Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

27 February 2025

Reading From Mark 6:1-29

“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

—Mark 6:1-6

     From Mark Chapter Six we learn quite a bit about Jesus and His earthly family.  Nazareth had its own synagogue and the locals allowed the Lord to teach there.  Apparently Jesus had learned the carpenter trade from His father Joseph.  We also learn that his brothers’ names were James, Joseph, Judas and Simon and that He had at least two sisters.  Unfortunately, those in his hometown did not receive Him with faith.

     Local people probably knew that Mary had become pregnant before she and Joseph were married.  But as is the case whenever gossip is swirling around, people did not know the whole story.  Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  There was nothing shameful regarding His conception or birth, but that didn’t stop people who knew the family from judging them.  This prideful attitude of the people in this small town prevented them from believing and receiving Jesus as God.  Their lack of faith prevented Jesus from having much of a ministry there.

     It is vital to our understanding of having a healthy, balanced, life-giving relationship with the Lord to view this relationship as a partnership.  God calls us to Him and chooses us, but we must also exercise our free moral agency and choose Him.  He loves us, but in order to for that love to be manifested in our lives, we must love Him in return and show that love in practical ways by caring for others.  He will not force anyone to accept Him or love Him.  That would defeat the purpose of His infinitely wise and sovereign plan of giving us free will.

     Salvation is by grace through faith and He inspires us with His love, grace and mercy to do good works and will perform those works through us but we must choose to yield to the movement of the Holy Spirit for that to happen.  It’s a partnership.  And if we choose not to have faith, if we choose not to trust, if we in our pride insist on having our way rather than His, then we forfeit salvation and all the spiritual blessings that are freely given to the sons and daughters of the Most High God.  It is only through this spiritual partnership, this life-giving relationship that we discover our identity, community and destiny in our forever home of the eternal family of God. 

“God, I thank You that Your ways are higher than my ways and Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts.  I pray that You would break my pride.  If there be any offensive way within me, remove it and replace it with more and more of Your Holy Spirit.  Cleanse me with Your blood.  Anoint me with Your power.  Increase my faith and make me strong.  Put Your Word in my mouth.  Help me to treat others as I would want to be treated.  Fill me with Your love and show me how to share Your love with others.  In the wonderful and marvelous Name of Jesus Christ I pray all of 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

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

—James 2:18

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

—Joshua 24:15

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

—Galatians 2:20-21