Nov 23 2024

Afternoon Bible Verse

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Add to Favorites Share with Friend Afternoon Bible study

The apostle Paul was convinced that nothing could separate us from God's love. He had experienced trials of every kind but knew that God was faithful and had never left him.

The Bible says that five times Paul received 39 stripes (he was whipped), he was beaten with rods three times, stoned once, was shipwrecked and in the water for 24 hours, endured hunger and thirst, was cold and naked, and had been robbed for his faith in God.

Yet even after all that, Paul knew the power of God and the benefit of resting in the Lord.

Most of us will never face this type of persecution in our lifetime. Yet we may feel discouraged and wonder if God still hears us when we pray during tough times.

As followers of Jesus, faith means that we don't base our reality on what we see. Trusting God and having hope in Him is foundational to our beliefs. Even when life is spinning out of control, our certainty is based on God's Word.

We must be fully convinced that there is nothing man can do to us that will take God's love from our lives. There is also nothing we can do to cancel God's love for us.

Afternoon Prayer

God, I'm so thankful that no matter how unbearable life seems or how I'm tempted, your peace lets me know that you love me. Help me remember that when my own heart is condemning me. I am amazed at your love for me, and I know that nothing can separate me from your love. In Jesus' name, amen.

Add to Favorites Share with Friend

Nov 22 2024

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Verse

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.:

Add to Favorites Share with Friend
Yesterday Afternoon's Bible study

God created families to be a source of blessing, but from the very beginning, it has been a battlefield. The first married couple had relationship problems, including placing blame on each other. When they had children, those children despised each other to the point of death. The actions of Adam and Eve led to physical and spiritual death.

So, God gave us a new family in Christ when He created the Church, and the marker that identifies the real followers of Jesus: their practice of genuine love.

The Early Church needed a way to tell who God's true children were. In 1 John, the apostle John wrote to help them know what to look for. Some abandoned the faith because they claimed they knew more than the apostles. They said they were the real children of God.

John identified how they loved each other as the mark of a true believer. After all, it was God's love that made us His children.

It's tragic when love is lost between followers of Christ. It is the work of the enemy. We should seek reconciliation whenever possible if a conflict has occurred with other believers.

When we show forgiveness or admit guilt to one another, we demonstrate humility. Denying our personal desires to honor God is a form of worship. We should build each other up and encourage one another so that the world can see Jesus through us.

Yesterday Afternoon's Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray for unity in the Body of Christ. May we be united in love in the same way you are united with the Father. Give me a desire to love as you have loved me. Bind us with peace and fellowship. Help us to quickly admit fault or ask forgiveness when we struggle to get along. Let us please you with our actions. In Jesus' name, amen.
Add to Favorites Share with Friend


← View Last Verse View Next Verse →