Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

8 April 2024

Reading From I Samuel 4-8

“Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’ So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”

I Samuel 7:2b-4, 10-12

     This is a wonderful picture of true repentance.  It isn’t enough to have godly sorrow for sin, I must also act upon that change of mind.  Samuel instructed Israel to prove their repentance was genuine by getting rid of their idols and focusing their worship solely on Jehovah.  Therein we see a progression of repentance: godly sorrow, getting rid of distraction, and then focusing on God.  Once the Israelites had repented of their idolatry, He intervened in a mighty way and the enemy was defeated. 

     I find the phrase, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” to be insightful.  God helped them because they had turned to Him with an act of genuine repentance.  But this doesn’t mean that their obedience would last.  Therefore they memorialized this milestone with a monument to God’s aid “thus far.”  It is imperative that we not only celebrate what God has done for us, but also to continue in the faith.  If we do not move forward in faith, then when He has done for us in the past is all for naught. 

“God, I pray that You would convict me of sin and guide me with Your lovingkindness to true repentance.  Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me renewed strength to resist temptation.  I give You honor and glory for helping me thus far in my life and I pray that I will continue in the faith.  Lead the way forward as I discover more about my identity in You, connect on deeper levels with Your eternal family and move into my destiny that You have graciously planned for.  Thank You for Your love.  Amen.”

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? –Romans 2:4

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

–Colossians 1:21-23