Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

3 July 2025

Reading From Acts 12

“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.”—Acts 12:1-3

I can remember a time when I was very young that I wanted to go along with what my friends were doing but that I knew was not something my Mom and Dad would approve of. I spoke with my Mother about it and she gave me some very wise advice. “Kenton, the whole world could be doing it and it would still be wrong.” That teaching moment has stuck with me my whole life.

King Herod moved forward with persecuting the Christians because it garnered favor with his constituents. He was basing his decisions off of what he perceived the public opinion to be. News flash: God does not rule by opinion polls, what video gets the most views or what post gets the most likes! What is righteous and true does not change with the times or what any human consensus is. What Herod did was wrong in the sight of God and in the end he paid the price for it.

“Lord God, Your opinion is the only one that matters. I want to live in a way that pleases and honors You. Show me what that means and give me the courage to live it out. I love You Jesus. Amen.”

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

—Isaiah 55:8-9