Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

19 August 2024

Reading From Habakkuk 1-3

“Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.”

–Habakkuk 3:17-19

     Habakkuk prophesied during a time of Israel enduring the discipline of Heavenly Father at the hand of the Babylonians due to the continual spiritual adultery committed by His people with the false and goddesses surrounding them in the ancient world.  Because of Habakkuk’s prophecies concerning Babylon, he is thought to have been a contemporary of fellow prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah.  This would place his lifetime sometime in the 600s BC.

     This passage describes a lean season where there was scarcity of material supply.  What is remarkable is that even in hard times, the prophet is still thankful to God.  He isn’t just surviving; he is thriving in the Presence of God no matter what his circumstances are.  The Bible says that the Lord is enthroned upon the praises of His people.  He is with us in good times and bad. 

     In times of abundance, it isn’t difficult to thank God.  Unfortunately, in good seasons we are often lulled into complacency and eventually deluded into thinking that our abundance came from ourselves or from some source other than the Lord.   This is part of the cycle of faithfulness to God, blessing, gratitude, complacency, idolatry, discipline, calling upon the Lord, forgiveness, back to faithfulness, blessing, and so on and so forth.  This cycle was perhaps most obvious in the book of Judges, but sadly is prevalent in the lives of God’s people in this fallen world. 

     Thankfully, He has the power to break this cycle by the blood of Jesus in the New Covenant.  The finished work of Christ on the cross and the empty tomb conquered sin and death once for all who reach out to Him in faith for salvation.  The Holy Spirit seals born again believers unto the day of redemption and those who endure to the end will experience the fullness of their salvation.  This means that no matter what happens to us, good time or bad, we always have the Presence of God in our lives and something to be grateful for. 

“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He enables me to tread on the heights.” Even as we travel through the darkest valley, He has the power to lift us up where we belong. From the peak of the mountaintop, we are blessed with His eternal perspective. From there we can view our destiny as the eternal family of God, and it is well with our souls.

“Lord, we promise to follow You no matter what.  For better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health, we will praise Your holy Name and serve You alone.  Thank You for Your never-ending supply of strength, power and joy.  May we rely upon You and grow in our faith daily until You call us home by physical death or the rapture of Your saints.  We worship You and glorify You, Lord.  Amen.”

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

–Philippians 4:11-13