Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens
About
Available on
Community
2608 episodes
READ: MATTHEW 13:1-9; JOHN 15:1-17; 19:41–20:18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW+13%3A1-9%3B+JOHN+15%3A1-17%3B+19%3A41–20%3A18&version=NLT John 20 contains one of my favorite scenes in all of Scripture. On Easter Sunday, Jesus’s disciples discovered His tomb was empty, but they had not yet seen the risen Lord. They were probably confused and concerned, suspicious that something terrible had happened. In the midst of all this confusion, Mary Magdalene began to weep, unable to leave the empty tomb. After all the agony and heartbreak of Jesus’s crucifixion, the disappearance of His body must have felt like adding insult to injury. When Mary finally turned to leave, she nearly bumped right into Jesus. Overwhelmed by grief, she didn’t even recognize Him but mistook Him for the gardener! In His characteristically gentle way, Jesus revealed Himself to her and sent her to tell the other disciples what she had seen. As it turns out, Mary’s mistake is rich in biblical imagery that tells us more about who Jesus really is. Scripture is full of references to gardening, going way back to Eden. When God created the heavens and the earth, He planted the garden of Eden and placed people in it “to tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:8-23). Many of Jesus’s parables depict God’s kingdom as a garden or field. Jesus Himself is the farmer who plants good seed that yields a great harvest, He is the true vine, and He is the first fruits of the harvest of the resurrection. Even now, He is like a gardener tending over His crop, producing in us the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-25). Given all this biblical imagery, maybe Mary’s mistake wasn’t so silly after all. The image of Jesus as gardener is a powerful symbol that reveals more about who Jesus is and what He wants to do in our lives. Because of His death and resurrection, we can grow and flourish in the way God intended. • Jacob Bier • How do you think Mary felt when she realized that the “gardener” was really Jesus? • How does the Bible use garden imagery to speak about spiritual things? How does Jesus act like a gardener today? Consider taking some time to reread today’s Bible passages and write down what sticks out to you. (If you want to dig deeper, you can also read Matthew 13; Romans 7:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. John 20:15a (NLT)
READ: MARK 16:5-7; LUKE 24:1-53 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MARK+16%3A5-7%3B+LUKE+24%3A1-53&version=WEB You might have grown up hearing the “Easter story” and the gospel message over and over again. Maybe you understand that Jesus died, that He rose…that He was dead and then alive again. What was it like, though, for those who experienced all of this firsthand? For the people who knew Jesus and interacted with Him while He was on earth, it had to be incredibly difficult when He was killed. I cannot imagine having a friend and knowing that they had gone through the most painful and gruesome death. While Jesus’s friends were in the midst of their mourning, they found out that He was no longer dead. His body was gone from the tomb where He had been laid. They were told that He had risen—that He was alive. Many of us have heard about the resurrection enough times to believe it and to have the ability to imagine it happening. But for those who first heard the news, it had to be hard to believe. In fact, the Bible tells us that many of them doubted, and that’s easy to understand. Even though Jesus had hinted at what was to come, they still didn’t comprehend it when they saw it all playing out. They were utterly amazed when they saw Jesus alive and walking around after seeing His beaten and bruised body hanging lifeless on the cross. But Jesus, in His great love and mercy, spent time with His doubting followers. He showed them where the nails were driven into His hands and where the spear was plunged into His side. He explained how His death and resurrection were foretold throughout the Scriptures. And He ate with them, showing them that He wasn’t a ghost or a figment of their imagination. What an amazing God we serve. He came and lived among us, and He died and rose again so we could be with Him forever. What an amazing thing it must have been to witness His death and then His resurrection. And how amazing it will be when He returns to earth and raises us from the dead; then we, too, will see Him face to face. • Emily Acker • Why is it important for us to dwell on the astonishing miracle that is Jesus’s resurrection? (If you want to know more about what His resurrection means for us today, see our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page.) • It can be hard to wrap our minds around who Jesus is and what He’s done. Thankfully, He is eager to help us understand. When Jesus appeared to His followers, “he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). If you want to dig deeper, you can read all four accounts of Jesus’s resurrection in Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20. For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:9 (WEB)
READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+CORINTHIANS+15&version=NLT One day, unless Jesus returns first, I will die. And honestly, that’s a scary thought for me. I’ve known Jesus as my Savior for as long as I can remember, and I trust that He will hold me even in death. But sometimes I think I use the promise of the resurrection—that Jesus will raise us from the dead at His return—as an excuse to avoid my fear of death instead of actually facing it. In these moments, when the reality of death grips me in fear, I can take comfort in the fact that Jesus Himself experienced death. It’s an easy fact to gloss over—we often jump straight from the cross to Easter Sunday, missing the tomb entirely. But Jesus didn’t skip the tomb. Jesus didn’t just die—He spent time being dead. Jesus lived a sinless life, then died on the cross. Jesus was laid in a tomb—a cold, barren place of darkness and death and despair. His limbs were still. His lungs didn’t move. His heart didn’t beat. And then, it did. His heart began to pump blood through His veins, and His lungs pulled air into His body. His cold hands became warm with life. He walked out of the tomb healthy, whole, and alive. And, when we put our trust in Him, that is what He promises to do for us when He returns. In fact, He promises to make all of creation new—healthy, whole, and alive. And this truth gives me great hope. Because one day, my body will lie in a grave—a cold, barren place of darkness and death and despair. My limbs will be still. My lungs won’t move. My heart won’t beat. And then, one day, it will. • Taylor Eising • Have you ever been afraid of death? How could the promise of the resurrection be comforting in these times? • Death is the ultimate result of sin. No wonder death is strange to us—God didn’t intend for us to die. And thankfully, He has made the way for us to have eternal life. Jesus said, “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25).As Christians, if we die before Jesus returns, our spirits will be with Him, away from our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:1-15). In perfect joy, we will await the day Jesus will return to earth and raise our bodies from the dead; then we will live with Him forever in renewed creation! So, we don’t need to be afraid of dying, because our Savior died for us, and now nothing—not even death itself—can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NLT)
READ: GENESIS 3:14-21; JOHN 19:1-22 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+GENESIS+3%3A14-21%3B+JOHN+19%3A1-22&version=NLT As an author, I love being able to write full circle endings—when all the loose ends are tied up and the reader is satisfied by the end. There are a lot of full circle moments in the Bible that are so easily skipped over because we don’t always understand their significance. One of those moments is when a crown of thorns is placed on Jesus’s head. You may have read this before. It’s part of the Easter story, just before Jesus is put onto the cross. It was a crown meant to make fun of Jesus, to mock Him for being the “King of the Jews.” To understand this full circle moment, we have to go back to Genesis 3. When Adam and Eve rejected God and disobeyed His good ways, the world was subjected to the curse of sin, death, and suffering. Part of that curse, mentioned in verse 18, is that the ground produced thorns and thistles. Here’s the full circle part— thorns remind us of the curse of sin and death. They remind us of the pain and brokenness sin causes. When the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and pressed it onto Jesus’s head, it was like the curse of sin was being placed on Him. He took that curse away from us, along with all our sins, when He died on that cross. And then, He rose from the dead in victory, promising to one day return and put an end to sin and death, destroying the curse forever. How amazing is it that we have a God who loves us so much that He willingly wore the curse of sin as He died to save us? • Kimberly Brokish • Consider taking a moment to picture Jesus as the crown of thorns is pressed into His head…the blood flowing down His temples, the soldiers beating and spitting on His torn flesh, the crowds shouting for His crucifixion. “While we were still sinners,” Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He freed us from the ugliness of our sin— because He loves us. Yes, we will struggle with sin until Jesus returns, but His forgiveness is sure. (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20.) • Throughout the entire Bible, God points us again and again to the promise of Jesus’s return, when He will put an end to sin and make all things new. Then everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live with Him in renewed creation, forever free of the curse (Revelation 21:1-5).As we live in a world that is still full of sin and its effects, how could we encourage each other with the hope of Jesus, that His sacrifice gives us freedom? (Romans 8:18-25) The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. John 19:2-3 (NLT)
