Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

11 October 2025

Reading From Colossians 3

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

—Colossians 3:12-17

     Our modern, local congregations would do well to revisit the guidance generously given us in the New Testament for what God intends for life to be like in His eternal family.  We desperately need His leadership in our family matters.  Every born again member is a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father and submission to His will makes our lives so much better. 

     It is easy to default to the flesh, our old self, when interacting with difficult people.  An insistence on having our own way, a lack of mercy, a disinterest in understanding one another, constant complaining, and giving full vent to our anger all come naturally to us as fallen humans.  But a born again believer is no longer fallen, they are redeemed and are called to live as holy and beloved ones in the cold, cruel world we live in.  Do not allow yourself to operate in default mode; rather, defer to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and obey Him out of love for the Father.

     “Elim” is an Old Testament term which means “oasis.”  When a son of Adam or daughter of Eve becomes a child of God, their lives are to be lived in such a way as to create a pleasant oasis of “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” forgiveness and love.  As we partner with the Holy Spirit in becoming more like Jesus and join with other like minded brothers and sisters in fellowship, our churches should be consecrated as sweet and pleasant oases, places of refuges and hospitals for the hurting. 

     In order for us to live out the principles of His Word concerning our local church families, we have to actively choose to yield to the sanctifying and empowering work of the Holy Spirit in us and through us.  This is not easy.  We must endeavor to build one another up rather than tear each other down.  Harmony will not happen by accident.  We must intentionally put our faith into action by treating others as we would want to be treated.  Let the Golden Rule be what guides our intentions and interactions.

“Gracious and loving Heavenly Father, Your heart is filled with tender mercy for Your children.  Thank You so very much for Your goodness to us.  We are grateful for the tremendous patience You show for us.  My prayer is that we would extend Your grace, love, mercy and patience to others.  Help us to be who You have called us to be.  Flow through us with Your Holy Spirit that we would be a blessing in our families, churches, communities, nations and the world we live in.  In the holy Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things, Amen.”

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

—Colossians 3:1-4

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

—Ephesians 4:30-32