Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

21 February 2025

Reading From Mark 3:1-19

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

–Mark 3:13-19

     The original twelve apostles were a diverse group of men who, apart from being united by Jesus to do His work, would not have found themselves in one another’s company.  Simon the Zealot would have worked to overthrow the Roman government in Judea prior to making the decision to follow Jesus and yet he is on the same team as Matthew whose former career was as a tax collector for the same government Simon the Zealot was working the overthrow. 

     These two men joined with lowly fishermen to serve the Christ, the Son of the Living God and they were given the opportunity to function in His authority to preach and drive out demons.  The same Holy Spirit by which they did this is living within every born again believer today.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is still empowering His servants in the modern world to obey the Great Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission. If He can unite a tax collector and a zealot two thousand years ago, He can unite Democrats and Republicans today.

“Lord Jesus, fill us once again to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit.  Empower us and fill us with passion for the building of Your Kingdom upon the Earth.  Show us how to do Your work, even taking what may seem to us as small steps in the right direction.  May we not despise small beginnings.  Help us to obey You in the little things so that we may be entrusted with great things.  Bring unity among my brothers and sisters all around the world in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

–Ephesians 4:11-13