Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

10 January 2025

Reading From Matthew 8:1-17

“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.”

–Matthew 8:10-13

     The Gentile centurion’s faith was honored by the miraculous healing of his servant.  “Faith honors God and God honors faith.”[1]  This extraordinary event demonstrates the omnipresence of God.  Jesus was able to heal the servant by the power of the Holy Spirit even though He was not physically in the same space as the patient.  It also shows us that both Jews and Gentiles alike are part of the eternal family of God if through trust and acceptance of Jesus as the Christ. 

     We are saved as we look back in faith to what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were saved because they followed God with the revelation they had received and they were looking forward in faith to His atonement.  Thus they are part of the “great cloud of witnesses”[2] who surround us with loving encouragement as we ourselves move onward in our faith journeys.  We are joined by sons and daughters of the Most High God from every language, ethnicity, culture, and region of the world to form one Eternal Family, one Temple, one Body as we glorify our Heavenly Father.  The world can only find this kind of unity in the Bride of Christ and on that glorious Day, two will become one.

“Lord Jesus, increase the faith of Your sons and daughters.  Help us to believe in You for Your miraculous intervention in our lives and in the world around us.  Reveal Your hand in glory.  Move in the hearts of Your people.  Inspire us to pray bold prayers.  Give us the strength and the courage we need to trust You more each day and lean not upon our own understanding.  We acknowledge You.  We love You.  In the Name that is above every other name I pray, Amen.”

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

–Hebrews 11:1-2

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[1] Reverend Janice Rice

[2] Hebrews 12:1