READ: PSALM 23:4; MATTHEW 26:69-75; JOHN 21:15-19 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM+23%3A4%3B+MATTHEW+26%3A69-75%3B+JOHN+21%3A15-19&version=NIV Do you know what it feels like to be betrayed? Maybe you’ve had a family member or a friend violate your trust or turn their back on you when you really needed them. Jesus knows exactly how you feel. He knows the pain of being rejected by someone you love. In God’s Word, we can see that Jesus felt hurt and betrayed by those He was closest to. On the night before Jesus went to the cross, one of His chosen disciples, Judas, betrayed Him into the hands of the religious leaders who had been plotting to kill Him. Then, all His other disciples ran away, leaving Jesus alone to be brutally beaten and face an unjust trial. Then, right before Jesus’s crucifixion, Peter denied that he ever knew Jesus or had anything to do with Him—not just once, but three times. Talk about being hurt and betrayed! Whenever we are hurt by someone, our initial reaction may be a desire to get revenge or punish them, but this is not the reaction we see from Jesus. In John 21, after Jesus rose from the dead, we see that Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Three times, Peter says he does, and each time the Lord tells him, “Feed my lambs…Take care of my sheep…Feed my sheep” (verse 15-17). In this way, Jesus restores Peter, and Peter goes on to continue to glorify the Lord and tend to other believers. This encounter reveals that Jesus had mercy on Peter and still loved him. In the same way, Jesus has mercy on us and continues to love us when we sin against Him—after all, every sin we commit is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4). Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He forgives all our sins. So, whenever we are tempted to hate someone for their betrayal or wrongdoing, let us remember Christ’s continuing love and grace for us and also for this person, and may this love and grace overflow from us to them. And when we experience the unfairness and pain of betrayal, we can rest knowing that Jesus can relate to us better than anyone else. He hears our cries, and He comforts us in the pain. • Lydia Lancie • What is usually your first reaction when someone wrongs you? How might God be inviting you to, instead, come to Him with your pain, rest in His love, and extend that love to others? • Jesus is close to us in our distress. When someone has wronged us, forgiving them does not necessarily mean being in close relationship with them. If you have experienced a deep hurt, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about how to pursue healing and set up loving boundaries? The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18 (NIV)
READ: ISAIAH 43:1; 49:13-16; 53:5-6; JOHN 20:24-27 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ISAIAH+43%3A1%3B+49%3A13-16%3B+53%3A5-6%3B+JOHN+20%3A24-27&version=WEB Have you ever had something with your name on it—like a keychain, a necklace, a bag, or a jersey? Do you have a hard time finding things with your name on it? Do people sometimes forget your name or pronounce or spell it wrong? Our names are important to us. We’re alert to the sound of our own names. Have you ever heard a stranger say your name in a crowd, or even just something that sounds like your name? It catches our attention immediately! And names don’t just serve the practical purpose of helping us communicate with others; they can also tell us something about our history. Whether that be what our name means, where it came from, or how we got it. Names are important to God, too. In Isaiah 43:1, God says, “I have called you by your name. You are mine.” And in John 10, Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd who calls His own sheep by name (verse 3, 11). The fact that God knows each of us by name shows how much He loves and cares for us. In Isaiah 49:16, He even says our names are engraved on the palms of His hands. That’s a striking image! Have you ever written something on your hand so you would remember it? When God said our names were engraved on His hands, He meant it literally. When Jesus went to the cross, He let them drive nails through His hands. And when Jesus rose from the dead, He still bore the scars on His hands. Those scars will be there for all eternity as a reminder of His great love for us. He was willing to go to the cross, to take all our sins upon Himself, so that we could be with God forever. We are that precious to Him. First Peter 2:24 says it this way, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.” God knows you by name, and He loves you so much. In Christ, we can always remember that our names are written on the palms of His hands, now and forever. • A. W. Smith • Do you know the meaning or story behind your name? What do you like or dislike about it? • Even if people forget your name or pronounce it wrong, God will always remember your name, and He always says it perfectly. How could this truth bring us comfort when we feel unseen or forgotten? “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16a (WEB)
READ: 1 PETER 1:1-5, 18-23; ROMANS 3:25-26; REVELATION 1:4-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+1+PETER+1%3A1-5%2C+18-23%3B+ROMANS+3%3A25-26%3B+REVELATION+1%3A4-6&version=NLT Even though I’m in my twenties now, my family still dyes eggs every Easter. It’s a tradition we’ve kept since I was little. In fact, I can’t remember not dying eggs on Easter. And this is just one of the many fun, color-filled traditions I associate with the holiday. We often have egg hunts using bright plastic eggs with colorfully wrapped candy inside. We display pastel-colored décor in our homes and on our lawns, and we even wear colorful clothes on Easter Sunday. As I think about the colors I typically associate with Easter—light blues, greens, yellows, pinks, and purples—one color I normally associate with Easter is red. It stands in contrast to the pastel colors that we see on eggs, candy wrappers, décor, and clothing. But the color red is vital to the Easter story. Because without the red blood Jesus shed on the cross for our sins, there would be no reason to celebrate Easter. We can’t truly grasp the significance of what He has given us without remembering what it cost. And so, it’s important to reflect on His sacrifice, to think about the pain He experienced and the blood He lost on the cross. He was willing to go through all of this—for us. Because of His sacrifice, we can be free from the entrapment of sin; and because of His resurrection, we can be free from the fear of death. The red blood of Christ is the source of our freedom. Because of Jesus’s costly sacrifice, we have the joyful hope of living with Him forever. • Grace McCready • If Jesus hadn’t given up His life for us on Good Friday, there would be no Resurrection Sunday. How can remembering the price Jesus paid for our sin help us more fully celebrate our forgiveness and new life in Christ? (Find out more about the good news of Jesus on our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page.) • Jesus’s blood is hugely important, and it’s talked about time and again in Scripture. If you want to dig deeper, read Acts 20:28; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 2:14; 9:7–10:29; 12:24; 13:11-12, 20-21; 1 John 1:7; 5:6-8; Revelation 5:9; 7:14; 12:11; 19:13. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26 (NLT)
READ: GENESIS 37:18-28; 50:19-21; ROMANS 8:28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS+37%3A18-28%3B+50%3A19-21%3B+ROMANS+8%3A28&version=NIV When Joseph was seventeen years old, his brothers wanted to kill him. So they threw him into a pit, then sat down and ate lunch. After lunch, they pulled him out of the pit and sold him into slavery instead. Then, later, the wife of Joseph’s new Egyptian slave owner tried to have sex with Joseph, and he refused. Her vengeance landed him in prison where he remained for years. But eventually, Joseph became an important leader of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Because God was blessing Joseph, he was able to save nations from starvation during a huge famine. Joseph’s slavery and imprisonment led to countless lives being saved, including his own family. He was even reunited with his brothers, and he forgave their wrongdoing against him. In a similar way, Jesus Christ came to earth as a human to love and forgive us. Though He is God the Son, He willingly took the position of a servant (Philippians 2:5-11). He healed people who were blind and deaf, made those who were lame walk, and fed the crowds. Yet He was beaten, mocked, and crucified. Jesus suffered horrible circumstances, ultimately enduring the cross to die for our sins. Jesus willingly paid that price so that we could be freed from our sin and receive His forgiveness. By His death and resurrection, countless people are being saved. God’s love overcomes evil. Joseph endured great pain through the wrongdoing of his brothers, yet God used bad circumstances for good. Perhaps God used the trouble in Joseph’s life to mature him into a man who could forgive his brothers. Forgiveness is possible because God has extended His forgiveness to each of us through Jesus. Even on the cross, Jesus asked God the Father to pardon those who crucified Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). We too can receive this amazing and complete freedom in Christ. Perhaps you are in a painful position because others have wronged you. The middle of a difficult place can sometimes be where God helps us learn, mature, and grow. Hardships can open opportunities for God to do great things. His forgiveness heals us all. • Mary Schilling • God can use any situation to help us grow—both good situations and bad ones. What are some ways you have seen God use situations in your life to help you grow? • If you know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in you, empowering you to forgive people who have sinned against you. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to help you notice any unforgiveness lingering in your heart and to lay it down at His feet. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
