Aug 25 2024

Afternoon Bible Verse

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

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In the first chapter of Matthew, we read the story of how Mary and Joseph learned the part they would play in the birth of the Savior of the world. An angel appeared to Mary, and then Joseph was visited by an angel in a dream.

When Joseph first learned that Mary was pregnant, he knew the child could not be his. He and Mary were not married and had not been intimate. So he decided the best thing to do was to leave her—and then the angel paid him a visit.

It would not take much convincing if an angel comes to you and tells you what to do! Joseph was part of God's plan, and God wanted him to be at peace with what was happening.

During times when we are caught off guard, God also wants us to turn to Him. He may not send an angel to visit, but He will always send His peace. There is a measure of faith that is always required in following God's unique plan for our lives.

Joseph still had a choice to make. The angel wasn't forcing him to do anything. And in our own lives, there will undoubtedly be times when God is telling us to do something and we are unsure or afraid. We should allow our faith to overcome our fears and follow what God says.

Afternoon Prayer

Dear Lord, I am grateful that you have plans for my life. Sometimes they require that I respond in faith, and that can be hard. But just as Joseph chose to trust you, I pray that you will give me the confidence and courage to trust you no matter what is happening in my life. I don't always have to understand what you are doing, but it is my responsibility to follow what you say. Help me not to doubt that you are with me. Let me feel your peace and presence in my life today. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Aug 24 2024

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Verse

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.:

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Yesterday Afternoon's Bible study

Christianity isn't about having vast knowledge of genealogies and traditions in the Bible. Jesus never said that people would know we are Christians by our doctrine, preaching, or theology. Our Christian maturity isn't based on our intelligence, age, or how long we've been saved. It's not even measured by how much we pray or read the Bible. While these are important disciplines that help our faith grow and stay strong, the true test of our faith is how much we love or show charity to each other. It's essential to move toward the goal of loving others more. We need to be careful not to focus so much on the knowledge of God and the Bible that we forget to apply His truths to our lives. We must live out our faith in how we treat others.

Genuine and whole-hearted love comes from a pure faith in God. We become more loving by understanding how much God loves us. The apostle Paul knew how important it was to be rooted and established in God's love. The more we open our lives to receiving love and allowing others to love, the more our love for God will grow and overflow to those around us.

Yesterday Afternoon's Prayer

Dear Lord, help me do what is good and acceptable to you. May I learn to love others out of a pure heart. I want to have a better understanding of your love so that it affects how I treat other people. I desire to speak words that honor you. Thank you for helping me mature in my faith and become more like you. In Jesus' name, amen.
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