Who Can Forbid?

Who Can Forbid? by Kirk Hunt

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

Acts 10:46 – 47 NKJV
Please also read Acts 10

I am always stunned by those who forbid what God is doing. They do not seem to care for the numbers, depth or level of impact of God’s move. They always seem to have some man-made rule that counters the very Word of God.

Despite Jesus’ Great Commission, there were early Church leaders who insisted that only Jews could become Christians. Despite Jesus’ healing of the Canaanite and the Centurion’s faith, some of the Disciples maintained a narrow, elitist, judgmental view of who could, or should, be accepted by God. With the ongoing evidence of God’s choices before their very eyes, Peter still had to challenge the circumcised Christians to accept non-Jewish believers and disciples.

Too often we ask God to bless what we are doing. Far more often, we should seek to do what God is commanding. Our obedience to His Word and instruction cannot help but be blessed.

Human rules can sometimes be helpful, but we should never let them stand against what God commands or is doing. God commands His people to reach into all the world and make disciples. Anyone, or anything, that forbids the advancement God’s Word of Kingdom cannot be a good thing. Do not, as a follower of Jesus Christ, try to forbid what God is busy doing.

Think: Am I following God and His divine Word, or something else?

Pray: “Lord, help me to not to forbid what You command.”

 

Copyright © March 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.

Not My Call

Not My Call by Kirk Hunt

Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 10:28 NKJV
Please also read Acts 10

God repeated Apostle Peter’s vision in Acts 10 three times for clarity and understanding. A man or woman, cleansed by God, is suitable to God. It is not your or my call, even as a follower of Jesus Christ, to say otherwise.

It is too easy to sit in judgment and declare who is in and who is out. The ability to dismiss others as “less than” is too frequently done in our day and age. Like the ancient Pharisees, we add our own rules and expectations to God’s Word, as if we are always correct or have the authority.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to make disciples of all men and women. Scripture does not say this will be easy nor that unbelievers will be immediately friendly. Still, we should follow Jesus’ commandments, if we are truly His disciples.

Do not think that this allows us to condone ungodly or unbiblical behavior. We must first hold each other accountable to God’s Word. After, we can approach all of God’s children with grace and humility, carefully showing them the way to our loving Father.

All men and women are God’s children. Show His lovingkindness to all of them. This opens the door of their hearts and the eyes of their mind to their heavenly-Father.

Think: All people, even unbelievers, are still God’s children.

Pray: “Lord, help me to love all Your children as You would.”

 

Copyright © March 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.

With Lovingkindness

With Lovingkindness By Kirk Hunt

 

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

 

In recent days my heart is heavy. Too many of God’s people speak, or ardently follow those who speak, anger, hate and fear. Christians should be reaching out in lovingkindness to refugees and radicals alike. Instead with angry, unforgiving words we are pushing them back into the arms of error and sin.

 

God’s people are called to disciple all of the world. That includes reaching out in grace and patience to Muslims, Wiccans and everyone else following error instead of Christ. In order to reach a lost soul, you must first get close enough to touch them.

 

Exclusion, walls and isolation do not touch hearts and minds for Christ. Jesus reached out to us in service (Romans 5:8) with lovingkindness. Christians are commanded by Scripture (Matthew 28:19) to make disciples of all nations. Disciples are only made (or maintained) by close, personal, prolonged contact.

 

Millions of refugees from “fallen houses” (Matthew 7:26-27) seek refuge in the stability of Christian nations (Matthew 7:25). Are they receiving the gracious words and generous actions that flow from Jesus? Are Christians obeying Scripture by discipling the nations who plead at the door?

 

The world has come to us, seeking the Gospel. Christians have an unprecedented opportunity to turn back the darkness. Are we salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16) enough for the job?

 

Think: Disciples are made using open, serving hands; not angry, striking fists.

 

Pray: “Lord, help me to disciple people of all nations.”

 

 

Copyright © March 2016, Kirk Hunt

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