faithfulness Archives – Page 4 of 4 – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Adullam’s Recruits

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“Adullam’s Recruits” by Kirk Hunt

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

I Samuel 22:2 KJV

David fled to the cave of Adullam, hunted and hated by King Saul. There, alone and in need of support, David received his recruits. Oh, joy.

There were not the best and the brightest. They were not even the middling and muted. The cast-offs of society made their way to David. Oh, boy.

Scripture says they were in distress, or in debt or discontented. I call them the losers, the deadbeats and the whiners. Not the usual starting blocks of an elite fighting unit. Oh, man.

Thankfully, the sentence does not end there. At least they brought themselves. That hints that they were willing to invest themselves in something. By coming to and staying at Adullam, they changed. Oh, well.

Davis became their captain. Clearly, these undesirable men were willing to accept leadership. Often, a teachable heart alone can help a man advance from where ever he started. Oh, great.

Adullam’s recruits represent the men and women who come to support you in your calling. They are unfinished and often undesirable, but with God’s help they can become champions. Oh, okay.

Think: Men and women finish champions in God’s service, no matter how they start.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see Your finished work in my brothers and sisters.”

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

Leaders Work Too

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“Leaders Work Too” by Kirk Hunt

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

Nehemiah 3:5 KJV

The men of Tekoa showed up and worked. They lived a full day’s travel away from Jerusalem, but they understood the importance of walls around the Capitol city and the Temple. They brought materials, tools and most importantly, themselves.

Still, the men of Tekoa lacked something: Official Leadership. Obviously, someone worked out all of the logistics and details. Real men, with a heart for God and the nation, but not the official leaders of Tekoa.

The regular men of Tekoa did what needed to be done. The common citizens worked long hours in the hot, Mediterranean sun. The common folk shared the risks of enemy attack and shared defense.

The wealthy and well-dressed leadership of Tekoa? They were hard to find. Or worse, easy to find, but doing nothing.

Real leadership is not a title. True nobility is not an accident of birth. Both require being in the thick of what must be done, even at the risk of dirt or danger.

Are you one of the common folks? Lead out in what you know needs doing. Be the leader who builds the Kingdom.

Are you leadership in the Kingdom? Put your back in it. Prove your worthiness for the title. Demonstrate the reason you hold the position.

Think: Building God’s Kingdom requires everyone, especially leadership, to work.

Pray: “Lord, let me lead out in building Your Kingdom.”

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

Everyone Works

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“Everyone Works” by Kirk Hunt

And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. (Nehemiah 3:12 KJV)

Nehemiah 3:12 KJV

The task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a political, economic and even spiritual necessity. The nation would continue to flounder, until the expensive, expansive and exhausting work was completed. Under Nehemiah’s leadership, Israel took on this vital task.

Shallum, as an individual, shouldered repairing a section of the wall. A resource hungry act, even for a wealthy ruler, Shallum looked for support. Shallum’s daughters stepped forward and supported their father.

Did the daughters personally carry stone blocks and swing hammers? Perhaps. Scripture is silent on the exact nature of their support. What is important is that in concert with their father, and the rest of the nation, they supported the important work of restoring Jerusalem. Help is help, no matter what.

As a Christian, you are called to support God’s Kingdom. If you can not do the actual, hands-on labor, then step up and give the support you can give. Your part is needed. Your part is important.

Others did bigger sections of the wall. Still others completed the various gates and towers. They all did their part in re-building Jerusalem. What is your part in (re-)building a spiritual Jerusalem where you stand?

Think: Building God’s Kingdom requires everyone to work.

Pray: “Lord, I want to work on building Your Kingdom.”

Live and Work in Excellence

“Live and Work in Excellence” by Kirk Hunt

And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

1 Kings 7:13-14 KJV

Solomon took the task of building the Temple seriously. King David’s stockpile for the Temple did not suffice. Solomon started importing the best materials from other countries.

As any builder will tell you, good materials are not enough. Excellent men and women are required for the best results on any project. Solomon looked past the politically connected and even those with good local reputations. He wanted an elite artificer to work on God’s Temple.

