mercy – CadreMen Press

Foreigner Faith

Foreigner Faith by Kirk Hunt

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Matthew 8:8-9
Please also read Matthew 8:5-13

The soldier of a powerful occupying army humbled himself to an itinerant preacher, and pleaded for healing. With his helmet under his arm, he asked in calm, clear-eyed faith. The Roman Centurion did not question Jesus’ power to heal, only his willingness to speak the word.

Some foreigners have talent and treasure enough to pay their way. But mere money cannot buy the things of God. The coins that touch the throne of Heaven are faith and sincerity. The Centurion knew with complete clarity that Jesus’ power came from heaven and he had no way of compelling or bribing Him in any way.

The Centurion, despite being an outsider, acted with faith and understanding. As a soldier, he knew power and authority when he saw it. As a man of faith, he understood that the healing power of Jesus was His to dispense, or withhold. His faith, as a pagan Roman, exceeded too many of the pious Jews around him.

Men and women of faith act on their faith. Like the Centurion, they ask, knowing God can. They see the power and authority of God around them and move accordingly.

Think: Do I have faith like the Centurion?

Pray: “Lord, help me to act out my faith in You.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

Foreigner Healing

Foreigner Healing by Kirk Hunt

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:17-18
Please also read Luke 17:11-19

Ten men, all lepers, cried out for mercy. They called out from a distance, protecting their neighbors from the cruel disease ravaging their bodies. Yet, their joined voices added power to their plea for mercy and healing.

Jesus poured out mercy on their souls. Healing flowed over them, ignoring race, nationality, language or creed. And in a moment they were racing to be officially restored to their family and friends.

After too long a time of being shunned, I would rush to end my isolation. After the slow rotting death of leprosy, I would hurry to complete the ceremonies. Still, I hope it would occur to me to stop and show gratitude for mercy and healing.

I do not think it is an accident that the foreigner is the only one to return to Jesus. The man with no claim to consideration rejoiced at his restoration. A foreigner in Israel, his isolation would lessen, not disappear. Healed and restored, he would remain an outsider to his neighbors.

So he took time for gratitude. He delayed his process to bless the giver of mercy and healing. He knew God’s power in his life would tolerate a praise and worship break.

Of the ten, his faith may have been the greatest. His faith came from the deep places of hope and longing. Only a foreigner, who receives blessings from outside the regular circle, might understand his faith.

Think: Do I have faith like a foreigner?

Pray: “Lord, help me to expect and give, mercy, grace and healing.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

Christ The Foreigner

Christ The Foreigner by Kirk Hunt

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

Matthew 25:34-35
Please also read Matthew 25:31-46

Standing before the Throne of God, men and women will receive judgment. Those who rejected foreigners (aka strangers) will themselves be rejected. Those who received foreigners will be received by Christ, into heaven. Christ plainly says that He is the foreigner you received or rejected.

No one who has read Scripture should be confused. No one who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ should misunderstand. When we serve others, we serve Christ.

Every prisoner is a son or daughter of God. The poor, or sick, or hungry, are children of God. And every foreigner you meet is Jesus, no matter where they were born.

The Old Testament is full of commandments to care for foreigners with mercy, grace and generosity. The New Testament has multiple examples of Jesus performing miracles for foreigners. The Disciples ministered to and evangelized foreigners.

Jesus loves all of His children. He speaks their language. He loves their skin tone. And Jesus has commanded you to love and serve His children.

Keep it simple. Read the words Jesus spoke. Christ is that foreigner. Will you receive or reject that soul?

Think: God loves all of His children.

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister to all foreigners with love and grace.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

I Have Hope In God

I Have Hope In God by Kirk Hunt

This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV

The best of us can become discouraged. The strongest of us can be overwhelmed. Allow me to remind you, and myself, to put your hope in God who cannot fail.

Too often, when bad things happen, we think it is because God has been defeated. Or was not looking. Or has rejected us.

