That Dog Will Hunt!!

My dad loved to train bird dogs and hunt quail with them. The best dog we ever had for hunting was a dog by the name of Joe. I don't know how he got that name, but that old bird dog could hunt quail like no other. Dad bought me a dog for hunting when I was 14 and I named that dog Chuckaluck. Strange name. It didn't matter the name because that dog could not smell a quail even if they were under him. I always had great faith that my dog would someday be as good as ole Joe, but time after time he would frustrate me and Dad by running through and spooking the quail because he could not pick up the scent. Finally, dad quit letting me take Chuckaluck out with us and he just took ole Joe because he could rely on Joe and his natural abilities. Chuckaluck was the dog that wouldn't hunt! Literally. He was put on the shelf and Joe continued to find more and more quail for us to shoot and eat.

The term "put on the shelf" is akin to the term "That dog will hunt!" We have thought for years that we can "take it or leave it" when it comes to serving the Lord. Satan loves this kind of thinking among born-again believers because it gives us an "out" when it comes to serving. Just for clarification, "There is no out!" Paul wrote this in Philippians 1: 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Paul lived for one reason and that was for Christ. In Paul's letters to the churches, He always reminded them of the need to stay active in proclaiming the Gospel and not give up. Jesus spoke these words in Luke 18:One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. The story speaks of a persistent widow who would not give up when wanting justice in a dispute with her enemy. The judge finally agreed to give her the justice she desired and her persistence was her strength.

When serving the Lord in a world that has taken the spunk out of the people of faith by bombarding us with one problem after another, it is important to remember we need to be persistent in our walk with God. We must continue to ask, seek, and knock. The admonishment from Jesus in Matthew 7 says it all, Matthew 7:7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Two very important words in the verses above are Keep On. God's hearing is not flawed and He is still responding to His children's prayers. So keep on praying, keep on serving, and keep on trusting God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The writer of Hebrews said it this way in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Are you "in the hunt" for God's will in your life? God has given us the Holy Spirit and it is necessary to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to move in your life. This is not a fruitless prayer that has no effect, but a prayer to ignite the Holy Spirit working through your life and "that dog will hunt!" God will put you in ministry situations that will stretch you and challenge you but you will be in the hunt from there on and not even close to being put on a shelf. The shelf is for those who try to live on their own strength. We must live in the power of the Holy Spirit, and Him alone. Paul wrote this in Ephesians 5:15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

Be the reliable old dog that will hunt and let the gifts God has given you come alive and you will have a great hunt, cause when we trust in God "that dog will hunt!"

Vesselogical Out,

David Warren