Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

10 February 2025

Reading From Matthew 25:31-46

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

–Matthew 25:34-40

     In this passage, the Lord Jesus reveals to us that caring for the physical needs of others is a fruit of being truly born again.  When we study the Scriptures, it is important to seek the whole counsel of the Word of God.  This means that we interpret Scripture with Scripture, attempt to place passages in proper context, and draw conclusions based upon what all the references say about a particular topic.  This helps us remain balanced and biblical in our theology, our understanding of God and His teachings.

     From other passages we know that the definite change of heart which comes about by being born again is experienced spiritually by grace through faith and not of works.  We know that good works are produced by the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who truly believe and receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Thus, not everyone who feeds, refreshes, clothes, cares for the sick, visits, and welcomes the needy are born again, but we know that everyone who is born again will do those things. 

     There is no amount of good deeds that we can do to earn our way to Heaven.  Thoe only One righteous enough to make a way for us is Jesus.  He inspires us with His love to express compassion to other human beings in practical ways that minister to their felt needs.  In this way, by allowing His love to flow from Him, through us and into the lives of others, we prove that we are children of the Most High God, members of His eternal family.

“Lord Jesus, forgive us for the moments when we have not tended to the needs of others around us.  Show us creative ways to share Your love and message with those in need.  I pray that Your sons and daughters would use their resources for the building up of Your Kingdom upon the Earth.  That we would share both our spiritual and temporal blessings with others.  Inspire us with Your love to share the abundance that You have blessed us with.  May we bring honor and glory to Your holy Name.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 –Ephesians 2:8-10

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. –Matthew 3:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

–I John 4:8-12