Oct 29 2024

Afternoon Bible Verse

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Afternoon Bible study

If you turn on a light in your home, are you confident it will come on? You know it's plugged into the wall and is powered by electricity, but you can't see electricity—still, you know it's there and believe your lights will come on at the flip of a switch.

That's an example of faith—believing in something you can't actually see.

Faith is not something we can see, nor is it something we can touch. We can't physically measure or follow it. But according to Scripture, faith is the only thing that can please God. And when we believe that God has the power and ability to do what His Word says He will do, faith is the vehicle for our assurance that He will.

When we take our faith and place it in God and His assurances, God takes that faith and increases it each and every time we trust in Him. Jesus said that our faith could even move mountains.

If a room lights up at the flick of an electrical switch, imagine how our whole world will shimmer and glisten with light once we turn on our faith in the Lord.

Electrical light, as great as it is, couldn't possibly compare.

Afternoon Prayer

Heavenly Father, I struggle with faith sometimes. But just as I cannot see faith when it is working, help me to trust in you when I can't see you—even though you are always working on my behalf. In Jesus' name, amen.

Oct 28 2024

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Verse

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. :

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible study

A blacksmith uses steel to make steel tools. Those tools are strengthened and hardened to withstand the extreme heat and pressure that comes with making other tools.

At a certain point in the process, a blade that has been hardened in the fire must be tested. If it is not hard enough, it can't be used. Only when a tool has been properly heated and treated can it be sharpened by another tool.

It is truly amazing that an object made of one particular material can be used to hone another object that's made of the same material. But this is possible because it was perfectly designed to do so.

Good friends have seen us at our high points as well as our low points. They know our likes and dislikes, good traits and bad traits. And any good friend can see and sense when something is wrong with the other.

Perhaps a bad day or argument has caused the person to be down. But that's where a friend comes in, as this verse in Proverbs explains. Literally, it is saying that we have the ability to improve the expressions on the face of a friend. This means we have the power to make someone smile and to brighten their day. And isn't that what true friends are for?

God gives us friends in our lives. Some are closer than others. And not only do we have them as our friend, but they are someone to whom we can be a friend. Friends encourage each other and build each other up, just the way God planned.

Yesterday Afternoon's Prayer

Lord, you know the value of having good friends and being a good friend. Lead me to be a better friend to those around me and give me the insight and wisdom to encourage my friends to follow you when they are in need. In Jesus' name, amen.
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