Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

6 April 2024

Reading From Ruth 1-4

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

—Ruth 1:16

     When my children fight among themselves, teasing each other and taking one another’s toys, love is not shown and the peace of our household is disturbed.  That makes when they get along and play well together so much sweeter.  Very few things bring more joy to the heart of a father than when his family is at peace and showing love to each other.  How much more must our Heavenly Father enjoy it when His own children are not attacking their own kin, but rather working together to accomplish His purpose and will for them upon the Earth.

     Words describing our society today and the modern Church are mostly negative.  Part of this is the work of the enemy of our souls attempting (and in a multitude of cases) to spoil our goods, but there is truly a great deal of polarization, infighting, backbiting and meanness in general.  By and large most people seem unable to sit down and have a civil conversation about important matters.  Religion and politics?  Forget it.  Those are two of the most important subjects in life and yet they are taboo because people become too upset when they attempt to discuss them.

     I don’t claim to have figured this out, always do it right or have an easy or quick fix for societal problems, but I do believe that God knows the answers.  Unfortunately all too often we do not care how God feels about the way we treat each other, let alone inquire of Him regarding our cultural difficulties.  What is plain to me is that we need to genuinely love people enough to want to understand where they’re coming from, find common ground, and work through our disagreements.  Speaking the truth in love, we need to truly make an effort to engage in civil conversation face to face.  Sometimes we are able to learn something new that will inform how we approach dilemmas in the future but when common solutions are not within reach, we must agree to agree to disagree. 

“God, fill our hearts with Your loving kindness.  Help us to show that same life-changing love to others.  I pray that we will think before we speak.  Enable us by Your Spirit to keep the unity of the faith.  Bring greater understanding between the brothers and sisters of Your eternal family.  Empower us to work together to expand Your Kingdom on the Earth.  Bring us together in peace.  Amen.”

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!  –Psalm 133:1

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to use in edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  –Ephesians 4:29

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.  –Hebrews 12:14

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  –Ephesians 4:3-6