Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

18 June 2025

Reading From Acts 4:1-22

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

—Acts 4:13-20

     When I was growing up in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, it was (and still largely is) culturally unacceptable to speak about Jesus in public places.  I remember traveling to visit family in North Carolina and my aunt took me out to lunch at a buffet that served delicious down-home country cooking.  As we ate our food and visited, I was shocked to overhear a group of people at another table openly discussing matters of faith.  It is sad to think that as a follower of Jesus myself I would still be culturally conditioned to feel uncomfortable with religious conversation at a restaurant.  This was a point of reflection and growth for me and I determined that moving forward I would be unashamed to talk about Jesus in public. 

     If a person has had a genuine, life-changing spiritual encounter with Jesus and felt by faith His love and power, then it should be difficult for them to keep quiet about it.  The Good News of Jesus is not something to be hidden away in secret.  We should look for appropriate opportunities to share with those around us what God has done in our lives.  It is amazing how this simple act of courage changes the tone of any conversation. 

     Notice also that Peter and John were not formally educated, but because they had been with Jesus, their lives were transformed and they were given a priceless treasure to share with others: the Gospel of Jesus Christ which guides people into healthy, balanced relationship with God the Father.  If there is anything in life worth sharing, it is the love and message of the one who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the light of the Kingdom of God.

“Heavenly Father, please empower Your sons and daughters by the power of Your Holy Spirit to be courageous in sharing Your Good News with others in our daily lives.  The fallen world wants us to keep quiet about Your Son Jesus, but we know that You are the only hope this world has to survive and thrive.  Help us to be bold in speaking truth in love to those who are hurting and without hope.  You are the hope of glory.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things, Amen.”

The wicked flee though no one pursues,
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

–Proverbs 28:1

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

–Romans 1:16-17