worship – CadreMen Press

Worship Anyway

Worship Anyway by Kirk Hunt

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.

Mark 14:3 NKJV

Please read one or all of the Gospel accounts:
Matthew 26: 6—13, Mark 14: 3—9; Luke 7: 36—50; John 12: 1—8

Mary prepared her worship in advance. She spent a lot of money, but that is not what make her worship note worthy. Her unstoppable intention and resolute sincerity is why Scripture records her actions in all four Gospels.

Even today, an alabaster perfume box is not common. Spikenard, which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, is still rare and costly. Mary spent over a year’s wages to worship.

The other Gospel accounts record the unkind responses of observers. If Mary knew of their hissing whispers, she ignored them. Mary walked past others to worship her Messiah.

The Bible does not confirm that Mary was a prostitute. Scripture states she had been demon-possessed and a notorious sinner. Mary did not let her past, or the murmuring busybodies, keep her from worship.

You have an opportunity to worship today. Will you pay the price? Will you walk past unfavorable circumstances, or disapproving stares, to worship?

Whatever it costs, He is worthy. No matter what others do, Jesus is available to you. No matter what has happened before, He waits for you.

You can worship. If you want to. Everything else is just details.

Think: I can worship Jesus, if I am determined.

Pray: “Lord, I worship You, because You are worthy.”

This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press.

God Is Present

God Is Present by Kirk Hunt

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Acts 16:25-26 NKJV
Please also read Acts 16:16-30

Consider Paul and Silas’ terrible, no good, very bad day. The Apostles were the victims of malicious prosecution, by a mob. Then they were beaten with rods. Still bleeding from their wounds, the city fathers of Philippi threw them not just in jail, but in stocks. God did not prevent their circumstances, but He was there, in the middle of their situation.

Too often we think that delay, difficulty or denial means that God has abandoned us. Inconveniences, like persecution, are often God’s way of positioning His men and women for ministry. Romans 5:1-5 tells us that trials and tribulations build our faith.

Paul and Silas chose to worship. Their backs continued to bleed. Their feet remained locked in stocks. In pain and humiliation, they decided the correct response was prayer and singing praise to God.

Omnipotent and sovereign God proved His presence. An earthquake shook open all the prison doors and rattled off all their chains. God is always close to His faithful men and women. He always has options about how He reveals Himself.

God allows events in His timing, and for His purposes. We may not be happy for every circumstance, but we can choose His joy in every situation. He is close by. Reach out and touch Him in prayer and worship.

Think: God is close by in all your circumstances.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see and feel Your presence in every situation.”

This devotional is a ministry of 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.

…And Worshiped Him

…And Worshiped Him by Kirk Hunt

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11 NKJV

They spent months trekking across hundreds (or thousands) of miles. They braved dangers from violent weather, wild animals or armed marauders to find Jesus. Then, despite their wealth, education, wisdom and stations, they threw themselves on the stable floor, before the newborn King of Kings. And worshiped Him.

“They came. They saw. They worshiped.” At great cost. At great inconvenience. At great risk. The Wise Men lived out a lifestyle of worship.

In the hustle and bustle, have you carved out a place and space for worship? When last did your worship of Jesus really cost you? How long has it been since your worship of Immanuel (God With Us) was truly inconvenient? How much risk has there been, or will there be, in the worship you give to the King of Kings?

The various services and ceremonies Christians use as worship are nice and good. Unfortunately, they can become mechanical and rote. If you are not careful, you may come to think that is all there is to your worship of Jesus.

Real worship comes from the depth of your heart. True worship takes you out of your zone and into His. The best worship involves risk as you invest the best of yourself in recognition of all that is Jesus, your Savior.

The wise men set aside their comfort, safety and dignity to worship Jesus. When last did you do the same? When next will you worship Jesus with your all?

Think: Does my lifestyle truly worship Jesus?

Pray: “Lord, help me to live in a lifestyle of worship of You at all times.”

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.

They Worshiped Him

“They Worshiped Him” By Kirk Hunt

Matthew 2:11 NKJV

Waves of men crowded into the little barn to give reverence to a child cradled in a feeding trough. The shepherds likely came first, especially considering they received divine declaration of the Savior’s birth. The magi calculated His birth through the stars and prophecies, then came at great expense to recognize His importance. However they learned of Christ’s birth, they came and worshiped Him.

The shepherds, lowly even among the common folk, likely gave gifts limited to sincere hearts, bowed in awestruck wonder. The magi were able to add valuable and tangible gifts to their worship, but ultimately they worshiped Him just as the shepherds did. Early or late, formally educated or practically trained, they worshiped Christ the same way. Their hearts were humbled before the King of heaven.

As you consider Him this Christmas, think about the manger. Thank Him for a grace that would endure humble circumstances. God gave the ultimate Gift wrapped in literal rags. Jesus surrendered the glories of Heaven to endure the human condition.

He lived as a mere man among common people, His royal lineage little more than a technicality. By coming as the least of these, He ensured that all men gained complete and unhindered access to the throne of God. Before He had a chance to reconcile men to God, wise men, shepherd or magi, worshiped Him.

Like the magi, or the shepherds, I pray you have found Him and are wise enough to worship Him. Understand that you do not come to Him empty-handed. The most important gift He wants is a heart that rejoices in Him and adores His presence.

Give your gifts. Mere goods do honor Him. Your heart, on the other hand, delights Him.

Think: No matter how I know, I know He is Lord and Savior.

Pray: “Lord, accept the gift of my heart.”

Worship Anyway

“Worship Anyway” By Kirk Hunt

Mark 14:3 NKJV

Please read one (or all) of the Gospel accounts:
Matthew 26: 6–13; Mark 14: 3–9; Luke 7: 36–50; John 12: 1–8.

Even today, an alabaster box (for perfume) is costly and uncommon. Spikenard, which grows only in the Himalayas of Nepal, remains rare and expensive. Mary spent over a year’s wages to worship.

The whispering Pharisees used her past to slander Jesus. Jesus’ Disciples complained about the “wasteful” expression of her worship. Given a say, it appears that Pharisee and Disciple would have denied her the opportunity to worship. Despite them, or their intentions, Mary worshiped anyway.

You have an opportunity to worship today. Will you pay the price? Will you walk past your history or circumstances and worship God? Are you willing to ignore the whispers from without, or within, to worship Jesus?

Whatever it costs, He is worthy. No matter what others do or say, Jesus is available to you. No matter what has happened before, He waits for you.

The voices are noise and distraction. If you want to, you can worship. Everything else is just details.

Think: I can worship Jesus, if I am determined.

Pray: “Lord, I worship You, because You are worthy.”

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