Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

9 August 2024

Reading From Jeremiah 10-13

“Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm
    nor can they do any good.”

No one is like you, Lord;
    you are great,
    and your name is mighty in power.”

–Jeremiah 10:5-6

     There is no idol that we can fashion for ourselves that will ever hold a candle to Yahweh.  He is the Creator and any material that is worshipped was created by Him and therefore can never be greater than He is.  Faith is difficult.  It is far easier to worship something that can be perceived with our five physical senses than it is to trust God who is unseen this side of eternity.

Even for those who met Jesus during His earthly ministry two thousand years ago and could hug Him and converse with Him face to face, it was hard.  Doubt crept into their minds about who He claimed to be and what His mission was.  The confidence of His contemporaries was often placed more in what they thought He should or shouldn’t do rather than who He is and what He’s about.  

     How much more challenging is it for us who live so far removed from that time and yet have chosen to place our trust in Him.  As we dare to believe in Him and take Him at His Word, we see Him at work in our lives and in the world around us.  These observations and our own participation in the sharing of His love and message should serve to strengthen our faith and increase our level of spiritual intimacy with Him. 

As we follow Him and allow ourselves to be pruned and shaped into who He has called us to be, we get to know His heart more and more.   This life-giving relationship is so far and above more fulfilling than the empty worship of any deaf, mute, lifeless idol.  May our focus ever be upon the True and Living God. 

“God, I pray that You would continue to make the faith of Your sons and daughters stronger as we make our way through this life.  Bless us with more and more of Your perspective, Your deep wisdom, and Your supernatural knowledge.  May we be generous in sharing with others what we have learned from You.  As You bless us, help us to be faithful in sharing those blessings, both temporal and spiritual, with others.  Thank You for being who You are.  I am grateful that You listen and speak and intervene in the lives of Your children.  I love You, Lord.  Amen.”

For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.

–Deuteronomy 5:26-27