Sep 18 2024

Afternoon Bible Verse

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

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In this afternoon's verse in Luke, we read about a time when Jesus told His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow after Him. This is a curious situation since the disciples had already given up everything they had, including possessions and family, to follow Jesus.

Yet Jesus is telling them to go even further and sacrifice even more as they follow Him. He wants them to be willing to go even as far as to lay down their own lives. They had already been willing to do more than most, but they also experienced a closeness with Jesus that was not available to everyone.

The disciples had firsthand access to Jesus' wisdom and guidance. They witnessed His miracles and the compassion He had for the poor and the hurting. The price for their closeness was that they abandoned everything to be with Jesus.

Are we willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross every day, and follow Jesus? It means we offer everything we are and have to God. Then, we ask Him to show us what is drawing us closer to Him and what is pushing us away from Him.

Growing closer to God is always worth whatever cost we may pay. It is a great privilege to know Him.

Afternoon Prayer

Lord, thank you for sacrificing everything for me when I didn't deserve it. When I look at the example the disciples set, I am encouraged to lay down whatever I have for the sake of knowing you better. I don't want to follow you in my own strength, so help me depend on you. No matter what the cost, I will always choose you over my desires. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Sep 17 2024

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Verse

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. :

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Yesterday Afternoon's Bible study

In the last twenty years, technology has changed the world dramatically. In 2022, we have an interconnected planet thanks to the Internet, self-driving cars, smart homes with doorbells that can videotape visitors, and smartphones that put the entire world in the palm of our hands.

Another change is the growing worldwide population: There are almost 2 billion more people on the planet than there were in 1998. We've had to accept that change is part of every area of our lives.

But this afternoon's verse reminds us that Jesus does not change—He is always the same. He never has changed and He never will. That is an immense comfort, because when everything around us is moving lightning-fast, and change is constant, we can rest in the fact that our relationship with Jesus is stable.

God knows everything about us, including our fears and concerns. When we wonder what the future looks like for our families or whether our job will be around ten years from now, we can place our trust in God because He already knows what will happen. And because He doesn't change, we know that He will always be with us through every change in our lives.

Undoubtedly, in the coming years our world will continue to change. But that change doesn't affect God, and it doesn't catch Him off guard. We can trust that God is still in charge, and whatever may occur, we can rely on Him.

Yesterday Afternoon's Prayer

Jesus, I'm so glad that you never change. You have been so faithful to me for my entire life, whether I've realized it or not. I am so grateful that I can depend on you, even in the times when I haven't been faithful to you. When I feel overwhelmed by all the change that happens in my home or workplace, remind me, Jesus, that you are stable and unchanging. In your name, amen.


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