Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: ROMANS 8:1, 31-39; 1 JOHN 1:8–2:2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROMANS%208%3A1%2C%2031-39%3B%201%20JOHN%201%3A8%E2%80%932%3A2&version=NLT] Have you ever felt like your sin could never be forgiven? Like what you did is surely too much for God to handle? Or, even if God could forgive you, it seems like it wouldn’t be fair or right, so you think you should sit in your guilt and shame a little longer to even the scales? I think we’ve all been there. Satan loves to push us into our sin and away from God, insisting that we are too bad for Him, too gross, or too broken. But all of these are lies from the pits of hell. The next time Satan is trying to keep you stuck in your guilt and shame, ask yourself this question: Is God just? It might seem odd, but it’s a vital question in these moments. Because, friend, if you know Jesus, it would actually be unjust for God to not forgive you. The first time I heard my Bible professor talk about this, it blew my mind. We might think that, because God is just and He can’t tolerate sin, it would be more just for Him to leave us unforgiven. But that’s not the whole story. God loves us and wants to be with us, so He sent Jesus, whose death and resurrection paid for all of our sin. If we’ve put our trust in Him, our debt has been covered. Our punishment has been taken. So would it be just for God to make us pay a debt that’s already been paid? Would it be just for us to take a punishment that’s already been taken? We don’t deserve forgiveness. But because of what Jesus has done, if God didn’t forgive the sins of believers, He wouldn’t be just. And it’s impossible for God not to be just because He is the very definition of justice. That’s why 1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” God’s forgiveness of our sins is part of His justice. It can’t be removed from Him. Jesus’s sacrifice cannot be undone or forgotten. God’s forgiveness is not dependent on you or what you have done or how guilty you feel. It’s dependent on Him—His unchanging love and perfect justice, which was satisfied on the cross. So, when you feel stuck in guilt and shame, when you feel unforgivable, don’t stare at yourself and your sin. Look up at God and His justice. Look up at Jesus and His sacrifice. God will be just and forgive. You are not the exception. You are freely forgiven and fully loved. • Taylor Eising • Do you ever feel unforgivable? Consider spending some time talking with Jesus in prayer, confessing any sins that come to mind and resting in His sure forgiveness. In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you that God has forgiven you? So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT)

READ: 1 SAMUEL 17; 2 KINGS 6:8-23; EPHESIANS 6:12 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20SAMUEL%2017%3B%202%20KINGS%206%3A8-23%3B%20EPHESIANS%206%3A12&version=CSB] One name for God found in the Old Testament is Yahweh Sabaoth, which means Lord of Hosts or Lord of Armies (sometimes translated “Lord Almighty”). This name shows us a side of God that I don’t always think about. This is the God who fights and wins for us. And this name of God reminds us that He has already won the battle. In 1 Samuel 17, when the Israelites faced the mighty foe Goliath, God is called Yahweh Sabaoth. God had already determined the victory—now it was time for the young shepherd boy named David to step out in faith and win the battle with just a stone and a sling. Another instance where we see how God is the Lord of Hosts is in 2 Kings 6. The servant of the prophet Elisha had doubts about an upcoming battle. The army of Aram looked fearsome, but Elisha prayed to the Lord of Hosts, and his servant’s eyes were opened to see that they were surrounded by God’s army. Then, God struck the Aramean army with blindness and brought peace. The name Lord of Hosts reminds us that God is the ruler of the hosts of heavenly armies and His kingdom is the eternal kingdom. It reminds us that Jesus is the final Victor who will one day bring full and final justice to the rebellions of sin. Jesus has already won the battle over sin and death by His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead. He made the way for us to be forgiven of sin and live in restored relationship with Him. He fought that battle because God loves us—He freed us from our captivity to sin! Jesus’s victory over sin and death shows that He is the ultimate victor and leader—the Lord of Hosts. Hallelujah! So when you’re facing an upcoming battle or conflict, remember that God doesn’t ask you to be the best fighter, or arguer, or the most clever person in the room. Instead, we can trust that He is the Lord of Hosts, and He already holds the ultimate victory. • Naomi Zylstra • If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, then no matter what battle or conflict we’re facing, we can know that the Lord of Armies goes with us. This doesn’t necessarily mean we will “win” from our perspective, but it does mean that, because Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death, God and all His armies are fighting on our behalf for our good and for God’s glory (Romans 8:28-29). And someday, we’ll see that goodness and glory on full display when Jesus returns. How can this truth affect the way we face conflicts in our own lives? (Exodus 14:14; Joshua 1:9) David said to the Philistine [Goliath], “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:45 (CSB)

READ: JOHN 15:1-8 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%2015%3A1-8&version=NIV] A friend of mine trained as a physical therapist. So when my shoulders are tense and give me headaches, I’ll go sit on her living room floor in front of her couch while she massages my shoulders. And it HURTS. She feels my neck and back to locate the places that are tense or out of whack. Then she bears down, patiently coaxing the muscle back to its proper state, sometimes bending my arms in uncomfortable directions, all while compassionately saying, “I know, I’m sorry it hurts,” as I cringe and wince. But my friend loves me, and I can trust her. If I tense up and fight the good work she’s doing, she gently reminds me to take a deep breath and relax. All that discomfort is worth it, because afterwards my shoulders and neck can move freely without pain. It reminds me of my spiritual life. Sometimes a habitual sin, a persistent lie, or a broken situation will hurt my heart. I’ll try to work around the pain, accommodating it or distracting myself from it as it grows and grows until I finally bring my pain to Jesus to work through it. Often, the process of dealing with that spiritual pain is uncomfortable. I feel like I’m sitting on my friend’s living room floor