Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

29 September 2025

Reading From Ephesians 2

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”—Ephesians 2:1-3

These are truths that we must come to terms with if we are to experience the amazing salvation provided for us in Jesus. Before we come to Christ, we are spiritually dead, unable to atone for our own sins or earn our way to Heaven. Our natural tendency is toward selfish disobedience against God. You don’t have to teach a toddler to do wrong.

As we lived however we wanted to, we were actually playing to the devil’s hand. Satan is at work in the lives of those who choose not to follow Jesus whether they realize it or not. Without God’s leadership in our lives, nothing restrains us from indulging in every whim of our sinful nature. Thank God there’s hope in Him! We can choose freedom in Christ by grace through faith and experience His goodness in our lives.

“Heavenly Father, reveal to those who not turned to You for salvation the tremendous need they have for You in their lives. Lead them by Your kindness to repentance so they can experience the light and love of Your Presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.—Ephesians 2:4-10