Month: February 2018

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.”

 

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.

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.