Afternoon Devotion

April 14, 2021

Afternoon Bible Verse

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Afternoon Bible Study

The very beginning of the Book of John states that Jesus is the Word, and He was with God in the beginning, and that He is God. In verse 14, John restates that simple declaration and also says that the Word dwelt among us.

To people in the ancient world (and even people today), the idea that the God who created the universe would come down and dwell among common people seemed fantastic yet also impossible.

The world expected a majestic king who would rule and reign. Instead, God sent a baby who grew into a young man and then into One who would die for humanity's sin. Many refused to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, even after they saw Him perform great miracles in God's name.

Imagine seeing Jesus face-to-face, seeing Him minister to the broken and hurting, and still not recognizing His power and authority. Not only did they refuse to accept who He was, but they condemned Him to death on a cross for proclaiming that He was God's Son.

The restoration of mankind to God the Father was enormously important and destiny-changing for all mankind. God knew that Jesus was the only choice to redeem us and bring us grace and truth. We should live in a way that demonstrates our gratefulness and tells others about the Good News of Jesus.

Afternoon Prayer

God, thank you for sending Jesus to earth. As I read about His example in the Bible, I am encouraged in my faith. With your strength and power inside me, I can overcome the world and spend eternity with you. Let me live in a way that shares the Good News with those around me. In Jesus' name, amen.

If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.

-C.S. Lewis

God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.

-Elbert Hubbard

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.

-C.S. Lewis

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.

-Dorothy Parker

Yesterday's Devotional

April 13, 2021

Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Verse

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Study

Eternal life is the ultimate gift to everyone who believes in Jesus. Over the centuries, some people have chosen not to believe that this gift is offered to them. But simply not believing in something doesn't make it right or true.

God, through His Holy Spirit, raised Christ up from the dead. Whether we choose to believe or not, it still happened. The Apostle Paul says that if God did that for Jesus, then He will also do the same for those who believe in His Son.

As humans, we enjoy the privilege of making choices about everything, from what we eat and what we wear, to what career we pursue and whether or not we get married. Unfortunately, we also suffer the consequences of making bad decisions. Often, we learn painful and valuable lessons from these wrong choices.

However, what we choose in regard to our relationship with God has eternal implications. In His great mercy, God allows us to decide whether or not we will follow Him. This is an amazing gift, especially since God knows that everyone will not choose to serve Him. Even though God desires a relationship with us, He gives us the opportunity to decide for ourselves.

The choice each of us must make is whether to accept or deny God's sacrifice through His Son Jesus. That choice will determine our life now and our eternity.

Yesterday's Afternoon Prayer

God, I am so grateful that you've given me the ability to make my own decisions. Even though you know that I won't always get everything right the first time, your grace is always ready to catch me when I fall. Guide me in the decisions that I make so that I trust you, rather than my own human thinking. In Jesus' name, amen.