while Jesus shows me the areas of my heart that are tense or out of whack. Then He bears down on the problem, patiently coaxing my heart back to its proper state, sometimes bending it in uncomfortable directions, all while compassionately saying, “I know, I’m sorry it hurts,” as I cringe and wince. But Jesus loves me, and I can trust Him. When I tense up and try to fight the good work He’s doing, He gently reminds me to relax. I know it’s worth the discomfort if it means I get to walk in freedom, knowing His love more deeply and showing His love to others more readily. It often hurts when Jesus addresses things in our hearts we’ve been trying to avoid. Sometimes we’d rather just try to get by, pretending the achy pain in our heart isn’t there. But Jesus wants something more for us. He wants us to work through the pain, even though it can be intense, so that we can be free from the aches and mobility limitations of a muscle that’s too tight. While we’ll never be fully healed in this lifetime, He invites us to come sit on the living room floor and receive His healing—daily, hourly depending on His work to set us free. • Taylor Eising • Have you ever felt like God was working out something uncomfortable in you? He uses many things— interacting with the Holy Spirit in prayer, reading His Word, and being with His people. Consider spending some time asking God to show you any areas He wants to bring healing to. LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. Psalm 30:2 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; LUKE 10:38-42 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%2011%3A28-30%3B%20LUKE%2010%3A38-42&version=NIV] My stomach churned looking at my to-do list: Send out graduation announcements, study for final exams, review college prerequisite requirements, create an RSVP list for graduation parties...The list seemed to go on and on. I closed my eyes hoping that the pit in my stomach would go away, but the more I thought about the list, the worse I felt. I thought the days leading up to graduation were supposed to be fun and carefree, but here I was with a to-do list longer than I could have imagined. How was I going to complete every task? I tried putting together a plan, but nothing seemed to shake away the nerves. It wasn’t until I opened my Bible and read Luke 10:38-42 that I received the answer I was seeking. In this Bible passage, Jesus and His disciples are visiting the town of Bethany, where a woman named Martha opens her home to Him. Martha’s sister Mary is there, and while Mary is sitting at the Lord’s feet listening to Him, Martha is distracted by her to-do list. Martha becomes overwhelmed with all the preparations, and she comes to Jesus frustrated that her sister is not helping her. Jesus replies, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (verse 41-42). I realized that, like Martha, I was so distracted by my to-do list that I forgot to spend time with the Lord. So I decided to pray about my list and set aside dedicated time to read the Word of God. In the final days leading up to graduation, I truly felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Whenever we are feeling anxious and overwhelmed with to-do lists and decisions about the future, Jesus always invites us to come to Him and rest. • Joy Jones • What are a few things that have been weighing on you lately? Maybe it’s items on your to-do list, or decisions about your future, or something else entirely. Consider taking some time to give these to Jesus in prayer. It can be hard to trust Him with the things we care about, but remember, He went to the cross for you because He loves you and wants to carry every burden for you. • Especially in busy seasons of life, it’s hard to prioritize spending intentional time with God. Yet praying and being in God’s Word, both together and with fellow Christians, are vital to the Christian life. What are some practical ways you can set aside time with Jesus this week? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 1:1-5; 8:12; COLOSSIANS 1:9-14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%201%3A1-5%3B%208%3A12%3B%20COLOSSIANS%201%3A9-14&version=NLT] "Look for the light.” Marcos stumbled over a tree root in the path and wondered how his brother Thiago had made it seem so easy. Here in the forest, in the darkness of the cloudy night, there wasn’t any light to be had. But Thiago had said that even here it was possible to see, for the Master said the light was always available to His people. Marcos took a deep breath and said it out loud. “Look for the light.” An owl hooted above his head, and he glanced up into the night sky. “I’m looking for the light!” he exclaimed in a whisper. No need to let any creatures larger than the owl find him there. For what seemed like forever, he turned slowly in the dark, listening and looking for any help. There! At first he thought he was imagining things. But now he could see it clearly—just a few yards away was a moonflower. And shortly beyond its glow was another. As plain as they were during the day, moonflowers collected sunlight. Then at night, they could glow in the dark! There was nothing for Marcos to do but follow the flowers. It would be foolish not to. As quietly as possible, Marcos tiptoed across the forest floor to the first moonflower, and then stepped the distance to the one beyond it. Not far from that flower, another one glowed, and beyond that still more, making up what seemed like a clear path. Then he realized, he shouldn’t have been surprised. He had become so overwhelmed when he got lost, he’d forgotten the very basics of being a citizen of the Great Kingdom. It was law here to plant moonflowers beside the path. In the daylight there was nothing very special about them, but now he understood the flowers were there to help citizens like him keep to the path, even in the darkest places. It was not long before he found home. “You forgot the firewood!” Thiago called as he opened the door. “I got lost,” Marcos said, out of breath. Thiago clasped his younger brother’s shoulder. “Are you alright?” Marcos nodded. “The Master helped me follow the light.” • Abbi Bloem • As you read the passages that inspired today’s allegorical story, what sticks out to you? Even in the darkest places, Jesus is our light. He saved us from darkness by His own death and resurrection, and now He is always with us, and He guides us through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. What are some ways you can look for His light when it feels like night has fallen? • Even just a little bit of light can shine a long way in the darkness. What are some things you can do to point someone to Jesus when they really need it? Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NLT)