Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

24 October 2024

Reading From Luke 10-11

“Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

“If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’  But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.”

 –Luke 10:5-12

     There are some who claim that the primitive church had no paid staff.  Those who believe this disagree with Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul.  The work that Jesus is describing in this passage is the work of the ministry.  Those who are called by God to devote themselves to the Lord’s work should be well taken care of.  Paul echoed this in I Corinthians 9:14 when he wrote, “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”  And again in I Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

     The concept of blessing presented here is a teachable moment.  Blessings will not be forced upon those who refuse to lead a blessable life.  If I am not peaceful, I will not have God’s peace.  It is also interesting that when I bless someone else and they are not receptive or are outright hostile, the blessing isn’t wasted.  It returns to me and I am released to go on my way. 

     For those who hear the Good News and receive the Lord as their Savior, the Kingdom of God expands to include them.  This is something worth celebrating.  But for those who reject the free gift of salvation and access to God the Father through God the Son, the Kingdom of God is a warning of coming wrath.  We cannot serve two masters.  We must either serve God or we serve ourselves. 

“Lord, give us open and receptive hearts.  May we be peaceful so that we can enjoy Your peace.  Help us to do all that we can in Your strength to reach others with Your love and message, but that we are released from responsibility if they ultimately reject You.  After all we can do has been done, it is, as my Grandmother once said, “Not my fault, not my problem, not my failure.”  Fill us with Your love and power to do Your work upon the Earth.  Amen.”

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

–I Corinthians 1:18