READ: MATTHEW 21:1-11; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW+21%3A1-11%3B+PHILIPPIANS+2%3A1-11&version=NIV The governor was coming into town. Moriah had been waiting weeks to catch even a glimpse of the man. He was supposed to stay for the festival week and bring his entourage of soldiers and even a jester. Moriah had even heard the governor’s war horse would be the biggest she’d ever seen. The wide gates were heaved open by two men. At the front entry, an announcer shouted, “You are honored with the presence of the esteemed Governor Pontius Pilate.” “All hail Caesar!” the crowd echoed back. The first group of soldiers marched in, stoic faces in perfect rows. she thought. Then, from the other side of the city, she heard a commotion. A few people looked over and some even fell away from the parade to wander to the eastern gate. she wondered. But as more and more people broke off from the crowd, curiosity got the better of her and she abandoned the parade as well. As she approached the street and peeked over the crowd, Moriah got her answer. A disappointed frown crept over her face. She plucked up the courage to ask a woman next to her. “Excuse me.” She pulled on the woman’s sleeve. “Who is that?” “That’s Jesus—He’s a prophet and the Son of David. He’s going to save us all and overthrow Rome. He’s bringing a new kingdom. I’ve heard Him talk of it and seen Him do things only a prophet could do!” Moriah took off her shawl and laid it on the ground. When the prophet passed by, He met her gaze, and something in His eyes made her wonder if He was more than just a prophet. • Naomi Zylstra • This fictional story imagines Jesus’s humble triumphal entry into Jerusalem, contrasted with the pomp and circumstance of a governor’s traditional entry into a city. Since the days of Solomon, Israel’s kings rode donkeys to their coronations. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey because He is the promised King, and He is riding to His death as a ransom for many. How does the humility of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem reveal who He is and how He saves us? “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Mark 11:10 (NIV)
READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:18; 1 PETER 1:3-8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+2+CORINTHIANS+4%3A18%3B+1+PETER+1%3A3-8&version=NLT "AH-CHOO!” That sound is not usually good news. It could mean someone is coming down with a cold. Sneezes and other symptoms show us the effects of germs on our bodies. Even though we can’t see germs without the help of a microscope, they have a significant impact on our lives. When you think about it, there are lots of things that affect us that we can’t see—we only see evidence that they exist—things like wind, electricity, radio waves, Wi-Fi signals, etc. This is kind of similar to how we don’t see God, but we see evidence of His existence all around us. Theologians use the term “general revelation” to describe how God reveals Himself to us through His creation. As we explore and study science, there are so many things we can know about God by observing how He designed the universe in ways that are beautiful and logical. Theologians also use the term “special revelation” to describe how God reveals Himself to us through His Word, and specifically through His Son: Jesus. Like a microscope allows us to know things about germs we’d never be able to see with our eyes alone, the Bible reveals things about who God is and what He’s done that we’d never be able to know just by looking at the natural world. And the whole Bible points to Jesus—He is God in human flesh, the “image of the invisible God,” and He shows us the Father (John 1:1-18; 14:8-9; Colossians 1:15-20). Throughout Scripture, God reveals His love for us, shows us how we can have a relationship with Him through Jesus, and describes how one day Jesus will return and everyone will finally see Him. We see evidence for the existence of invisible things like wind, electricity, radio waves, Wi-Fi signals, and more—and we rely on these things to be there when we need them. Similarly, we can see evidence of God’s existence all around us in the world He created, and we can search out the deep mysteries of God in the Bible. Through faith, we can know that God exists and He loves us. Because of what Jesus has done and promises to do, we can have confidence that God’s love is real—and it’s far more reliable than electricity and Wi-Fi and all these other things we can’t see. As 1 Peter 1:8 says, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” • A. W. Smith • What questions do you have about God? Who are trusted Christians you could talk with about these questions? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal someone in the future. You can also learn more about the whole story of the Bible, and what it tells us about God, on our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page. …we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)
READ: PSALM 42; JOHN 14:25-27 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM+42%3B+JOHN+14%3A25-27&version=NIV I am prone to forgetting. I’m not talking about the usual things like my cell phone, car keys, or sunglasses—wait, they’re on my head. I’m referring to the more profound things. When I am downcast and my soul is disturbed, sometimes I forget to put my hope in God. Sometimes I forget to praise Him. But, as it says in Psalm 42, God is worthy of my praise. He is my Savior, and my God. I forget that I need Him more than water to quench my thirst—I need Him for surviving and thriving. And I’m learning that remembrance is a choice, a practice. When my soul is aching and tears keep falling, I can choose to grasp the one little word that is so powerful: yet. “I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (verses 5, 11). I will remember Him. I will remember His character, His goodness, and His faithfulness from the past. There are days when it feels like He’s forgotten me, but here’s the reality: “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me” (verse 8). As the deer knows it needs water to survive, my soul knows I need the living God (verses 1-2). Yes, we are prone to forget, but Jesus promises to remind us of who He is. When we put our trust in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit to dwell inside of us, help us, and remind us of our Savior’s words (John 14:26). And so, by His grace I will remember my Rock (Psalm 42:9). I will remember to meet with my God, the source of my strength. In times of sorrow, I will remember the “yet.” I will remember to praise. I will remember His love for me, constant and unfailing. I will remember His songs in the night. I will remember He is my hope. • Savannah Coleman • God knows we’re forgetful people. The Bible is full of people forgetting God’s care for them. From the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in victory to whining for food in the desert, from the courage Peter had to get out of the boat and walk on water with Jesus to the moment he noticed the waves (Exodus 14; 16; Matthew 14:22-33). Thankfully, God gives us His Word so we can look back on the ways He’s been faithful. What are some ways you could practice remembrance in your everyday life? Maybe you could write prayers in a journal and then highlight the ones God has answered, or display works of art in your space that remind you of God’s character, or choose or compose a song that helps you remember what God has done for you personally… Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11 (NIV)
READ: EXODUS 16:4; MATTHEW 6:9-11, 31-34; JOHN 6:25-51 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=EXODUS+16%3A4%3B+MATTHEW+6%3A9-11%2C+31-34%3B+JOHN+6%3A25-51+&version=NIV Father, we come, we kneel, we pray. As You have commanded we ask bread for today. Bread for today and today alone— Your grace we need for tomorrow’s unknown. Tomorrow’s unknown looms ahead— We fear it, Lord! We confess our dread. Ah, dark dread—may you forever be forbidden and crushed by His wounds on the Tree. His wounds run deep with healing strength, His sinless blood makes darkness shrink— ‘Till darkness fades and fear gives way to glorious hope— Resurrection Day! Father, we come, we stand, we sing! You are the Bread, Everlasting King, To You alone All praise we bring. I love the metaphors Jesus uses in Scripture—like calling Himself the “bread of God,” “bread of life,” and the “living bread” (John 6:33, 35, 51). By using a metaphor about something we can touch, taste, and smell—something as life-giving as bread—Jesus communicates crucial things about Himself that ordinary descriptions simply fail to do. • G. Kam Congleton • Consider taking some time to reread today’s Scripture passages. Why do you think Jesus tells us to ask for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11)? • And in John 6, why would Jesus compare Himself to bread? What point is Jesus making to His listeners that is hard for some of them to swallow? (Okay, pun intended!) “For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:33 (NIV)
READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; 2:7, 15; JOHN 1:1-5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS+1%3A26-31%3B+2%3A7%2C+15%3B+JOHN+1%3A1-5+&version=NLT God created everything in the world, including us. We were created in His own image. How incredible is that? Nothing else in this world has that same stamp from the Creator. Think about all the incredible things God has designed and made. The beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the flowers growing from season to season, the high peaks of mountains, the waves crashing on the beach. The list goes on and on. The world around us shows His creativity in many ways. Because we were made in His image, we also have that creativity within us. We have the ability to make new and beautiful things. We have the ability to add beauty to the lives of the people around us through what we make, and we can also admire and appreciate the beauty other people have created. Each of us has been gifted differently, but we all have the ability to create. We might enjoy writing stories or music. Maybe we’re talented at coding a video game or baking a delectable cake. Perhaps we can decorate a room or craft something out of wood. Or maybe we have a passion for gardening, sewing, organizing a space, making a new tool, or a thousand other things. When we lean into the creative side of ourselves, we can grow in our relationship with God and reveal to others how God works in us. If we know Jesus—having put our trust in Him and believed in His life, death, and resurrection—He is always with us. Because His Holy Spirit lives inside believers, we can rely on Him to lovingly guide our creative process. As we work with Him, we can embrace the way we were designed to create. • Tynea Lewis • Can you think of a time when seeing somebody’s creativity reminded you of God’s creativity? What was that like? • What is your favorite way to create? There are endless ways to be creative, and you will probably encounter more and more areas of creativity throughout your life. How do you think God feels when you engage in something creative? • If you want to dig deeper, read Exodus 28:3-4; 31:1-6; 35:30–6:1. So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
READ: ROMANS 6:1-11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROMANS+6%3A1-11&version=NIV Sometimes I watch the seasons progress with awe. Everything looks dead in winter, and then suddenly one day in the spring, daffodils start popping up, and soon after the trees blossom and turn green. God has a pattern of bringing new life. In the beginning, God created everything, including people. Adam was nothing more than dust before God gathered up that dust, formed it, and breathed life into Adam. He gave Adam and Eve the calling to rule over the creatures of the Earth, giving dignity and purpose to what was once nothing but dust (Genesis 1:26-30). Similarly, God blessed Sarah’s 90-plus-year-old womb and gave her and Abraham a baby: Isaac. In this way God fulfilled His promise, and through Isaac He brought forth the whole nation of Israel (Genesis 17:15-19; 21:1-7). Generations later, Jesus called His followers to a new life. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, two ordinary fishermen, He said, “‘Come, follow me…and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:19-20). When Jesus called Levi, a tax collector who would’ve been considered a traitor to His own people, Jesus simply said, “Follow me” (Mark 2:14), and Levi got up from his tax collector’s booth and followed. These disciples left everything behind because Jesus called them to a new life. They went on to be leaders of the early church and served a great purpose as Christianity was just starting out. They became willing to endure terrible suffering and hardship because of Jesus. And Jesus Himself rose from the dead to new life. Jesus’s miraculous resurrection aligns so well with the character of God. Of course Jesus was resurrected into new life, and of course God invites us into that new life. That’s what He does! We see it all throughout God’s story, we see it in the beautiful world He has created, and we see it in our own lives. • Naomi Zylstra • Where have you seen God breathing new life in and around you? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to help you see how He has been working. • Do you have a favorite story from the Bible where God gave new life and purpose to something or someone that was dead (either literally deceased or otherwise hopeless)? • When Jesus returns, He will raise us to new life, and everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live with Him forever! If you want to know more, check out our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 (NIV)
READ: MATTHEW 7:1-5; GALATIANS 6:1-10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW+7%3A1-5%3B+GALATIANS+6%3A1-10&version=NIV "What are they doing?” I grumbled to myself, watching a bright orange pickup truck in my rearview mirror weave in and out of traffic behind me. The driver apparently wanted to go faster than the cars in front of them, and kept tailgating the other cars and zooming over to the next lane to try to get ahead. This orange truck was far enough behind me that I didn’t feel unsafe, but I kept watching scornfully in my rearview mirror. Suddenly, I realized it had been several seconds since I actually looked at the road ahead of me. I had been so preoccupied with the orange truck that I wasn’t paying attention to my own driving. Thankfully, the road was calm and nobody had slammed on their brakes ahead of me, otherwise I could have gotten into an accident. I felt a prick of guilt thinking about my kids sitting in the back seat and how they could have been hurt because I wasn’t paying attention. Sometimes, we do the same thing in our spiritual lives. We see somebody do something outrageous and obviously evil, and we get so wrapped up watching them and judging them that we fail to notice our own sin. And sin always causes hurt. The truth is, I have no control over how other people act. When somebody does something terrible—especially somebody I don’t know personally—I can mourn their sin and pray for God’s restoration, and that’s about it. Everything else is just gawking. But when I see sin creeping its way into my own heart, I can actually do something about it. I can look to Jesus, who died and rose again for me—and for the driver of the orange truck—and ask Him to take this sin away from me. I can lean on His strength, forgiveness, and healing, and seek His wisdom in how to move on. And I can look forward to the day when He will return to resurrect us from the dead and rid the world of all sin—including mine—permanently. And that does a lot more good than gawking. • Taylor Eising • Why do you think it’s easier to focus on other people’s sin than our own sin? In what areas of your life are you tempted to do this? • God already knows all our sin, and He has secured our forgiveness through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Consider taking a moment to confess any of your own sins that come to mind. You can ask for His restoration and guidance in your own life, and also in other people’s lives. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3 (NIV)
READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27; 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+CORINTHIANS+12%3A12-27%3B+1+TIMOTHY+3%3A1-9&version=NLT Have you ever wondered what pastors do when they’re not preaching, visiting people in hospitals, or doing other pastoral things? Some people seem to think pastors study and read the Bible all the time. While pastors do study more than most people because they teach God’s Word at church, they’re really just like anybody else. Jesus continues to work in the lives of pastors and help them get to know Him better, just like He does with other Christians. It’s easy to be awed by someone who holds a church leadership position, and we might even start to assume they’re some kind of superhuman Christian. But this isn’t the case. Pastors need Jesus just as much as we all do! Even though church leaders have what the Bible calls “an honorable position” teaching God’s Word, they are regular people (1 Timothy 3:1). They have likes, dislikes, hobbies, trials, joys, families, and friends. They have temptations, they sin, and they need forgiveness— just like the rest of us. Simply put, pastors are people too. So, get to know your pastors if you can, and pray for them. Remember that pastors have physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational needs just like we all do. They have their own questions and doubts and temptations and times when they don’t feel connected to God. They need time to rest, and they need support and guidance and accountability from people they trust. Even though pastors are leaders in the church, they are still part of the church. And we all need each other. So, as you pray for the pastors in your life, you can ask God to provide for their needs and help them share His love with others—including you. And you can also ask God to show you ways your whole church community, including pastors, can serve and bless each other. In this way, we get to reflect the same love Christ has shown all of us. • A. W. Smith • What pastors do you know? What assumptions have you made about their lives? • What are some ways you can pray for and show Jesus’s love to your pastor(s)and your whole church community? Consider taking some time to pray and write down whatever comes to mind. • Pastors are part of the church, which the Bible sometimes calls “the body of Christ.” Each of us is a vital part of the body, and as we abide in Jesus we learn to love each other well. If you want to dig deeper, read John 15:1-17;Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:25–13:13; 1 Peter 4:8-11. “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” 1 Timothy 3:1 (NLT)
