Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

12 January 2025

Reading From Matthew 9:1-17

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.”

 –Matthew 9:1-8

     When we meet someone who is paralyzed, we are tempted to see that disability as their primary need or issue that they struggle with.  But Jesus is God.  He sees through everything in our lives and goes right to the heart of the matter.  He alone has the power to forgive sin, and sin is the number one problem of humanity.  Sin, the prideful disobedience of mankind against God and His ways, is what has caused everything that is negative in the world.  Jesus and His Way form the solution. 

     God brings spiritual and physical healing to us by grace through faith in Him.  This healing is accessible to whosoever will believe.  Everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.  Sometimes, according to His plan, the Great Physician miraculously heals people of physical diseases and disabilities, but it is important to remember that the greatest miracle of all is the born again experience in the heart of the believer. 

     He wants to heal us inwardly first and as we grow spiritually in Him, His healing works its way into other areas of our lives.  He wants to heal our relationships.  He wants to heal our broken hearts.  He wants to heal our minds from the damage caused by exposure to sin and its effects in the world around us.  He wants to heal our bodies and someday He will, totally and completely.  Sometimes healing is instantaneous, sometimes it’s gradual.  Our spiritual and physical healing and salvation will be made complete on the Last Day.  We will receive our resurrected, glorified bodies and be with God in perfect harmony and unity forevermore and enjoy perfect spiritual and physical health.  In this way, it is God’s will that all be healed.

“God, give us the faith we need to see Your wonders performed upon the Earth.  Speak to our hearts.  Draw us nearer to You.  Reveal more to us about Your will as we trust Your plan.  Heal us from the inside out.  Wash us clean in Your blood and write our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Fill us with Your love and power to overflowing.  Let Your glory spill out of our hearts and into the lives of those around us.  Give us wisdom to know what to pray and when to pray it.  Increase our faith.  Let Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  In the strong and mighty Name of our Divine Healer I pray these things, Amen.”

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

–Revelation 21:4