Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

23 January 2026

Reading From Genesis 32-34

“And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”

—Genesis 33:1-4

     What a beautiful, heartwarming picture of forgiveness, reconciliation and a restoration of relationship.  Jacob had been deceptive, Esau had been impulsive, but their negative history had been laid aside for the greater good of unity.  We now read this story thousands of years later, and we are not given all the details or a transcript of their conversations, so let’s pause and reflect on what healthy forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration looks like.

     To forgive is to let go of resentment and to release a person or group from your wrath.  Bitterness and hatred will fester within you and cause spiritual rot from the inside out.  Scripture says in Ephesians, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”[1]  A grudge will destroy you and often times the other person has no idea of the hurt they have caused you, so you’re only hurting yourself.

     God requires forgiveness of us because He has forgiven us.  He freely blesses us with grace and mercy and therefore we need to extend goodness, grace and mercy to others.  We sin against God all the time, but He continually forgiveness.  He sets the example that we are to follow.  Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  They knew exactly the wrong that they were doing and did it anyway.  What Jesus was referring to was that they did not know that they were crucifying God Himself on Calvary. 

     There is a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation.  We are required by God to forgive and to work toward reconciliation, but reconciliation and restoration of relationship is not always possible or wise and therefore not commanded.  Reconciliation is a coming together and taking ownership of mistakes that were made.  Restoration of relationship is a process of moving forward and growing closer together.  Sometimes it is not physically safe for us to be around those we have forgiven.  In cases when reconciliation is not possible, let alone restoration of relationship, we are called to faithfully pray for those who have hurt us.   Pray that God changes their hearts and guides them into a righteous way of life.  God is real, the Bible is true, and He still works miracles today. 

“Lord God, thank You for the miracles of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration I have seen in my own life and in the life of my family.  I pray that we would lead by example, taking the high road in our interpersonal relationships.  Bless us with the supernatural strength and spiritual power we need to truly forgive.  Change our hearts, O God.  Make us more like You.  I pray that those who have hurt us will have a change of heart and take ownership of what they have done or failed to do.  I pray the same for us.  Search us and if there be any offensive way within us, remove it for our good and Your glory.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

—Colossians 3:13

And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

—Matthew 6:12-15

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

—James 5:16

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.—Ephesians 1:7

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[1] Ephesians 4:31-32