READ: EZEKIEL 1; REVELATION 1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=EZEKIEL+1%3B+REVELATION+1&version=NIV When you start reading the Bible, it doesn’t take long to realize there is some strange stuff in prophetic books like Revelation and Ezekiel, especially the visions about crazy creatures and symbols that seem bizarre in our contemporary context. Why are those things in the Bible if they’re hard to understand and interpret? Well, since everything in the Bible is there for a reason and inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), I’ve begun to realize the value of having confusing things in the Bible. These passages aren’t always written literally; they use a lot of figurative language. Often, visions use the word “like,” meaning this is the writer’s way of describing something unfamiliar to us by comparing it to something familiar. For example, in Revelation 1:16, John writes that his vision of Christ was “like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” These visions are so beyond our imaginations that we as humans can only begin to describe them by comparing them to something simpler. I’m still often confused after reading passages in the Bible that are full of wild imagery and symbolism, but they remind me of something important: God is beyond our understanding. His thoughts and plans are way beyond what we can fully grasp (Isaiah 55:8-9). Reading passages in the Bible that confuse me fills me with a sense of awe and wonder at God’s hugeness and power. And it’s amazing to think that this huge, powerful God became human and lived among us. In fact, the whole Bible points toward Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of His ministry and His coming kingdom (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; 20:31; Acts 8:26-40). He lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and was resurrected from the dead on our behalf. The Bible reveals that God loves us so much, and He made the way for us to know Him and be with Him forever in Christ. It’s humbling to remember how little I know and understand, but comforting to know that in the vastness of the universe, the King and Creator of it all knows me, loves me, and cares about the little details of my life. • Abby Ciona • What are some of the Bible passages that confuse you? Who could you talk to about these passages, such as pastors, teachers, parents, or church elders? One helpful way to move forward is to use a study Bible (either a physical Bible, an app, or a website with notes from reputable Bible scholars). What resources can you find to help you understand the Bible in a deeper way? “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
READ: PROVERBS 19:11; 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-5; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PROVERBS+19%3A11%3B+1+CORINTHIANS+13%3A4-5%3B+PHILIPPIANS+2%3A1-13+&version=NIV Frigid air made my eyes water as I pulled my cloak tighter around me. I watched my breath come out in little puffs of white, an ode to the snow that most certainly lingered on the horizon. Night would soon be upon me, and I needed to make camp and a fire, but my cloak called to me. Opening the folds of my leather cloak, I pulled out one of the gems from one of the many pockets: an egg-sized ruby. Shimmering in its crimson depths was a tale from my past, this one not fifty days old. “” My fingers gripped the ruby harder as the memory washed over me. “” My cheeks burned with shame and anger as I placed the gem back in its pocket. As the sun broke over the mountains, I stretched my stiff back. I had lost more time than I thought caught up in reminiscing over that ruby, so when I finally fell asleep, my bedding of hard ground had to suffice. Tonight I would take the time to craft an appropriate bed. My stomach protested in hunger, reminding me that I needed sustenance for the journey ahead. But, the cloak called to me. Deep in a pocket near my heart, I reached for an emerald as large as my fist. The glistening green of the gem blurred as tears clouded my vision. I watched a scene I knew well despite the years that had passed. ” This memory hurt more than others, for the person speaking was dear to my heart. Hours passed of reliving the hurt before I remembered I must continue my journey. At midday, I could feel my steps growing heavier, my energy waning. How would I ever make it to my destination? Suddenly, there was a brilliant flash of light—and a man materialized beside me. Stunned into silence, I gaped at Him while He smiled at me. This smile was the most genuine, kind smile I had ever seen. He spoke no words but simply placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “I can’t make the journey; it’s too much for me.” I don’t know why I shared this, but something in me told me I could place my trust in Him. He gestured to my cloak, and I noticed deep scars on His hands. “This cloak? Oh, I need it.” He looked straight into my eyes, and I saw the depth of His love for me. He held out His scarred hands and waited. Somehow I knew, without Him saying a word, that He would wait all day, all my life even. I knew that He would be here whenever I was ready. I pulled my cloak tighter around me and attempted another step, staggering under the weight. Tears shone in His eyes, brighter than any gem. In His eyes, I saw my past, present, and future. I saw every mistake I had ever made and how I broke His heart time and again. In spite of all the times I had offended Him, I saw the end result: He died for me. Those nail scars on His hands were because of me. Weeping, I fell to my knees and handed Him the heavy cloak. If He loves me enough to give His life for me and forgive all my offenses, the least I could do was give Him my life. “I don’t have much,” I whispered, “but I choose to give You my cloak of offenses. Help me fix my eyes on Your love instead." He pulled me to my feet and kept my hand in His. Together, we took a step. The air was still cold without my cloak, but His presence kept me warm. I was finally free. • Savannah Coleman • Many things can burden us. Our own sin can weigh us down and make moving forward seem impossible. We may feel like we don’t
READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12-16; GALATIANS 5:16-26; EPHESIANS 5:1-20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+CORINTHIANS+2%3A12-16%3B+GALATIANS+5%3A16-26%3B+EPHESIANS+5%3A1-20&version=NLT I’ve always had a sweet tooth. On one special occasion, this served as a great qualification for a unique job. My family and I had joined with others in our community for a fun-filled summer day, complete with a barbecue, picnic, games, and a dessert contest. I had been asked to arrive early and help judge the desserts. My mouth watered at the idea! Over one hundred people were there, and multiple people in each family submitted a dessert to be judged. I ate just a small amount of each sweet treat entered in the competition. But after dozens and dozens of cakes, cookies, and pies, I was too full for the barbecue. I skipped the meal because I’d eaten so many bites of dessert that I couldn’t hold anything else. That day, fulfilling my role as judge, I filled up on sweets and had no room for more nutritious food. In our spiritual lives, we’re invited to be filled as well—but with something more than sweets. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul writes, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.” When we put our trust in Jesus—believing in His life, death, and resurrection—our sins are forgiven, we become God’s children, and He sends His Spirit, who is God, to live in us. Isn’t that amazing? The Holy Spirit indwells all believers, comforting us and helping us understand God’s Word, know His love, follow His leading, and pray according to God’s will. Not only does God the Holy Spirit dwell inside followers of Jesus, He wants to fill us. Whatever fills us sets the direction for our choices and actions and leaves room for nothing else. When we have a relationship with God in His Son, we can choose to live filled with His Spirit. • Allison Wilson Lee • If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in us, or indwells us. Consider taking a moment to thank God for this amazing gift! (If you want to dig deeper, read more about the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-27; 15:26; Romans 5:5; 8:1-39;Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:7.) • We are called to pursue God first and foremost. When we do, all our other desires and pursuits find their right place in our hearts and in our lives. What are you tempted to pursue over God? • When we are yielding to the Spirit, we are empowered to follow God’s good ways, we can confess and turn away from sin, and we see the fruit the Spirit produces in our lives: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). What does a Spirit-filled life look like? (Hint: reread today’s Bible passages.) …be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)
