Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

The Greatest Story Ever Told

READ: PSALM 78:1-4; JOHN 1:1-14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2078%3A1-4%3B%20JOHN%201%3A1-14&version=CSB] Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and been completely blown away? A story with characters who face the same struggles as you, a hero you can cheer for, and a rescue story that grips you from start to finish? Sometimes we find it hard to see the Bible the way we see any other story. We lose sight of the fact that it has all the elements of the stories we love: action, romance, poetry, stirring speeches, and words that inspire us. But here’s the amazing part: the Bible is one, real story—all about Jesus. The Bible starts its true story at the very beginning, setting up the scene. Creation: a perfect world. But then conflict arises. We rebel against God, and the story takes a bad turn. But the moment this tragedy happens, a hero is promised. God has an incredible rescue plan from the start—a plan He continues to fulfill across generations, never giving up. Jesus is that perfect hero. He comes and lives among us, fully God and yet also fully human. In the climax, He faces evil by dying on the cross, and, when we think our hope is lost, He has ultimate victory against all odds by rising from the grave, ascending into heaven as the true King, and promising to continue the work He started…and to finish it when He returns. But, even though we are still living in unresolved conflict today—still struggling with sin and the brokenness it causes—we are living in the “declining action.” In plot terms, that means the end is written. It means we know who comes out victorious in the end: Jesus is returning to execute justice and make all things new (John 5:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 21:1-5). The best part: the Bible is a true story, and in Christ, we’re an important part of it. If your trust is in Jesus, you are a part of God’s final, eternal victory too. So when life seems boring, pointless, or difficult, you can trust God is writing something beautiful. And He invites you to be part of the good things He is doing! Remember, He has promised to work His good kingdom purposes through everything—and to always stay by your side (Romans 8:28-38). • Abby Ciona • What is one of your favorite stories? What do you love about it? • Have you ever thought of the Bible as an amazing, unified story? If you want to learn more about the true story of the Bible—and how you can be part of it—check out our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (CSB)

Fully Known

READ: PSALM 139; LUKE 12:6-7; ROMANS 5:6-11 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%20139%3B%20LUKE%2012%3A6-7%3B%20ROMANS%205%3A6-11&version=NIV] Recently, a friend told me I walk really loudly. My other friends heartily agreed: they could always tell when it was me walking because my steps were so loud. To be honest, I was caught off guard and a little embarrassed. I’d gone twenty-two years of my life without knowing about my noisy walk. Even though I thought I knew myself well, here was a fact I was totally oblivious to. The whole thing got me thinking though. However much my friends know about me, God knows so much more. God knows the things I know about myself—like how much I enjoy chocolate or that I love dogs (even though I’m allergic). But God also knows the things about me that I don’t know. He even knows things about me that only He—as my Creator and Savior—knows. He knows my victories and my failures better than myself or anyone else (Psalm 19:12; Romans 8:26-27). This knowing makes Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross all the more extraordinary. It wasn’t a sacrifice for a stranger. Jesus’s death and resurrection was for someone fully known. In His love, He died for me, even when I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8). Because I’ve put my trust in Him, I can rest in the truth that I am fully known and deeply loved. • Naomi Zylstra • How well do you think your friends and family know you? • When was the last time you learned something new about yourself? Did it change anything? • How might remembering that God knows us completely help us rest in the truth that He loves us completely? [Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep.” John 10:14 (NIV)

Even More

READ: LUKE 5:2-11; EPHESIANS 1:1-23; 3:14-21; 2 PETER 1:3 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=LUKE%205%3A2-11%3B%20EPHESIANS%201%3A1-23%3B%203%3A14-21%3B%202%20PETER%201%3A3&version=NIV] Once again, I was enjoying one of the several state parks near me. I had been coming here for the past ten years, and I always stopped at the front because the channel was so beautiful, the beach was gorgeous, people were paddle boarding on the lake…what more could you want? I didn’t realize until today, when I took the road deeper in, that the park is so much bigger, so much more than I could have ever imagined. This whole time, the park was just waiting for me to explore more, but I had been satisfied with the limited space I knew. I began to think about how similar this is to our relationship with God. In Christ, we have been given all His riches, all the fullness of His glory in Christ Jesus. In Paul’s letter to God’s faithful people in Ephesus, he begins by reminding them, along with all of us who know Jesus, of the blessings we have as children of God. We are lovingly chosen and adopted by God (Ephesians 1:4-6, 11). We have redemption through the blood of Jesus and forgiveness for our sins, according to the riches of His grace (verse 7). We have wisdom and understanding about the will of God in Christ (verse 8). We were created for the praise of His glory (verse 12, 14). We have the Holy Spirit as our helper and counselor as we wait for Christ’s return, reminding us that we belong to God (verse 13-14). This is what we have as children of God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose again to save us, a whole new world is open to us! But how often are we, how often am I, satisfied with just a taste of life with Him? I could go so much deeper in my walk with God! I could experience His presence on infinitely deeper levels than I am now. Let’s dive into the depths of God and explore all these riches we have in Him, instead of being satisfied with just a glimpse. • Savannah Coleman • Can you think of a time you took a step deeper into your relationship with God? What was that like? • In what ways would you like to go even deeper in your walk with Jesus? Maybe you’d like to read the Bible more often, or understand more of its context, or pray more intimately, or serve more courageously. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can come alongside you on the journey? I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