God is the definition of faithfulness. He is still omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. Consider a loving parent hovering near a child learning to walk. He may let us stumble or even fall. Still, His Hands are close enough to protect us from any harm.

Do not confuse the harsh realities of this present world with His absence or inability. His mercy pours on you daily, if you would stop and look. His compassion is present every day, despite the bumps and jolts of your life.

He is Ancient of Days. He was there, then. He is here, now. He will be there, tomorrow.

Sometimes, I have to remind myself that I should hope in Him, alone. Through all of the flames and fury, God sees and shelters us. God is all powerful, and loves us more than words can say.

Think: Do I put my hope in God, alone?

Pray: “Lord, remind me again, to put my hope in You alone.”

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.

Love With Equality, Not Partiality

Love With Equality, Not Partiality by Kirk Hunt

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:8-9 NKJV
Read also James 2:1-13

God’s people are commanded to love with equality, not partiality. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That includes the folks who look or sound different. Especially those souls who may never be able to benefit us.

Our modern world has given us many opportunities to demonstrate God’s love. Especially poignant are the refugee crises that impact every continent on Earth (except Antarctica). War, famine, and disaster have uprooted millions who seek only peace, safety, and the absence of hunger.

God’s people should reach out to the nearest souls who need to be shown God’s love. We are His instruments, not free-agents. We should act in His grace and power, and demonstrate His love and mercy.

God does not always send angels. More often, He sends men and women who love God enough to love His children. No matter how they look or sound.

To those in crisis and desperation, the help they receive is a godsend. The hands that receive bless the hands that deliver. In that moment, the difference between supernatural angels and mortal men and women can be hard to discern.

Think: “God loves all of His children equally. I should do the same.”

Pray: “Lord, help me to love all of Your children with equality and compassion.”

Take Another’s Burden

Take Another’s Burden by Kirk Hunt

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:2-3 NKJV

Apostle Paul is quite clear that Christians should bear, or take on, someone else’s burden from time to time. We do this as proof that we love our neighbor as ourselves. In recent days, it seems that too many of God’s people love themselves too much to bother obeying Jesus’ command.

Have you ever held a door for someone? Have you ever helped lift or carry a package? Have you ever covered your nose and mouth when you sneezed or coughed? Then you have been, in a very small way, obedient to Christ’s command, best found at Mark 12:30-31.

Of course, doing so requires you to have some measure of love, humility, grace, mercy, and self-sacrifice in your makeup. You must stop and consider the situation and condition of someone else, for a few moments, to see a need. Finally, you must sacrifice your time, money, or talent to do what needs to be done.

All because Jesus commands you. Of course, you are happy to do so, because you are an obedient son or daughter of God. Right?

Too often, we are so haughty or high-minded we fail to think of others the way Jesus would. Would Jesus refuge a refugee, punish the poor, or insist on his own rights to the injury of others? Should you?

Think: Have I taken on someone else’s burden lately?

Pray: “Lord, help me to demonstrate Your love to my neighbors.”

Who Showed Mercy

Who Showed Mercy by Kirk Hunt

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
|Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:36-37 NKJV
Please also read Luke 10:25-37

At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Samaritans and Jew hated and despised each other. They even destroyed or desecrated each others’ Temples. Still, the Samaritan had more mercy and compassion on the Jewish robbery victim than either the Jewish priest or Jewish Levite.

The sanctimonious lawyer got the point of the parable. So did everyone listening to Jesus teach at the time. Are you listening now?

The priest and Levite of the parable were expected, if not obligated, to care for their distressed countryman. Instead, a hostile foreigner saved his life. Jesus made a blunt point about the nature of compassion, mercy, salvation, and righteousness.

Good Christians should reach out past the bounds of popular exclusions and exceptions. There will probably be cost or inconvenience. You may not like your neighbor, but that does not end your Godly obligation to assist or even safeguard him or her.

