Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

2 April 2024

Reading From Judges 10-12

Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”

The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

–Judges 10:10-14

     God is of course always honest, but here we have a very open and blunt conversation between Him and His people.  There is no mystery here about how He feels about the Israelites, His treasured possession, prostituting themselves by worshipping other gods.  There are a great many things that people do that grieve His heart.  These other gods led people to do horrible, terrible things to one another and the spiritual forces behind the idols were evil demons who, thought their grip on peoples and cultures was strong, were weak and insignificant to the Most High God of the Universe. 

     I once hear a preacher tell me that God isn’t mad at us.  I don’t believe that’s true.  God is love and He loves every human being He has every created, but that’s not to say that we don’t sometimes hurt Him, provoke Him to wrath, delight Him or make Him pleased and proud of us.  When humans are hurtful to one another, it makes God sad.  It grieves Him to see His children suffer.  Kindness and compassion, on the other hand, make Him happy.  Let it be our aim to please Him.  May we bring honor and glory to His holy Name.  Only He can save us, heal us, empower us and bring us hope.  Only He. 

“Lord God, I am sorry for the times in my life when my thoughts, words and actions have caused You grief.  It breaks my heart to know that I have at times made You sad or angry.  Forgive me for falling short of Your glory and thank You for providing a way forward for me through the blood of Jesus and the empowerment of Your Spirit.  Thank You for Who You are.  You are love and You are the same yesterday, today and forevermore.  Help me to honor and glorify You for You are a jealous God.  Your jealousy makes me feel loved.  Amen.”

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

–Matthew 25:19-21

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

–Colossians 1:10

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

–Ephesians 4:30-32