Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

4 January 2025

Reading From Matthew 4

“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.”

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.”

–Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

     The River Jordan begins from the melting snows and refreshing springs of Mount Hermon.  The fresh water flows through the Sea of Galilee and continues southward through the land of Israel to the Dead Sea.  God intends His people to be like the Sea of Galilee with His Living Water flowing into them and then into the world around them. 

Instead, the people of Israel became like the Dead Sea, receiving truth and blessings from Yahweh, but eventually thinking that favor was meant for them and not for others.  This attitude leads to spiritual stagnation and death.  We are to be refreshing lakes, not murky ponds or salty seas.

     God revealed His Word to Abraham and his descendants and wanted the Promised Land, a busy intersection of the ancient middle east, to be a place where His ways holiness and the resulting abundance would be on display.  There were times when the Israelites followed through with this with remarkable results. 

Rahab recognized the Lord’s favor and helped the Israelite spies in their work, Ruth came from Moab to glean from Boaz, and the Queen of Sheba came from Africa to learn from King Solomon.  But over time a prevalent attitude settled into Jewish culture that they were God’s chosen people and everyone else was “other.” 

     Jesus Christ came not only to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, but also do bring the New Covenant to all people, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.  This began with His earthly ministry and was greatly expanded with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the vision of Peter, the work of Paul and spreading of the Gospel around the ancient world. 

We are commanded and commissioned to share the compassion and Good News of Jesus with everyone, regardless of their background, language, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender or whatever else might form a barrier preventing the Kingdom of God from advancing.  Everyone is loved by God and is worthy to hear about Jesus and the way to salvation in Him.

“Lord, You know better than anyone our faults and failures and frailties.  I pray that You would do a marvelous work in our hearts that we would see others as You see them, dearly loved and with tremendous potential.  Enlighten our understanding and fill us to overflowing with Your love.  Empower us with Your Holy Spirit to be Your hands and feet upon the Earth.  Light within us a passion for Your Name.  Amen.”

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

 –Romans 1:16

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. –Galatians 3:28