Afternoon Devotion
January 5, 2022
Afternoon Bible Verse
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Afternoon Bible Study
The phrase "all or nothing" has become popular in business, sports, and many other areas of life. We are constantly challenged to "go big or go home." But how does that mindset fit into our walk with God?
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us that we should be fully devoted to our relationship with the Father. He specifically mentions every part of our being—heart, mind, and soul. It's not enough to love God with our hearts but not our minds. Or to have Him as the master of our soul, but not guiding our hearts. The only way to serve God in a way that honors Him is to give it everything we have.
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us that we should be fully devoted to our relationship with the Father. He specifically mentions every part of our being—heart, mind, and soul. It's not enough to love God with our hearts but not our minds. Or to have Him as the master of our soul, but not guiding our hearts. The only way to serve God in a way that honors Him is to give it everything we have.
We see an example of this type of devotion in the lives of Jesus' disciples. When they chose to follow Jesus and travel with Him, they left their entire lives behind. To go all in, their professions and families took a back seat. They didn't look back. They chose to follow the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind.
We can be devoted in our walk with the Lord. It begins with allowing Him to give us the strength to follow Him. When we choose an "all or nothing" attitude, we are modeling the example that Jesus and His disciples set for us.
We can be devoted in our walk with the Lord. It begins with allowing Him to give us the strength to follow Him. When we choose an "all or nothing" attitude, we are modeling the example that Jesus and His disciples set for us.
Afternoon Prayer
Lord, you deserve all the worship I can give. I don't want to praise you with my mouth but not with my heart. Keep my mind focused on you so I can glorify you with my thoughts. I need your help to give my all for you. I know that I can only live "all in" by the power of your Spirit. Please give me the strength I need. 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
January 4, 2022
Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Verse
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Study
In biblical times, mirrors were very different from those we have today. They were polished metal, and while they were typically ornate, they were almost always tarnished. This flaw made it difficult to view one's reflection. People likely had a better chance of discovering what they looked like by asking a friend or family member.
1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the Love Chapter. Paul outlines what real love looks like in the light of our Savior's love for us.
Currently, we can only experience a glimpse of the character of God. We see His faithfulness and goodness, but as human beings, we are incapable of knowing God in His fullness. Although we are made in the image of God, a reflection of Him, we can't completely understand what that means until we see God face to face.
1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the Love Chapter. Paul outlines what real love looks like in the light of our Savior's love for us.
Currently, we can only experience a glimpse of the character of God. We see His faithfulness and goodness, but as human beings, we are incapable of knowing God in His fullness. Although we are made in the image of God, a reflection of Him, we can't completely understand what that means until we see God face to face.
Most of us have experienced times when we walked past a mirror and at first didn't recognize our reflection. It's not that we didn't know what we look like; rather, the mirror was in an unexpected place. In a similar way, unplanned and unforeseen situations in our lives often reveal our real character. They show us who we really are.
The closer we get to God, the more we begin to look like Him. Looking at our reflection in a mirror only reveals our outward selves, but God sees straight into our hearts. He can even see the hidden parts of our lives, and He still has great love for us. That is real beauty.
The closer we get to God, the more we begin to look like Him. Looking at our reflection in a mirror only reveals our outward selves, but God sees straight into our hearts. He can even see the hidden parts of our lives, and He still has great love for us. That is real beauty.
Yesterday's Afternoon Prayer
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that one day I will see you face to face. Right now, I can't see everything that has happened or will happen in my life—but you can. There are times when I get frustrated or worried because of situations I cannot control. In those moments, please let your peace flood my heart. Thank you, God, for your amazing love for me. In Jesus' name, amen.