Enduring as Soldiers of Faith: A Call to Steadfast Service
Ezekiel 29:20
I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.
It pays to serve God! Here, God gave the land of Egypt (then the super-power of the World) unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, simply because he fought on His behalf. 2 Timothy 2:3 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” This war we are in is very intense, and the things we must endure at times would be simply unbearable if it were not for the Lord who is on our side.
However, we as soldiers of the Cross should find comfort in knowing that our Lord does not employ whom He does not pay. Make no mistake about it; God is keeping tabs. Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” God keeps his promises, so keep serving Him and He will take care of you! Hebrews 6:15 goes on to say, “And so, after he [Abraham] had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
Question: Do you have the kind of diligence, faith, and patience it takes to inherit the promises? Many of us miss the promise for lack of patience. We get short on our breath, and so we stop just a little before the finish line. The hardest thing to learn in the ministry is to be diligent, have faith, and practice patience, especially when it appears at times that our vision is getting further away from us rather than getting closer to us.
However, we MUST press on! 2 Timothy 2:6 says, “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.” Will you hang around long enough to taste the grapes that you have planted? If you do, you will get the first cluster! James 5:7-8 also says, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
In other words, the only time we can stop is when the Lord returns for us. Until then, let us “stablish” or settle our hearts on our place of service, and then work our field of labor with diligence, faith, and patience until at last we receive the former and latter rain!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.
It pays to serve God! Here, God gave the land of Egypt (then the super-power of the World) unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, simply because he fought on His behalf. 2 Timothy 2:3 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” This war we are in is very intense, and the things we must endure at times would be simply unbearable if it were not for the Lord who is on our side.
However, we as soldiers of the Cross should find comfort in knowing that our Lord does not employ whom He does not pay. Make no mistake about it; God is keeping tabs. Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” God keeps his promises, so keep serving Him and He will take care of you! Hebrews 6:15 goes on to say, “And so, after he [Abraham] had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
Question: Do you have the kind of diligence, faith, and patience it takes to inherit the promises? Many of us miss the promise for lack of patience. We get short on our breath, and so we stop just a little before the finish line. The hardest thing to learn in the ministry is to be diligent, have faith, and practice patience, especially when it appears at times that our vision is getting further away from us rather than getting closer to us.
However, we MUST press on! 2 Timothy 2:6 says, “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.” Will you hang around long enough to taste the grapes that you have planted? If you do, you will get the first cluster! James 5:7-8 also says, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
In other words, the only time we can stop is when the Lord returns for us. Until then, let us “stablish” or settle our hearts on our place of service, and then work our field of labor with diligence, faith, and patience until at last we receive the former and latter rain!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill