Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

16 November 2024

Reading From Acts 4-6

“Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’^[a]

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” —Acts 4:11-14

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit as he spoke these words. Part of the reason why no one comes to the Father but by Jesus is because He is not only the Creator of the heavens and the Earth, but also the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Therefore, we don’t approach Him or worship or live life on our terms. If we want to experience what God has for us, if we want His blessing, if we want to go to Heaven, if we want abundant life on Earth, we must surrender our will, our authority, our ways to Him where it rightly belongs.

Peter and John did not have high school diplomas or college degrees. Neither did Jesus Christ or any of the patriarchs or apostles. In the Old Testament there was something called the School of the Prophets, but it did not issue certificates or degrees. I value learning and education, but there those who will only listen to or take advice from so called “experts” by worldly standards.

While I want those who treat me medically to have proper training in their fields, I pray that the Great Physician will guide them. While I want those who build my house to be skilled in their trades, I pray that the foundation of my household is the Rock. While I want an accountant to know how to do their job, I also know that God is my Provider.

While I value the wisdom of a multitude of counselors, I will weigh what they say by the plumb line of the Word of God and now that He is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. The knowledge of learned and experienced men and women has great worth, I must have the humility required to know that God can speak through anyone He chooses regardless of education or lack thereof.. Sometimes that’s through someone with a degree and other times that’s through someone who cannot read or write.

What transformed the disciples from “unschooled and ordinary” was that they had been with Jesus. They spent time with Him. The disciples had been and were being discipled. Part of that discipleship process is fellowship not only with one another as the Body of Christ, but fellowship with the Father through the Son by the power of the Spirit. Part of the miracle of being with each other as brothers and sisters is that where two or more are gathered, He’s there too. Moses was with God and it showed. His face even glowed with the glory!

Peter and James had been with the Divine Healer and the evidence was undeniable. The evidence was the lame man who stood with them healed and walking! The fruit of their faith left the religious leaders speechless. Let it be so in today’s day and age. That those around us would not be able to deny the evidence that we’ve been with Jesus.

“God, we want to know You more. Draw us near to You. Let us become more aware of Your Presence. Fill us with Your Presence. Overwhelm us with Your love and goodness. May we radiate with Your glory in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the communitycame back to him, and he spoke to them.³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. —Exodus 34:29-32