Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

6 October 2025

Reading From Philippians 2

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

—Philippians 2:1-4

     Far too often the children of God focus on what divides us rather than what unites us.  As we have explored many times before as we have read through the Scriptures together, we are to be united in the essentials, allow each other the freedom of Spirit-guided conscience in non-essentials, but in all things we should operate in love.  How do we function in one accord?  I believe that as each of us as individuals agree to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, surrender our will and submit to the Father’s, that we will become more and more like Jesus.  As we do so, it is only natural that become more united with one another as we all reflect His heart and character. 

     Paul warns us here in chapter two that we should not be self-centered in how we live our lives.  Imagine what our church families would look like if, instead of insisting on having our own way or thinking of ourselves too highly than we ought, that we truly would see our brothers and sisters as more significant than ourselves.  Notice though that Paul does not advise us not to look to our own interests.  He instructs us to look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.  As we plan and do, we need to be aware of our own responsibilities to ourselves and our families, but also to the needs of our brothers and sisters in the Lord as well as the lost, lonely and the least.  Balance is key.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the knowledge and wisdom you bless us with from Your Word.  I pray that we would not only study it, meditate upon it, but also put it into practice in our everyday lives.  Give us Your eternal perspective on life.  Shows us what the essentials of our faith are and let us be united on that common ground of You and Your Word.  Help us to trust You more each day.  Soften our hearts and make us pliable so that we will surrender to You on a whole new level.  Thank You for providing for us.  May we share Your blessings with others in the furtherance of Your Kingdom.  In the lovely Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

—Romans 12:3-6a