blessing Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

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.

Cast Your Bread

Cast Your Bread by Kirk Hunt

Cast your bread upon the waters,
For you will find it after many days.
Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,
For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 NKJV

Too often we worry too much about ourselves. We are God’s people. We are the sheep of His hand. If we trust God, should we also worry or hoard His blessings? Go ahead and cast your bread on the waters of circumstance.

I get it. For a season, I fretted about something I had to give. I give in faith and amazingly enough, I have never run out. God taught me to give and trust Him to give again. The people I served and blessed with my gift? A bonus, over and above the approval of my God.

God commands our open, giving hands, and promises our hands will gather again. And give again. The advantage of giving per God’s Word is that He always provides more for us to give. It can get to the point where we give out before His provision does.

First, we must act in faith, and purpose. Then we must work in patient expectation. Finally, we receive again. God promised we will find more provision in the days to come, if we first give to others.

God has already given to you. Will you give to others? Your obedience will please Him and bless you.

Think: God promises that if I give, I will also receive. Do I really trust God?

Pray: “Lord, help me to freely give per Your commands.”

Works Are Good and Profitable

Works Are Good and Profitable by Kirk Hunt

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Titus 3:8 NKJV

Scripture is clear that faith is an internal matter and salvation is not a matter of doing enough good deeds. Scripture is just as clear that men and women of faith should perform good works on an ongoing basis. God’s people are good and profitable to others in the here and now.

The phrase “thoughts and prayers” has become a symbol of lip-service and inaction. The best demonstration of what you feel or think are concrete actions that help. What you do with your time, talent and treasure are the game-changers that matter. Everything else is platitudes.

Just to be clear: No one cares about what your heart feels or your head thinks; until the acts of your hands are visible. A man and woman may be skeptical of your motivations, but they will believe the nutritious food you feed them. Folks may disagree with your morality but they will approve of the warm shelter you place around them.

Good works open a path for unbelievers to understand. Your good works give your presentation of the Gospel weight and substance. It is difficult to ignore the folk who feed, clothe and shelter others.

We all know that words can come easy. We all know that actions are the best proof of your thoughts and feelings. Obey Scripture and get to work.

Think: My works demonstrate my faith in God to hard hearts and skeptical minds.

Pray: “Lord, help me to demonstrate my faith in You at every opportunity.”

Becoming A Delightful Land

“Becoming A Delightful Land” By Kirk Hunt

“And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:12
Please also read Malachi 3:8–12

You can be a delightful land, if you choose. All it takes is to be a giver. If you are generous in fact and nature, men and women, boys and girls, will see the glow of God through your life.

Malachi 3:10 is a promise of God. “If you give, He will bless.” Your platform may be small or large. Your capacity may be expansive or limited. What matters is your determination to serve and honor God through what you give.

You can do your generous acts in secret and anonymity. God’s omniscience will see your sincere heart anyway. His delight, in you honoring Him, will still fall on your life.

Yes, your giving must include finances. Your giving should also include your talent and especially your time. Consider that your time, talent and treasure may not all go to the same recipient, at the same time.

Nor is your giving limited to your personal resources. Channeling or enabling organizations and others is just as important as what you give yourself. Becoming delightful is never a zero-sum game. The more you do, the more you become able to do, and the richer your joy in service and giving.

God rewards His faithful daughters and sons. Do what you can, right where you are. Watch as you become blessed and even more blessing.

Think: Generosity of act and spirit, even in secret, makes you visibly blessed and blessing.

Pray: “Lord, help me to give so I can honor You.”

Are You Blessed?

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“Are You Blessed?” 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:

Matthew 25:34 NKJV
Please read Matthew 25:31–46

This Scripture is counter-intuitive to the common wisdom. The blessed are first, givers. Eternal reward is tied to providing for others.

Jesus wanted His disciples to earn eternal blessings. And, of course, that involves Him receiving from His faithful. The trick is that Jesus poses as the poor, the imprisoned and the distressed.

If you give, the way Jesus wants you to give, you run a risk. You may never receive anything here on Earth. Jesus only guarantees you will receive your eternal inheritance, after He returns.

It is that simple. Give now. Receive later.

Give to Jesus. Despite when He looks and smells like the homeless. Even when He looks like a convict behind bars. Especially when you have to “gown up” to be in the same room with Him.

There are tens (or hundreds, or thousands) you can bless with the gifts and benefits you think are so little. Before His throne, you will understand how your small contributions echo large in this present life, and the life to come.

Be a giver. Even though the receivers do not look like the image you have of Jesus. You are, and will be, blessed because you bless now.

Think: Jesus want me to temporarily bless others so I can receive an eternal blessing.

Pray: “Lord, I will bless others in obedience to You.”

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

You Shall Lend

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“You Shall Lend” By Kirk Hunt

The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:12 NKJV

The promise of God (see verse 1) in this Scripture was originally for the people of Israel. They had not yet arrived in the Promised Land, but God was letting them know. Obey me and you shall always lend and never borrow.

I can tell you that if you fulfill the condition, God will fulfill the promise. Not just money, though that is an obvious possibility. There are a lot of things God’s people can “lend” to the “nations” around us.

The treasures of heaven are not just material things, like adequate food and shelter. Good physical and mental health is a treasure, straight from His throne. Peace of mind and spirit comes from God’s heaven, and cannot be purchased with mere money.

Obey God and follow his commandments. Before you know it, others will ask where you got all of your blessings. Lend those who ask the good things of God. The gratitude of those you bless is interest enough for the generous of heart.

Think: His blessings are for me, and can be loaned to those around me.

Pray: “Lord, thank You for Your blessings, especially the ability to bless others in turn.

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

God’s Back Pay

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“God’s Back Pay” by Kirk Hunt

And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.

Genesis 41:51 KJV

The birth of a son is normally cause for celebration and joy. Like any first-time father, I’m certain Joseph whooped with joy and pride. Still, the memories of the last 13 years brought some gravity to Joseph’s heart and mind.

“God has caused me to forget.” First, betrayal by his brothers. Then, years of slavery. Finally, false accusation and years of unjust imprisonment. In the glow of his back-pay, Joseph forgot about the prior years.

Perhaps you have been laboring long, hard and without just wages. God has been watching over you the entire time. Recording the hours. Banking your pay.

To others, it will seem you are an over-night sensation. It doesn’t matter how it looks to them. You know that God is simply delivering your back pay.

Just when they thought you were dead, God will deliver your best life yet. Even though you thought you were forgotten and cast aside, God will set you out front and in charge. No one delivers back-pay like God.

Stay faithful. Work to build His Kingdom. Trust that God has your back-pay. At the right time, in the correct place, God will make you forget all that happened before. In joy. With delight. Through blessing.

Think : God rewards the faithful.

Pray: “Lord, I thank You, in advance, for Your Kingdom blessings.”

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