He Turned And Struck

He Turned And Struck by Kirk Hunt

Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.

1 Samuel 22:17-18 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Even if King Saul’s order to kill the priests was lawful, it was clearly immoral. Traditional sources identify Abner and Amasa, loyal captains of King Saul, as the men who refused to kill the priests. Doeg proved himself a despicable henchman when he “turned and struck the priests.”

King Saul, God’s anointed king of Israel, gave an immoral order based on his anger and frustration. Men and women are responsible for the decisions they make as a leader of God’s people. A good leader would have re-thought his orders when loyal men (or women) refused to carry them out.

Any thug or brute can carry out a malicious order. An honorable and righteous soul is most loyal when they protect a leader from all dangers. And sometimes, a leader’s greatest danger is themselves.

Scripture does not record what happened to Doeg. Saul, who gave the order, died a miserable death, surrounded by enemies. A good leader wants good followers. Men and women who are so loyal, they will protect a leader from themselves.

Think: Even if the order is lawful, it may not be moral. Should I carry it out?

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister correctly, despite my orders.”

Copyright © February 2022, 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.

Gift Minister

Gift Minister By Kirk Hunt

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

You have a gift or gifts. God gave it (or them) to you as part of the “saints of God” package. Use them to minister, as a good steward of God’s grace.

Do not make it complicated or difficult. You have an ability, skill or talent that makes you uniquely valuable and useful, especially to the Kingdom of God. If you are not using it, you are not being a good steward of His gift to you.

You do not get to age out. There is no disability clause. Wherever you are, no matter whom you are with, you have a God-given gift. I pray you are using your gifts to demonstrate the many paths of grace. When God does not send angels, He sends men and women just like you.

In your eyes, your gift may not seem big or flashy. That does not mean that you cannot touch lives or impact souls. Use what He gave. Watch the blessings ripple out, farther and greater than you thought.

All of the gifts God has already given you can be used to build His Kingdom. The gifts you possess can benefit you, yours and others. All it takes is a heart willing to trust Him and a spirit generous enough to pass on His grace to others.

There may be sweat-stained headbands in your future. Your shirt might become tear-soaked. You may even have to put on a bandage or two. When you stand before His throne, such things will testify to your stewardship of His grace.

Think: I should be using my gift(s) to build God’s Kingdom.

Pray: “Lord, help me to use my gift from You to build Your kingdom.”

 

Copyright © February 2018, 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.

Face Of Glory

Face Of Glory By Kirk Hunt

And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

Exodus 34:38 NKJV
Please also read Exodus 34:29–35

Moses came out to the people and they retreated in panic and fear. The face of their Lawgiver glowed with an unworldly light. Moses’ time with God literally changed how the followers saw and reacted to their leader.

God’s people, especially pastors and leaders, should consider their approach to others. How you preach, teach or minister should be done to meet your audience where they are. Moses did not change his message, but he did help Israel to hear what God spoke. He just had to shade the light of his face some (or a lot).

Do not get me wrong; I would that every saint of God, fresh from prayer, had a shiny face. Still, our purpose is to build His Kingdom. What does not make the message effective in reaching and changing hearts is a distraction. Our job is not done until their faces are also bright with His glory

Your audience likely comes in fresh from the streets, rather than the prayer closet. Meet them where they are, but help them get to where you are. And where you are should reflect the glory of God.

Think: Does my ministry reflect God’s glory? Is it effective in reaching my audience?

Pray: “Lord, help me to reflect the glory of Your Face .”

 

Copyright © January 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.

The Ministry of Training

The Ministry Of Training By Kirk Hunt

 

But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.

1Samuel 2:18 NKJV

 

Samuel literally began his ministry as a preschooler, if not a toddler. Dressed like an adult priest, he carried out mundane tasks in the Tabernacle, just like everyone else. Still, the “trainee” heard from God, even when the High Priest could not (or would not).

 

Perhaps you are truly in the apprentice phase of your life. Good. Learn all you can. Still, what is your output? Even as a learner, you can bless, benefit and build the Kingdom. Are you willing to be a source of output? Do you have the heart to be a blessing, here and now?

 

Too often we expect that we must be deeply qualified and extensively experienced before we can serve God, or men and women. You can fulfill your calling here, now and as you are. You may be better later, but today you are more than good enough for the tasks before you.

 

Samuel may have been the last of the Judges, but he was also the first of the Prophets. His authority, knowledge and service before God are recorded in Scripture. Still, he started his ministry as a child and delivered God’s Word to Israel’s elite leadership. Before he was considered an adult, or fully capable, Samuel was a heavy-hitter.

 

As you work and train before God, you too are a ministering learner. Your credentials may be thin. Your certificates may be few. Still, for some, what you have to give is a weighty matter. I pray that you deliver what God has given you.

 

Think: Even while training I can build God’s Kingdom.

 

Pray: “Lord, how can I build your Kingdom, today?”

 

 

Copyright © February 2016, Kirk Hunt

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