READ: NEHEMIAH 8:8-12; PSALMS 16:9-11; 68:3-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=NEHEMIAH+8%3A8-12%3B+PSALMS+16%3A9-11%3B+68%3A3-6&version=NIV Some of us have grown up thinking that Christians are meant to be serious all of the time. It’s like we see a group of people having fun and laughing loudly and we think, “No, that’s not for us.” Some people are even hesitant to become Christians because they’re worried about all they would have to give up. They might wonder whether or not they would ever be allowed to be happy again. But the Bible doesn’t say Christians aren’t supposed to be happy. Instead, the Bible talks about joy and even happiness coming to those who follow God! For example, Psalm 68:3 says, “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” Who are the righteous? Well, apart from God, none of us are righteous, or sinless. But Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the grave so we could be counted righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). So, why shouldn’t we be happy? We have a God who loves us, who delights in us, and who is watching over us. As Christians, we have been saved from sin and death, and nothing will ever separate us from God’s love. And we have hope that one day Jesus will return to renew heaven and earth. We are going to live with Him forever in the most beautiful and perfect place. Hard times will come, and we will have days when we feel down about all that we are facing, but we don’t have to stay that way. When we start to feel happy again, we can lean into that. We can rejoice. We can have a good time! We don’t have to live our days acting completely serious and somber. Our faith is not a burden that is weighing us down. It’s a wonderful gift! When we know Jesus, we “are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel like God doesn’t want you to be happy? Why do you think that is? • God delights in His creation, and He invites us to delight with Him in all He has made! What are some of the things that make you happy—like your favorite foods, favorite music, favorite places, etc.? Consider taking a moment to thank God for these things! • If you feel like God may be calling you to give up something because it’s getting in the way of the abundant life He has for you (John 10:10), who is a trusted Christian mentor you could talk to about it? But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3 (NIV)
READ: EPHESIANS 6:18-20; PHILIPPIANS 2:12-16; 1 PETER 3:15-16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=EPHESIANS+6%3A18-20%3B+PHILIPPIANS+2%3A12-16%3B+1+PETER+3%3A15-16&version=NIV As Christians, we’re called to share the good news of Jesus with others. And this is a wonderful thing—it’s an honor to be entrusted with such a task. But have you ever been around somebody telling others about Jesus in a way that just doesn’t seem all that great? It might feel like this person is bragging because they know Jesus and others don’t. While it’s commendable to have the courage to speak up about Jesus, we should be careful to consider the way we witness to others. If people don’t even like to be around us, maybe our approach needs to change. In Matthew 5, Jesus tells His disciples, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (verse 14-16). A person’s witness—the way they share Jesus with others—can be like a floodlight shining in someone’s eyes, blinding them. On the other hand, a witness with a kind, gentle spirit is like a scented candle (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). As Christians, sometimes we’re tempted to be a floodlight in situations when a candle is needed. Think about it this way—imagine you walk into your friend’s home, and you’re greeted by the warm, calming scent of coconut. Even though the smell is coming from a candle, it makes you hungry for your favorite dessert: coconut cake. Just as a scented candle can make us hungry for the real thing, a gentle witness can make people hungry to know Jesus. When we consistently treat others the way Jesus would and gently tell them what He means to us, they can see the difference He’s made in our lives. Then they may decide they want to know Him too. So, how will you witness? Will you be like a floodlight, trying to shine God’s truth on people all at once? Or will you be like a scented candle, gently yet consistently pointing to Him in your words and actions? While there are times when a direct conversation with someone about Jesus is necessary, we should never do it with a know-it-all attitude. Instead, we can remember that we need Jesus just as much as anybody, and we can let our lives be filled with the aroma of His love and kindness so others will be hungry to know Him too. • A. W. Smith • Think about how you came to know Jesus. Were there any people who were like scented candles in your life? What did they do or say that was helpful? • Consider taking some time to reread today’s Bible passages and write down what sticks out to you about how we’re called to share the good news. (More about this good news on our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page.) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
READ: LAMENTATIONS 3:19-22; ROMANS 12:15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=LAMENTATIONS+3%3A19-22%3B+ROMANS+12%3A15&version=CSB Have you ever heard of lament? In Christianity, lament is the practice of telling God about your hurts, anger, and disappointments—and asking Him to do something about it. Sometimes we find it hard to lament something we have lost. We tend to prefer laughter to crying, joy to anxiety, celebration to nostalgia, and happiness to mourning. Anxiety, sadness, anger, and nostalgia are part of the spectrum of human experiences and therefore normal to every human. They must be embraced, not avoided. I don’t know why we have the idea that following the God who gives joy means that we cannot experience sadness, anger, or anxiety. Sometimes, we feel pressured to be happy all the time even when the Bible teaches that weeping, lamenting, and mourning are regular experiences for those who follow Jesus. In fact, Paul encourages us to “weep with those who weep,” not to command them to feel well (Romans 12:15). Instead of shunning uncomfortable emotions, we can normalize saying things like “I’m angry,” “I’m hurt,” “I need time to process,” or “I’d like to talk to someone.” God enables us to embrace uncomfortable emotions. Jesus Himself experienced uncomfortable emotions like anxiety, grief, and sadness (Luke 22:44; John 11:33-35). He invites us to process all our feelings with Him, trusting in His unfailing love. And even when we don’t have words, He laments for us, on our behalf. In the midst of grief, sadness, and anxiety, the first step to regaining hope is to allow ourselves to recognize these emotions. Some other things we can do to help process difficult emotions are: • Talk to someone. Friends, family, and health professionals can be of great help. • Recognize and accept that you are going to have bad days. The faster you recognize it, the more comfortable you’ll feel with it. It’s okay to not be okay. • Don’t try to move on to the next thing. Listen to your emotions; they’re trying to talk to you and give you important information about how you’re doing. As you do these things, bring your feelings to Jesus in lament. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but tell Him how angry, sad, disappointed, or hurt you are. God is not afraid or ashamed of your feelings, and you don’t have to be either. Let’s embrace lament, it’s normal. • Samir Eljagh • What do you need to lament right now? If you’re ready, you can write your own lament. For some ideas about where to start, you can read Psalm 13, Psalm 88, and Psalm 102. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (CSB)
READ: PSALM 51; REVELATION 21:1-5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM+51%3B+REVELATION+21%3A1-5&version=NIV God can make all things new. That’s what the Bible tells us. It’s easy to believe, too, when it’s spring and everything is changing in the world around us. But it can be harder to see in fall and winter, when trees start to lose their leaves. The whole world becomes a bit barren. Everything looks gloomy and gray. But then the weather starts to warm a bit; little signs of spring and life appear. Buds pop up on the trees. Flowers push up from the ground. The grass starts to brighten. Spring comes, and suddenly the world is beautiful again. Everything is new. That’s what God can do in our lives. He can make us fresh and bright and new. He can take us from any dark and wintery place and help us see spring again. God can renew our lives, even though we have all sinned and made mistakes. One example is in Psalm 51. David wrote this psalm after he repented of his sin—using his position as king of Israel to have sex with Bathsheba and then have her husband killed. David had been in a season of darkness and despair, lost in his sin, but after the prophet Nathan confronted him, David trusted God to cleanse him of his sin and make him new again (2 Samuel 11-12). We can also see God’s renewal in the life of Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament. Before Paul knew Jesus, he killed and persecuted Christians. Then one day, God met him on the road with a bright light and transformed him and made him new by the power of Jesus’s death and resurrection (Acts 9:1-31). God loves us, and He can take anything and make it new. When you feel in need of spring in your life, you can ask Him to help you find it. • Bethany Acker • Where do you need renewal in your life? A painful situation, a persistent sin, a broken relationship? You can bring all of these to Jesus in prayer, asking for new life. He loves you, and He is listening. • Because of Jesus, any sin can be forgiven, and any life can be made new. And when Jesus returns, He will establish the new heavens and the new earth—then sin and death and suffering will be no more, and everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live with Him forever! How can observing the spring season help us remember Jesus’s bountiful forgiveness and look forward to His glorious return? He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5a (NIV)