Jesus’ command at Luke 10:37 is simple, “Go and do likewise.” Put aside your rights, privileges, and comfort. Look around, in your own neighborhood, for men and women who need you to stop and have compassion. Your “do likewise” is here and now.

Think: I should show mercy even at the risk of cost or inconvenience to myself.

Pray: “Lord, help me to demonstrate Your love to my neighbors.”

A Gracious Answer

A Gracious Answer by Kirk Hunt

And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

2 Samuel 12:22-23 NKJV
Please also read 2 Samuel 12:13-23

In grief and guilt, David cried out to God. David sought an answer of grace and mercy from God. When David received his answer from God, he responded with worship and thanksgiving.

God always answers our prayers. We do not always like the responses we receive. Still, we get our answers from a loving, gracious, sovereign God. We should always trust that God gives us the best answers for our lives.

It can be hard to welcome a response of “Endure,” in the middle of pain and suffering. When His answer leaves us with loss or anguish, do you still respond properly to God? Like David, we must cultivate a mindset of trust and confidence in God, even when we do not like the answers.

God knows our tears and heartaches. Despite the answer He gives, He is responding to us with a father’s heart. Respond with thanksgiving and trust in God who loves us better than we can love ourselves.

Think: God always answers my prayers. Do I trust Him in that answer?

Pray: “Lord, help me to respond to Your answer with trust and obedience.”

You Lack Nothing

You Lack Nothing by Kirk Hunt

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.” ’

Deuteronomy 2:7 NKJV

An entire generation of God’s people died, wandering in the wilderness. Still, like a tender Father with a favorite child, God cared for them the entire time. Even during their punishment, they lacked nothing.

Even at our worst, God gives His best. No matter how difficult the moment, consider that He is caring for you. You are His favorite. Even when you misbehave, He loves you more than you can know or understand.

He has always been, and always will be a holy God. Our sin and rebellion cannot always be excused through grace or dismissed by mercy. Never forget God is also a God of righteousness, judgment, and correction. Not even the most tolerant father can indulge misbehavior indefinitely.

The Hebrew people wandered the wilderness for 40 years. They were fed each day with manna. The garments they wore supernaturally lasted the entire time. Even their bodies were without wear and tear, until their mortal end.

No matter what you are going through, God is there, providing. No matter how long you have walked this path, God is near, caring for you. No matter why you are where you are, God loves you, so you lack nothing.

Think: God cares for us, so we lack nothing.

Pray: “Lord, help me to recognize and be grateful for Your care and provision.”

God’s Word The Second Time

God’s Word The Second Time by Kirk Hunt

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”

Jonah 3:1–2 NKJV

“Don’t make me tell you again,” is the exasperated admonition (or warning, or threat) every parent has said at least once to a beloved but recalcitrant child. Even God’s people are more child-like than we admit. God too often has to tell us the second (or third, or fourth) time.

At God’s command, the great fish had spit Jonah out on dry ground. God’s prophet likely smelled like fish belly, and he may have been spitting sand out of his mouth. . The storm and time in the fish had the desired effect of getting Jonah’s attention. The prophet listened when God spoke the second time.

There are reasons God has to repeat Himself to us. We can be too busy with our plans and agendas to listen to Him now. Our daily cares, concerns, or pains drown out His voice. Too often, our willfulness or disobedience leads us to knowingly ignore or disobey God.

God loved Jonah and patiently worked to get his attention. Thankfully, God loves us and patiently works to get our attention. Instead of reacting to us with justice and judgment, He responds to us with mercy and grace. God unfairly allows His children to misbehave and not pay the (full) cost they should.

Perhaps God is speaking to you the second (or third, or fourth) time. You should listen, this time. You should be obedient, this time. After all, God is demonstrating His great love for you, this time.

Think: When God speaks to me I should listen and obey every time.

Pray: “God, please help me to listen and obey every single time.”