Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

3 November 2025

Reading From Philemon

“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

—Philemon 1:4-7

     Every person is a treasure and Paul sets a beautiful example for us as sons and daughters of the Most High God of being grateful for each and every individual.  Specific to Philemon, Paul is thankful for his love and faith for Jesus and the rest of His eternal family.  Faith, hope and love are the abiding gifts.  We are to treasure one another.

     “The sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us” is a power packed passage.  If a person has chosen to believe, trust, repent, confess and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, then the Deity dwells within them.  Therefore, each of us within His eternal family has within us everything we need for life and godliness and the gifts He blesses us with are refined through testing and sharpened in fellowship with one another.  The power is yours!  He is working in us and through us for His glory and for our good.  All we must do is submit to His authority and yield to the loving and transformative work of His Spirit.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for calling my attention to the precious book of Scripture.  It is so brief that it is easy to pass over it entirely, but thank You for the time I have spent with You and with my brothers and sisters as they share this devotion with me.  I pray for each one of us that we would be faithful to share Your love and message, that we would be effective witnesses, that we would grow in grace and knowledge of the marvelous wonders that have been entrusted to us in our hearts.  Guide us with Your Spirit into all truth.  We adore and honor You, loving Father, compassionate Jesus, kind Spirit.  In the Name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen.”

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

—John 15:11