Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

18 February 2025

Reading From Mark 1:1-22

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.”

–Mark 1:16-19

     The word church in the Greek is ekklesia and it means called-out assembly.  In a very real sense the church is made up of God’s people who have been called out of their old lives to follow Jesus.  In this way, this moment in the earthly ministry of Jesus is the very beginning of the Church.  I have always scratched my head when people say that the Church began on the Day of Pentecost.  At that point there were over 120 members of the Church who had followed Jesus while He was walking among us and in John 20:22 He breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  I believe that this is when these Old Covenant followers of the Lord became New Covenant, born again Christians.  Their experiences on the Day of Pentecost were momentous, but it didn’t really begin there.  It started here in Mark Chapter One, when Jesus first called them out of their old lives to follow Him together.  The Church was born.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the community, the sense of deep belonging that we have when we unite with Your Church by being born again.  You indwell each of my brothers and sisters and I with Your unifying Holy Spirit.  I am grateful to be part of Your Church, Your eternal family.  I praise Your wonderful and holy Name.  Amen.”

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

–Ephesians 3:20-21