Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

21 May 2024

Reading From Psalms 95, 97-99

“Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
    as you did that day at Massahin the wilderness,
where your ancestors tested me;
    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
For forty years I was angry with that generation;
    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
    and they have not known my ways.’
So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

–Psalm 95:6-11

     It is God’s desire for all humanity to join His eternal family and for His children to enjoy blessed lives but He will not force them into healthy relationship with Him.  Like a gentle Shepherd He leads us in the Way we should go, the Way that is best for us.  The knowledge that the Shepherd knows more than the sheep should inspire us to trust, obey and prosper as a result. 

     Yahweh gave dominion over the Earth to human beings and with that responsibility  comes free will to choose His Way or go our own way.  Both options will bring different results and we must accept those outcomes.  Following God will bring abundant and eternal life while following ourselves leads to trouble and heartache in the here and now and eternal separation from the Presence of Heavenly Father in outer darkness.  “If any man wills to be a Christian, he can be a Christian. If you go to hell, you go of your own accord.”[1]  Choosing to continually reject God’s love and stubbornly rebel against His Way leads to a hardening of one’s heart, but embracing His Truth and living according to His Word brings peace and rest.

“God, thank You for the blessings that I have in You.  I pray that I would share those blessings with others and experience Your peace and rest in a deeper way than I’ve ever known.  Amen.”

 All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

–John 14:25-27

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[1] Aimee Semple McPherson