endurance – CadreMen Press

Give And Get Water

Give And Get Water by Kirk Hunt

The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Sometimes I fret. I give and do for God’s Kingdom and all I seem to get in return is tired. That is exactly the time to keep doing Kingdom work. Those who water for God will be watered by God.

Out of obedience, I should work like a mule for God’s Kingdom. And be thankful for the privilege. God understands my human frailties. Knowing how weak and fragile a servant I am, God has laced Scriptures with promises, like 2 Corinthians 9:6 and Galatians 6:7.

He loves us too much to exploit us. We take up so much room in His heart that He will not send us away empty. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He has reserved a meal (or two) for you.

There will be difficulty, and delay, and even denial in your work. The story has not ended until you receive what God has promised you. And it will be glorious, and more than you bargained for.

Do not fret about when, or where, or what you will receive. God has the timing and the format down. Do your work of watering. He will do His work of watering you.

Think: I cannot work and serve in God’s Kingdom without being blessed by God.

Pray: “Father-God, help me trust Your love and promises.”

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.

Does Your Love Endure?

Does Your Love Endure? by Kirk Hunt

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:12-13 NKJV

Love is something you choose. Love-in-feeling comes and goes, but love-in-action is the result of your choices. Does your love endure despite the climate around you? Your salvation, and likely the salvation of others, depends on your individual choice to continue loving God then men.

The worst version of lawlessness is the lack of compassion or caring for fellow human beings. Too many violate the law of love and use the secular legal code only as a way to inflict vengeance or retribution. The concept of forbearance or even mercy seems to have fled our national borders.

There are those who choose to love anyway. Despite the climate of resentment and callousness, they fight to endure in the love and grace that comes through Jesus Christ. Who or how many will benefit by the determined effort to bless the least of these? Only heaven knows.

The law of love does not allow anarchy, sin or injustice. Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman (or missing man) but He commanded her to stop sinning. Jesus loved her enough to endure the pressure of the Pharisees and still extend grace to the woman.

You have a choice today. You can choose to give into the current environment and punish and persecute those around you. You can also choose to endure to the end and love God’s children, extending the love and grace He has already given you.

Think: Does my love endure, despite the climate around me?

Pray: “Lord, help me to endure in my love for You and Your children.”

You Have Need Of Endurance

You Have Need Of Endurance by Kirk Hunt

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Hebrews 10:36 NKJV

Perhaps you have heard the adage: “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” Endurance is a key ingredient of the best saints of God. The Christian men and women you most admire have likely built up their endurance. You can do the same.

Endurance is a characteristic that separates the dedicated from the dabblers. Talent cannot work if you cannot stay on your feet. Skill cannot win if you are face down on the floor.

If you participate in this life, you will take blows. Somewhere along the line, you will need to stay on task, despite how you hurt. Can you endure long enough to win anyway?

Of course, the promise is that God will give you the strength and toughness to go the extra distance to victory. Are you willing to bear your hurt and harm until God gives you victory? Endurance is not easy, otherwise everyone would do it.

God promises to be with us, to the end of the world. The blisters, gasping for air or soreness are our part of doing His will. You will have to exercise your free will to fulfill His sovereign commands.

Great men and women of God are not always the best educated, most skillful or even best looking. The greatest among us endure until their part of God’s plan is complete. You can be one of His elite saints. It is as easy as doing His will until you receive His promise.

Think: What do I need to endure so God can give me victory?

Pray: “Lord, help me to endure so that I can be a part of Your victory.”

Shammah’s Lentiles

“Shammah’s Lentils” By Kirk Hunt

And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

2 Samuel 23:11-12 NKJV

Shammah stood his ground in a field of lentils. I always imagine him alone, matching his soft brass knife against a squad (or maybe a platoon) of hard steel swords. Valiantly, Shammah fought the fight of his life over a patch of beans.

Why there? Why then? Why single-handed? Scripture does not say. The Bible only records that God used one man to bring about a great victory.

Shammah’s lentils are a symbol of the victories God gives despite impossible circumstances. To those without faith, it seems God’s men and women too often risk everything, against ridiculous odds, for nothing of value. Even God’s faithful sometimes feel alone and friendless against endless hordes.

You are not alone. Jehovah-Shammah, the God who is there, fights beside you. Like Shammah bar-Agee, God will bring about a great victory through you.