The Rescue

READ: PSALMS 34:17-32; 91:1-16; MATTHEW 14:25-31 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALMS%2034%3A17-32%3B%2091%3A1-16%3B%20MATTHEW%2014%3A25-31&version=NIV] The zipline course extended across seven platforms high above the jungle of Mexico. Halfway between the fourth and fifth platforms, I slid to a halt. I looked down at the ground seventy feet below. I looked up to see that one of my two clips was broken. I dangled there until a worker on the platform clipped his harness to the wire, hung upside down, and climbed hand over hand and foot over foot out to me. He snapped his clip onto mine and crawled to the next platform, dragging me to safety. Ziplining was great until suddenly I was dangling over a looming disaster. I wonder if that’s what Peter felt like when he tried walking on water. Things were fantastic until he took his eyes off Jesus, focused on the wind and waves, and found himself sinking. Has there been a time when you felt like you were about to fall or sink? When things are difficult, it’s easy to focus on our circumstances. But Jesus invites us to keep our eyes on Him. After all, the greatest rescue of all comes from Him. We have sinned and wandered far from God. But Jesus loves us so much that He lived, died, and was resurrected to make the way for us to be forgiven and enjoy eternal life with Him. When we receive His gift of forgiveness, we are made right in God’s eyes and rescued from condemnation. Now that’s a great rescue! Because of the Lord’s great love, He will always rescue us. It might be someone crawling along a zipline wire to bring you to safety. It could be a friend comforting you in a time of need. Jesus reached out and took Peter’s hand when he was sinking. He will hold firmly to us also. He will bring us safely into His kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). We won’t fall. • Mary Schilling • Can you think of a time you felt like you were dangling above disaster? God can be trusted to save us from sin and death, and He can also be trusted to help us in difficult situations. His help might not be what we expect, but we can know that He is always with us and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Consider asking Him for help with whatever you need today. • Can you think of a time you struggled to trust God? This is perfectly normal, and we can talk to God about it anytime. He invites us to be totally honest with Him. In addition to talking to God, who is a trusted Christian you can talk to, such as a parent, pastor, youth leader, or friend? • If you want to dig deeper into how God rescues us, read Psalms 18:19; 37:39; Revelation 21:1-5. And if you want to know more about His ultimate rescue through Jesus, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22 (NIV)

More Than the Sparrows

READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34; 1 PETER 5:7 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%206%3A25-34%3B%201%20PETER%205%3A7&version=CSB] What will you do after you graduate? If Destiny heard those words one more time… She rubbed her forehead with tired fingertips. As the computer loaded yet another search for college options, Destiny groaned. If only she knew which way to choose. “Dessi!” The back door slammed, and a set of pigtails peeked around the corner. “What do you want, Laila?” Destiny said as she began clicking results. “Come and swing,” Laila said. “You’ve been on there all day.” Destiny paused, her fingers hovering above the keyboard. The thought of researching another college made her want to gag. She relented. “Let’s go.” Both girls darted from the house, bursting out the door and into the warm sunshine. Destiny followed Laila to the big oak tree with the homemade swing. Fresh air filled her lungs and washed the heated flush from her cheeks as she gave her little sister a shove. Laila soared into the air. Just then, a flutter at the base of the tree caught Destiny’s eye. She glanced down to see a featherless baby bird huddled in the grass. “Laila, look at this,” she said, crouching to take the tiny bird into her palm. “Oh.” Laila stopped swinging. “Is it lost?” Destiny spotted an empty nest in the branches above her. “Let’s get it home.” She slipped the baby bird into the pocket of her sweatshirt, then scrambled up the tree and placed the baby bird inside the nest. “Right where it belongs,” said Destiny as they watched the mother bird arrive, caring for her baby in a flutter of wings. If God cares for the birds, Destiny thought, He cares about what happens to me too. I’m not alone in all these decisions. Jesus will place me right where I belong. • Anita Seavey • Can you think of a time you felt worried about your future? God cares about everything we’re going through, and He invites us to ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5; 3:13-18). Consider taking a moment to talk to God about anything that’s weighing on you today—and maybe go outside too! • In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern God’s guidance—people whose lives show the kind of wisdom described in James 3:13-18? [Jesus said,] “Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (CSB)