Solomon sent for Hiram (or Huram), a craftsman, living in a foreign land, to serve as Chief Craftsman on the Temple. Despite his mixed heritage, and probably disadvantage upbringing, Hiram came to the attention of kings (Hiram I and Solomon, as a minimum).

You have the opportunity to live and work in excellence. With enough excellence, you will come to the attention of “kings.” Of course, you should be focused on the attention of the King of Kings.

Your life can bring Him Glory. Your work can praise Him to everyone around you. Just live to be the best of the best.

Think: No matter where I am, I should live and work in excellence.

Pray: “Lord, give me a chance to bring You glory through a spirit of excellence.”

Working For Laban

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“Working For Laban” by Kirk Hunt

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

Genesis 31:41 KJV

Jacob ran to Uncle Laban for protection and support. For the next 20 years, Laban kept the young man safe from outsiders. Unfortunately, Jacob needed someone to keep him safe from Uncle Laban.

Honesty, fairness and loyalty are precious. For two decades, Jacob learned and re-learned that lesson. Jacob left wealthy, but he understood Brother Esau’s complaint against him.

Perhaps you are working for a modern day Laban. It is difficult to work with someone who seems so intent on profiting only at your expense. There are days you do not feel forgotten, you feel sentenced, to that place and space.

Jacob became wealthy and blessed working for Laban. God fulfilled His promises to make a great nation of Jacob. In the same way, God will fulfill His promises to you.

No matter how “Laban” schemes or maneuvers, God will see that you get what He promised. No amount or level of human trickery can overcome God’s faithfulness.

There is a blessing in that place and those folk. God will secure you. Even more, He will enrich you. Be faithful. No matter how faithless they are.

Stay honest and loyal. Do the right work, the right way. You will leave ‘Laban’ with all that God has promised.

Think: God will deliver His promises to me, if I do my part.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be faithful, even to a ‘Laban.’”

Some Dreams Do Not Die

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“Some Dreams Do Not Die” by Kirk Hunt

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

2 Kings 4:16 KJV

Her hands came off her hips and covered her mouth. Her dry, squinting eyes were suddenly wide and full of tears. Elisha’s prophecy released the hidden dream of her heart. The dream lurched from its dark cell into the bright sun of her life.

The tough, self-assured woman of verse 13 suddenly gave way to the tender, vulnerable girl of verse 16. Our dreams have power. Even our hidden dreams. Especially the dreams that should have died.

There you are, building the Kingdom. You have not asked, or expected, a reward for your faithfulness. God will select an unlikely place and space to fulfill your dreams.

God delights in bringing dreams to life. Probably the dreams you had forgotten. Especially the dreams you thought were long since dead.

Your season is coming. A season when you will hold something precious. A season you did not think possible.

Some dreams do not die. Some dreams linger, waiting for God’s power and the right season. Some dreams you did not ask for, but God gave you anyway.

Think: Nothing is impossible for God.

Pray: “Father-God, no dream is impossible with You.”

Despite The Circumstances

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“Despite The Circumstances” by Kirk Hunt

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:9-10 KJV)

Job 2:9-10 KJV

Mr. and Mrs. Job sat in the middle of devastation and loss. A lifetime of carefully accumulated wealth disappeared in the space of a morning. The precious lives of their 10 children had been just as unceremoniously cut short. Job, himself, lay miserable and hurting with disease.

You would think there would be at least a little bitterness. The facts point to betrayal by God Himself. Job ignores that false conclusion.

Job chooses to trust God. During the good. Despite the bad. He knew that no matter the circumstances, God’s love is good and constant.

Hurting with pain, and living through extraordinary loss, Job held the line. He refused to believe that God had abandoned him. He dismissed the story told by the facts and figures.

Perhaps you are hurting during a season of loss and devastation. Ignore the statistics. Trust in God’s faithfulness and grace.

No matter how dark and hopeless it looks, God is there. He didn’t turn from you then. He will not turn from you now. There might be chaos and noise today, but there will be peace and calm in your (near) future.

Think: When everything is disrupted, God’s grace remains.

Pray: “Lord, I choose to trust you, no matter what.”

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