What has God called you to do? Champion the cause He set in your heart. Nurture the soul he put in your path. Despite all of the really good reasons you should pull back, push forward in God’s power.

It may seem that you are defending a patch of beans against impossible odds. Be confident in fulfilling the call of God. Be faithful and God will deliver victory through your faithful courage.

Think: If God sent me, the issue is not trivial, and the odds are not impossible.

Pray: “Lord, help me to have faithful courage over what, where and when You command.”

Endure

“Gift Minister” By Kirk Hunt

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:13 NKJV

Endurance is the hallmark of a champion. Endurance allows you to continue on when others have given up in discouragement, or fallen in exhaustion. To win, you must first endure.

Athletes deliberately develop their endurance in order to better excel at their sport. The strategies of coaches, teams and individual competitors always include outlasting opponents. Military leaders may call it “toughness” but that does not change the fundamental character of staying on task after others have given up or fallen down.

Endurance is far more than physical stamina. A large portion of enduring is simply deciding that you will not quit. Often, athletes complain about “betrayal” by their own bodies. Their minds are fully prepared to continue, but their bodies stop at the edge of exhaustion (or worse). Physics or biology more often limit us than our mind-power or will-power.

Men and women of God have more than willpower to call upon. God grants endurance to those who ask, in His purpose. His power can suspend the laws of nature. His grace can give the gift of persistence. His mercy can push back the limiting results of poor decisions.

Who needs you to stay on task? What part of His Kingdom needs you to continue on after everyone else has given up or passed out? What stronghold, yours or theirs, needs just a few more strikes of the hammer before it falls?

You can be a Gospel champion. First, decide you want to endure. Second, ask God for what you need to endure. Everything after that is just time or miles.

Think: Endurance is not optional in the life of a Christian.

Pray: “Lord, help me to endure through your power, grace and mercy.”

Honor Your Birthright

“Honor Your Birthright” By Kirk Hunt

And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 25:34 NKJV
Please also read Genesis 25:29-34.

Too often we put all the blame on Jacob. Scripture clearly states that Esau despised his birthright. In exchange for a simple meal, Esau rejected the blessings of God and his earthly father.

You have a birthright in God. Rich or poor, workhouse or jailhouse, God’s blessings, legacy and heritage are yours. All you have to do is honor what God has guaranteed for you, despite today’s difficulties.

A birthright is a future benefit. To receive it, I must not despise it or my present. Easily said; not as easily done.

A moment’s inconvenience led a mighty man to disdain what was not immediately at hand. Esau was so shortsighted and immature that he cast aside his legacy and heritage for a bowl of soup. The worst part is I recognize this same attitude in myself.

From time-to-time, we all want immediate fulfillment. Delayed gratification can sometimes be a hard path. Going without today, even for a great tomorrow, has its difficulties.

Esau was having a tough day. His twin brother should never have considered making the sales pitch. Esau should never have considered selling out.

Do not let a difficult day (or season) sway your faith. Keep your faith though the rough spots. If you do not sell out, God will deliver your birthright at the right time.

Think: Do I honor the blessings, legacy and heritage I have in God’s Kingdom?

Pray: “Lord, I honor the birthright I have in You.”

Enough Love To Persist

“Enough Love To Persist” By Kirk Hunt

Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

Matthew 18: 15–16 NKJV
Please also read Matthew 18: 15–17

Confrontation is an act of love and loyalty. It is part of the healing protocol against moral and spiritual infection. One dose is not always enough. Godly men and women must persist in loving confrontation until there is change.

Jesus gave us a procedure for resolving conflict. We are commanded to have courage and speak, alone the first time, directly to an offending brother or sister. The goal is not hurt feelings but restoration. The best outcome is reconciliation driving out separation.

Men and women continue to sin (a specific way) either because they do not know better, or because they benefit (profit) from the sin. Persistent, Godly confrontation forces home the truth and degrades the benefit.

Human beings can be willful, obstinate creatures. While it is easy to recognize error and willfulness in others, it is more difficult to see it in yourself. Dismissing a single complaint is one thing. Dismissing a growing portion of your community is a different thing.

Persist in saying the truth, especially to power. Shine the lights of Scripture and publicity on injustice and wrongdoing. After a while, God’s righteousness will disinfect even the most deeply entrenched infection of sin.

Think: I must be persistent in Godly confrontation, an act of love and loyalty.

Pray: “Lord, help me to persist with love and grace, especially in confrontation.”