READ: GENESIS 1:20-31; ISAIAH 11:6-9; ROMANS 8:18-25 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS+1%3A20-31%3B+ISAIAH+11%3A6-9%3B+ROMANS+8%3A18-25&version=NLT How do you feel about spiders? Many people have strong opinions about these web-making creatures. They often inspire fear or disgust. But the reality is, although some spiders’ venom can cause pain or illness to humans, most spiders are harmless to large beings like us. In fact, there are a lot of things we can appreciate about spiders. They construct beautiful webs of silvery strands connected to make a lacy pattern, which sparkle with dew drops in the morning sun. They also do some important pest control because their diet includes insects. We can be thankful that the presence of spiders means there will be fewer bugs that can sting or bite us, or eat the plants we rely on for food, or carry diseases that could be spread to humans or animals. Spiders have a purpose, just like all the other animals, plants, etc. we find in our world. God made everything good. But when sin came into the world, it changed things. All that God made good was bound to death and decay (Romans 8:21). That’s why now there are bugs that can bite or sting us and diseases that make us sick. But it will not always be this way, because Jesus came into our broken world, and He faced death head on—for us. He died for our sins, and then He rose from the grave, declaring victory over sin and all its effects, including death and decay. One day, Jesus will return and make all things new, and everything that has been warped by sin will be made right again. Then spiders won’t be scary to us anymore, and “there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). On that glorious day, “the baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy” (Isaiah 11:8-9). So, think about the creatures you’re unsure of. How might they play an important part in God’s world? When we take the time to notice how everything is good for something, it can help us marvel at the greatness of God and all He has made. We can rest in God’s role as Creator and in His promise to one day restore all His creation to the way He intended it to be. • A. W. Smith • What is your favorite creature? What about your least favorite? What good might these creatures bring to the world? Consider taking a moment to thank God for that good work and for His promise to one day make all things new, free from sin and death. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Genesis 1:31a (NLT)
READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 2:12-17 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+CORINTHIANS+2%3A12-17&version=NIV A child and a spoil of war. Forced to live with the enemy, far from home. Then, as a young woman, a war prize again, forced to serve the nation’s most powerful leader. Finally, exiled to an island for her Christian faith. This was the life of Julia Ota, who lived over four hundred years ago. Japanese warriors invaded her Korean home and swept her back to Japan, an unjust and tragic event, especially for a child. But Julia also grew up experiencing God’s blessing, goodness, and transforming love. In Japan, an influential Christian general and his wife raised her as their own. She was baptized and named Julia. Life changed again for Julia, however, when Tokugawa Ieyasu won a decisive battle, became Shogun, and executed the Christian general. Julia became the Shogun’s lady-in-waiting. When she was faced with an ultimatum, Julia refused to deny Christ, who loved her and had sacrificed Himself and been raised for her. So, the Shogun exiled her to the Izu Islands. On the islands, she cared for those who were weak, sick, or in need of encouragement. Like a beautiful flower, Julia’s love for Christ spread a healing fragrance of joy and hope everywhere she went. Her charity and evangelism are still remembered in Japan and Korea today with various memorials and even an annual festival! How amazing is it that Jesus is at work even in the worst of circumstances? • Sonja Anderson • As Christians, when we go through terrible circumstances in our lives, we can know that Jesus Christ holds us through it all and He is working for our good (Romans 8:28-29, 35-39). How might this truth embolden us to share His goodness with others, even in the midst of hardship? • Has anyone in your life shared Jesus’s joy, hope, and healing with you? What was it like? • Is there anyone in your life who might need the fragrance of Jesus’s joy, hope, and healing in their life? Consider spending sometime in prayer, asking God how you might spread the love and knowledge of Christ to that person. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)
READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; PSALM 139:12-16; ISAIAH 64:8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS+1%3A26-31%3B+PSALM+139%3A12-16%3B+ISAIAH+64%3A8&version=NIV When you look at yourself in a mirror, what do you think? Maybe you like who you are, or maybe you’re critical of yourself. Either way, God shows us the right way of seeing ourselves in His Word. In Psalm 139:13-14, King David pondered how the Lord created us. He said: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” The Lord created YOU! When He made you, He thought of you and created you as a marvelous work. Isn’t it amazing to think that you are “wonderfully made”? You’re not just an work, but a work. And, because God is everywhere, He was present even when you were still in your mother’s womb, and He will continue to be present throughout the rest of your life. Not only did God create you, He longs to be with you. That’s why Jesus—God in human flesh—died and rose again to make the way for you to be in close relationship with Him. Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You can take comfort in the fact that this all-loving God is the same One who created you as a wonderful and beautiful being. The next time you look in the mirror and are tempted to criticize yourself, you can remember that the Lord lovingly formed every bit of you and created you as a marvelous work. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of all things, and you are the work of His hands. • Lydia Lancie • Isn’t it amazing to think that God made each of us as a marvelous work? Yet, it’s easy to forget this truth as we go about our daily lives. One way you could remind yourself is by writing down a verse about how God created you and sticking it on your mirror, your locker, or somewhere else you’ll see it often. Does one of today’s verses resonate with you in particular? • When you create something you’re proud of, how do you feel? How do you think God feels about making you? I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
READ: PSALM 46; MARK 4:35-41 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM+46%3B+MARK+4%3A35-41&version=CSB Have you ever heard the meteorological term It’s an unusually large storm cell, and its clouds form the shape of a huge anvil. This kind of weather system has separate updrafts and downdrafts, and it produces severe wind and thunderstorms, large hail, and even tornadoes. A supercell can be a good analogy for what it feels like to have a panic attack. It begins as a gentle breeze in the corner of your mind. “What if…?” Soon, though, it picks up velocity and force and begins to spin out of control, growing larger with each worse-case scenario imagined. The panic takes your breath away and causes your heart to pound as it rips through your mind, leaving you torn and broken, your peace and hope in shambles. A panic attack is just as real and scary to the person having it as a tornado is to those in its path. Although the damage isn’t always visible, it can be as devastating as a violent storm. If you’ve experienced debilitating anxiety or a panic attack, you know that it feels like the world is spinning out of control. Fear can be coupled with physical symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, or even chest pain. But aren’t Christians supposed to be protected from such things? Doesn’t the Bible say over and over, “Don’t be afraid”? True, God does give us His protection, His comfort, and His presence, but that doesn’t mean Christians are immune to the brokenness in the world, including anxiety and panic attacks. So how can we find shelter from the winds of worry and fear? The God who made the world and saw that it was good is the same God who came to live among us after that world was broken by sin (Genesis 1:31; John 1:14). He is the same God who was with His disciples in the storm-tossed boat. He stilled the winds, and He says, “I will never leave you or abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). He died and rose again for us, and He promises to return one day and make all things new—free from sin and its effects, including anxiety and panic attacks. In the meantime, He offers healing in Himself but also by the gifts He has given through medicine and counseling. If anxiety and panic are blowing your calm to bits, know that you are not alone. This doesn’t make you a “bad Christian,” and it doesn’t mean you don’t have true faith. God is with you, even in the middle of your storm. • Mary Rozendal • Have you experienced anxiety or panic attacks? Sadly, in our world that is broken by sin, many people experience these things at some point in their lives, and this is nothing to be ashamed of. Instead of hiding our pain, God invites us to be honest with Him and with people we trust so we can experience healing.