Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

14 January 2025

Reading From Matthew 10:1-20

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

–Matthew 10:16

     Our Creator God made us each unique with different strengths from one another.  He loves us just as we are and meets us where we’re at in life, but He loves us too much to leave us there.  As we choose to believe and receive Him, we begin a process of gradual surrender of control in our lives to His lordship.  As we study the Word of the Lord, hear from the Holy Spirit, seek His guidance through life experiences and learn from other believers, God the Father transforms us from glory to glory, conforming us into the image of God the Son. 

     In this process of spiritual transformation and growth, the Lord blesses us with wisdom, knowledge and holiness.  In Mark 12:30, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Developing our intellect honors the Lord.  Education, when informed by the wisdom of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is a godly pursuit.  As we learn more, we can apply the truths of the Bible to our everyday lives in ways that are relevant to sharing the love and message of Jesus in our modern world.

     God not only wants us to increase our intelligence, He also desires that we walk with Him in the beauty of holiness.  Part of following Jesus is asking Him to help us make good choices that are in harmony with the principles laid out in the Holy Bible.  Thankfully, He knows that we are imperfect and yet He loves us just the same.  Grace is His undeserved favor and the Christian life doesn’t work without it. 

When we obey Him, He is pleased and when we disobey, we grieve the Holy Spirit.  This grief is not one of condemnation.  I think that our sin makes God sad because He sees our tremendous potential in Him and knows we won’t reach it through willful disobedience.  We have the Spirit living within us, inspiring us with His love to make wise, morally sound decisions and to keep moving forward even after we make mistakes.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience with us.  I pray that You would continue to fill our minds with knowledge and bless us with the wisdom we need to apply it.  I ask that our desire to honor You would grow stronger and that our lust for sin would decrease.  Make us more like You.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  We are grateful for Your forgiveness.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things, Amen.”

Let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance

 –Proverbs 1:5

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.

–Psalm 96:9