Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

15 January 2025

Reading From Matthew 10:21-42

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

–Matthew 10:21-22

     The lack of value for human life in the world today disturbs me and grieves me to my core.  When abortion of little babies seems so casual and elders are left abandoned by their families in care facilities to wither away alone.  It all breaks my heart.  One of my hopes is that the Church all over the world can be a beacon of light and hope regarding the value and quality of human life on Earth. 

     All throughout the Scriptures we are given encouragement to continue in the faith and warnings about going astray.  It is my conviction that a person who is genuinely born again will either endure to the end or if they do wander from the path, that they will be restored before it is too late.  When a believer sins, it grieves the heart of God.  I think part of why it brings distress to Him is that He sees the tremendous potential in each of us and He knows that we won’t realize that potential by going our own way in the world. 

“Wonderful Jesus, thank You for sending us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.  You provide us with everything we need for life and godliness.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Help us to show the world what it means to value Your creation.  May we be faithful to care for the spiritual and temporal needs of others.  In the Name of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe I pray these things, Amen.”

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

 –Psalm 139:13-16

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

–Hebrews 3:14