps you are example to others who see Him in your circumstances.

His will or purposes do not always make sense to us. Maybe, one day in eternity, He will explain. Until then, spit out the water, or brush off the ashes. Rely on His promises.

No matter what happens, the God of the universe promises to be right where you are. Stretch your faith toward His faithfulness. Rest your obedience on this promise: He will be with you.

Think: God promises to be with us. Do I believe His promises?

Pray: “Lord, hold my hand as I travel through difficult places with You.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

Removing God Blockers

Removing God Blockers by Kirk Hunt

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1 NKJV

Uzziah is considered by Biblical scholars as a good and faithful king. Still, he may have been blocking Isaiah’s view of God. Anything that blocks your relationship with God is a bad thing. What has to change (or die) to for you to see God again?

If Uzziah obscured Isaiah’s focus on God, the biggest fault lies with Isaiah. Men and women are responsible for their own relationship with God. If you think your view of God is obscured move the obstruction, or yourself, to a different spot.

Too often, we blame others, or circumstances, for our situation. It may not be easy to change, but you have agency for your own life. No matter what happened before, what are you doing now?

God’s glory and majesty filled and overwhelmed to Temple. He is a big God and His splendor can be seen in all of creation. If you cannot see Him, that is because there is something in the way. If you cannot move it, then you must move you.

Of course, that assumes you want to see God. Maybe you are content or comfortable with your situation and state. Your relationship with God, or His calling on your life, will make demands on you. Are you willing to do what it takes to have a clear view of God?

Think: What interferes with my view of God? What will I do about it?

Pray: “Lord, help me to remove anything that blocks my focus on you.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

Buried With Honor By God

Buried With Honor By God by Kirk Hunt

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.

Deuteronomy 34:5-6 NKJV

At 120 years old, Moses climbed Mount Nebo, alone. At the top of the mountain, he died with no one (human) to bury him. God Himself buried His servant, honoring a flawed man.

Moses always had an anger management problem. Anger led him to murder an Egyptian, break the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, and strike the rock. Even as a centenarian, the leadership of Israel hesitated to infuriate him.

For all his flaws, errors, and shortcomings, God referred to Moses as “His servant.” Scripture records that God spoke to him face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses had a close and personal relationship with Father-God.

Never stop trying to overcome and minimize your shortcomings and flaws. Always consider how infinite God is, and how finite you are. Then go be the best servant of God you can.

God honored His servant by personally conducting his funeral. Never mind His gift to Moses of extraordinary age, health, and vigor. Like Moses, you too can be a friend of God.

Think: God loves and honors flawed men and women who serve Him in sincerity.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to be Your servant.

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.

Who Covers

Who Covers by Kirk Hunt

He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

Proverbs 17:9 NKJV

Have you ever refused to repeat what was said to you? That was an act of discretion, loving, and peacemaking. Congratulations on acting like a child of God.

Peacemaking does not always involve complex acts of reconciliation or restoration. Sometimes, it requires knowing when to be quiet. Too often we make the mistake of insisting that everyone must hear everything.

Please, do not make the mistake of hiding sin or compromising the gospel through your silence. Instead, choose carefully what you should allow to pass through to others. Sometimes, it is grace to hear or see a thing, and then not say anything about it. The truth often cuts and wounds. Some facts and data should not be shared.

Consider the times you have wanted to recall a sentence or action that came out of you. As you said or did it, you knew it would only cause heartache or hard feelings. If it did not blow up on you, that was God’s grace in your life. Be the conduit of that kind of grace to others.

Never compromise the Gospel. Never tolerate sin. Sometimes though, wise men and women know they should remain silent. Peacemakers often pour out quiet grace and bless the souls of many.

Think: Peaceful men and women develop discretion.

Pray: “Father-God, give me the discretion, wisdom, and grace of silence.

Did Not Do It

Did Not Do It by Kirk Hunt

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Matthew 10:44-45 NKJV

Standing before the throne of God, folks will find out they did not do it. They did not serve the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Not because they did not serve, but because they made decisions about who they would serve.

Father-God loves all of His children. The neat and clean kids have no better grip on His heart than the messy and dirty children. No father or mother, worthy of the title, would appreciate you mistreating one of their precious offspring.

Scripture tells us that Father-God sees us as His children. We are siblings of Jesus. How we treat each other, reveals how and why we love Jesus.

There, before the throne of God, your acts of service will be evaluated. Will he set you on His right hand or His left hand? Will He say you did, or did not, serve Him through the least of these?

Think: God cares for all His children, even the ones we do not value.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to deliver Your care and concern to everyone I meet.

Worth Many Sparrows

Worth Many Sparrows by Kirk Hunt

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29, 31 NKJV

Sometimes I feel lost and alone. I think there is nothing worst than to feel unloved and forsaken. God is concerned about me and is working for my good. I am of more value than many sparrows.

Jesus tells us that God cares about the details of our lives. He cares enough to act; He provides for and protects us. We just have to remember His love, and act out our faith in Him.

I have more than enough food to eat. My house and home is warm and secure. I laugh (and argue) with my wife, sons, friends, coworkers, and extended family.

I realize these truths when I pause to be grateful. I have to stop and notice that God cares for me. I am of more value than many sparrows.

As you read or hear of this writing, remember you are loved and cared for by the God of creation. He delivers His love to you in many different ways and formats. Stop and consider how much He concerns Himself about you. As good as the sparrows have it, you receive God’s best.

Think: God cares for and about me.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to remember Your care and concern for my life and soul.