* • The American Psychological Association describes panic attacks this way: “a sudden onset of intense apprehension and fearfulness in the absence of actual danger, accompanied by the presence of such physical symptoms as heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, chest pain or discomfort, choking or smothering sensations, sweating, and dizziness. The attack occurs in a discrete period of time and often involves fears of going crazy, losing control, or dying” (dictionary.apa.org/panic-attack http://dictionary.apa.org/panic-attack). A panic attack might follow troubling thoughts or begin during a stressful situation, or it might happen unexpectedly. And panic attacks are not necessarily caused by anxiety; sometimes they are a result of treatable medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism. While having or witnessing a panic attack can be frightening, God is right there with us, grieving our hurts alongside us and holding us securely in His love (Romans 8:3
READ: GENESIS 2:1-3; MATTHEW 11:28–12:13; LUKE 5:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS+2%3A1-3%3B+MATTHEW+11%3A28–12%3A13%3B+LUKE+5%3A16&version=NLT Are you running on empty? Are you overburdened with clubs, hobbies, schoolwork, sports, church activities, part-time jobs, or other commitments? In our fast-paced world, it can be easy to say “yes” to too many things and fill our lives so full, there’s no room left for rest. The following might be signs you need to take a step back and take some time to be refreshed. IRRITABILITY: When we’re overloaded, we often feel tired, frustrated, and impatient. The smallest things become hugely annoying, like an offhanded remark, a person’s mannerisms or quirks, a chatty friend or sibling when you want to concentrate, etc. So, if you find yourself losing your temper over things that normally wouldn’t bother you, this might be an indicator you’re running on empty. FEELING OVERWHELMED AND EXHAUSTED: Are the hobbies, social events, work, and other things you normally enjoy starting to lose their excitement, instead sparking a sense of dread as you wonder how you can possibly manage your time? Do you find your mood changes rapidly and you are more sensitive than usual? Do you need to rely on adrenaline to motivate you? The problem with living this way is, when we do stop and take a break, we find ourselves needing lots of rest because we have burned ourselves out. PHYSICAL ACHES AND PAINS: When we are swamped with a hectic schedule, it can take a toll on our bodies. Headaches, fatigue, and being more susceptible to colds and other bugs can be indicators that we are rundown. What can you do? Remember, even Jesus needed time to rest (John 4:6). He preached to crowds and healed countless people, but at times He needed a solitary place to recuperate. God the Son would make time to be alone with His Father. In the same way, we need moments when we can relax and hand over our burdens to Jesus, whether that looks like taking a walk outdoors, sitting quietly and meditating on Scripture, or even just taking some deep breaths. Remember, you are important to God. When we take time to rest, it can be an opportunity to remember that Jesus has already done the work of saving us, and there’s nothing we need to do to earn His love. • Cindy Lee • How could you prioritize rest? Is there anything in your schedule that needs to change? Who is a trusted Christian who could help you discern God’s guidance in how to use your time wisely? Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
READ: JOHN 15:1-17; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-11; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN+15%3A1-17%3B+1+CORINTHIANS+3%3A5-11%3B+PHILIPPIANS+2%3A1-13&version=NLT If you’ve been part of a church, you’ve probably been told that, as Christians, we are called to serve others, help the hurting, and bring about justice (Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:35-40). That’s part of how we participate in the kingdom of God. And we also know that Jesus will return to right every wrong, make all things new, and get rid of sin and death forever. So, if we know that Jesus is going to come fix everything, why do we bother to do anything? This is a question I’ve bumped into in my walk with Jesus. It’s true that if I did nothing but sit twiddling my thumbs all day, Jesus’s plan to return and restore all of creation would not be thwarted in the slightest. But I think this mindset misses the point of the gospel. When we put our trust in Jesus, His Spirit dwells within us and transforms our hearts in ways that compel us to serve (Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 5:5; Philippians 2:13). When God shows us how deeply He loves us, we can’t help but love others. When He shows us how utterly good He is, we want others to experience that goodness. When He shows us the things that break His heart, our hearts break, too. When we realize how He has served us, we are drawn to serve others. When we’ve experienced the power of the gospel—that Jesus, out of His great love for us, died on the cross and rose again from the dead, and that He desires for His people and His creation to be made whole—that power takes root in us. It shapes our desires into God’s desires. And that desire moves us to action. So, through the power of the gospel, we can serve others out of love, hope, and peace. Not out of anxiety that things won’t get done, or fear that we’d better serve or we’ll get in trouble, or shame for not living up to certain expectations, but out of an overflowing of God’s love and a deep desire to see His goodness on display. Until the day we die or Jesus returns, we can serve because, from the very core of our being, we want to. Because Jesus and the wholeness He brings is just too good to keep to ourselves. • Taylor Eising • When have you felt a desire to serve others? What was that like? • How can knowing Jesus’s love for us compel us to share that love with others? We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:19 (NLT)
READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; ROMANS 3:23-24; 5:6-11; COLOSSIANS 1:12-14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW+11%3A28-30%3B+ROMANS+3%3A23-24%3B+5%3A6-11%3B+COLOSSIANS+1%3A12-14&version=NIV I’ve decided to begin looking for a house. Prices are coming down a little, and I have a good chunk of money in savings. It just feels like the right time. My parents explained the best next step would be to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. This will let me know how much I can spend. So, I called the bank down the road to start the process. They directed me to fill out an online application, and I immediately began working on it. It was extensive. There were so many tabs and little boxes to complete. The final section was likely the scariest—my employment history. It reminded me of filing my taxes. And, just like filing my taxes, I was terrified of making mistakes. Would the bank disqualify me? Would I be good enough? Did I make enough? Suddenly every coffee, every bag of chocolate-covered peanuts, every pack of fake nails I’ve ever bought played in my head. Had I even saved enough? That fear made me reluctant to even finish the application. As I considered this, I thought of how people often don’t come to Christ because they feel like they have to get themselves together first. They think they have to get back on the right track and get everything right before God will even accept them. But this isn’t true. Unlike my loan that I have to “qualify” for, there is no qualifying for God. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Christ meets us where we are. He paid our debt. We don’t have to tally it all up for Him. We don’t have to hurry and walk old ladies across the street or serve in fifteen countries before God will be willing to “consider our application.” The only thing we need to do is come to Him. • Natty Maelle • Do you ever feel like you have to “get yourself together” before you can go to God? Why do you think that is? (For more about how to have a relationship with God, see our "Know Jesus https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/" page.) • When was the last time you talked through your heart with Jesus? Consider taking sometime today to tell Him everything. Your hurts. Your sins. Your anger. And allow the Holy Spirit to speak into that moment. • Have you heard this message before but still just don’t believe it? That’s okay. You can do a few things from here. First, you can reach out to trusted believers in your life and talk to them. But also, just take sometime and talk to God about it. He wants us to question and grow. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
