Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

25 January 2025

Reading From Matthew 16

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.”

 –Matthew 16:1-4

     Still today, people want clear, physical signs that can be scientifically tested and proven before they will put their faith in God.  Faith and science can work together, but faith, believing in what we cannot see and being certain of what we hope for, is required to be redeemed and to please God.  Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.  This was a foreshadowing of Jesus dying on the cross and spending three days and three nights in the garden tomb.  That was the sign of Jonah given to us. 

     The Apostle Paul taught in I Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”  Our entire relationship with God the Father is built upon belief in the miracle of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God the Son.  People want God to perform miracles and have them scientifically verified before they will believe, but unless they choose to simply have faith in Jesus Christ and His Word, they cannot be born again and be sealed unto eternal life. 

And it is amazing that some Christians have no problem believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit, someone who was dead and buried for three days was raised to life but they have a hard time accepting that same God did in fact create the Heavens and the Earth, part the Red Sea, save the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, or rescue Jonah from the belly of a massive fish.  We serve a God of miracles and He is the same yesterday, today and forever.[1]

“O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  You are the same God who performed the wonders recorded in ancient Scriptures that You are today.  Your healing power has never diminished.  Your ability to bring people and situations together in such a beautiful way that accomplishes Your will and plan is still every bit as potent in our modern context as it was thousands of years ago.  Thank You God for who You are.  Thank You God for what You have done.  May Your perfect will be done in our lives.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. –Hebrews 11:6

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[1] Hebrews 13:8