Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

C. S. Lewis: A Reluctant Christian

READ: PSALM 19; MATTHEW 22:37-39; PHILIPPIANS 1:9 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2019%3B%20MATTHEW%2022%3A37-39%3B%20PHILIPPIANS%201%3A9&version=NIV] The author C. S. Lewis is considered one of the most influential Christian apologists of his time. He taught at Oxford and wrote several great books related to apologetics and Christianity, including Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia. Yet, like all of us, C. S. Lewis wasn’t always a Christian. He grew up in a Christian home. Sadly, his mother died of cancer when he was a boy. In his grief, Lewis understandably became angry that God had not healed her. He also fought in World War I and suffered from depression after seeing the horrors of trench warfare and losing friends in battle. His mother’s tragic death and his experiences of war were some of the reasons that eventually led Lewis to become an atheist. But God still loved Lewis, and He was still at work in his life. Through the help of the writings of authors like George MacDonald, as well as through friends like J. R. R. Tolkien, Lewis returned to Christianity and found that it was, in fact, logical. Lewis himself said that his conversion was not easy. In his memoir, Surprised by Joy, he even described himself as “kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape.” But after putting his trust in Jesus, Lewis went on to write about the wonderful love of God, including through apologetics and refuting popular claims against Christianity. To this day, his words carry hope and meaning, especially because he experienced atheism personally. He was familiar with popular objections to Christianity because he’d had them himself. None of Lewis’s novels, apologetics, or life story would have been possible without Jesus. Not only does Lewis’s work argue for Christianity, but his own reluctance to accept the truth of the gospel is an argument in itself. Lewis was an intelligent scholar, and he would’ve remained an atheist if God hadn’t intervened in his life. And God is still using Lewis’s writings to bring others to the knowledge of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection today. • Naomi Zylstra • Have you ever felt like Christianity is illogical? What questions do you have about it? God invented our minds, and He calls us to use them. Who are trusted Christians in your life—such as pastors, parents, counselors, or youth leaders—who could help you explore your questions? • Can you think of a time you were angry at God? God invites us to bring our anger to Him, honestly telling Him about all the accusations that rise up in our hearts against Him. He is always better than we could hope, and He is eager to reveal His trustworthy love to us. Now the Berean Jews...received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 (NIV)

Talking About Hair

READ: MATTHEW 10:29-31; ROMANS 8:35-39; 1 PETER 5:7 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%2010%3A29-31%3B%20ROMANS%208%3A35-39%3B%201%20PETER%205%3A7&version=NIV] Sometimes it feels like no one really sees us. But that’s not true. God notices us. God cares about us. God looks out for us. Can I get a little gross for a minute and talk about hair? I have long hair, and it doesn’t always stay on my head. I find hair everywhere—on my clothes, on the floor, stuck in my hairbrush. The amount of hair I lose can be frustrating, yet I still have a lot on my head too. In Matthew 10, Jesus tells us that the hairs on our heads are all numbered. Does God really know how many hairs I have—and does He keep a running count because I’m constantly losing another strand? God is the one who designed us, the one who made our bodies (Psalms 119:73; 139:13-16). He chose our hair color and decided how much hair we would have. He notices our hair, and because He knows everything about us, He knows how many strands we have. He also notices when we’re hungry, when we’re anxious, and when we really need to be reminded of His closeness. In other words, God loves us. In this same passage, Jesus says that He notices and cares about each sparrow that falls to the ground, and then Jesus goes on to say that we are much more valuable to Him than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31). Jesus showed how much we’re worth when He came and lived among us, ultimately giving up His life for us. He died on the cross, and then He rose from the grave so we could be saved from sin and death—and enjoy newness of life with Him. So we can rest assured that we are seen. We have worth. We can trust God to be there, no matter what. Our hair can remind us that we don’t have to be afraid, and that even when we feel lonely we are never alone, because we have a God who truly sees us and cares about us. • Emily Acker • When you think about God knowing the exact number of hairs on your head right now, how does it make you feel? How could it be comforting to remember that He cares about even this tiny detail of our lives? [Jesus said,] “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30 (NIV)

Splintered Trust

READ: PSALM 55 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2055&version=NLT] Smiles, charm, Perfect friends Watching you. Your back is turned, Whispering begins. Nasty remarks, A chuckle heard. Comments, jibes Grind you down. Burning tears. Thumping heartbeat. Subtle rejections. Trust splintered. When friends badmouth you, the hurt can be so deep that trusting again is challenging. David had the same problem. The first part of Psalm 55 shows how he is deeply troubled, and in verses 13 and 14, he shares the disappointment of his friend’s betrayal. In the midst of this desperation, he goes to God, the one who is always trustworthy. When your trust has been splintered, Jesus invites you to come to Him. He loves you deeply, and He feels your pain as His own. He can truly empathize with what you’re going through because He endured the pain of betrayal, rejection, and humiliation on the cross. Why? Because He was determined to bring forgiveness for sin—including gossip and backstabbing—and to provide healing for the harm sin causes. Jesus is trustworthy even when people are not. Through it all, He will never leave your side. • Cindy Lee • Can you think of a time someone broke your trust? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this and receive His tender compassion. • Because we live in a broken world, not everyone can be trusted, and it’s okay to set healthy boundaries, especially with people who have shown themselves to be untrustworthy in the past. At the same time, it’s important to remember that one of the ways God extends His love and healing to us is through community. If you’re not sure who you can trust right now, you can ask God to help you identify people who will treat you with respect and care, like He does. • Have you ever gone behind someone’s back? It’s easy to get drawn into a conversation when everyone is badmouthing someone. How can you remove yourself from situations like these? (1 Corinthians 10:13) • If you’re in the midst of a toxic situation, who are trusted adults you can reach out to? But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. Psalm 55:16 (NLT)

Rest

READ: GENESIS 2:1-3; 1 KINGS 19:1-9; MATTHEW 11:28-30 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS%202%3A1-3%3B%201%20KINGS%2019%3A1-9%3B%20MATTHEW%2011%3A28-30%20&version=NIV] I couldn’t sleep. My irritating cough kept me awake in the middle of the night. “Don’t go into work if you’re feeling poorly,” my parents advised. But I ignored them, afraid of letting anyone down. I must be resilient and keep going, I thought. I can’t give in and miss a day of work. So I soldiered on until my exhaustion eventually caught up with me. The illness didn’t go away, and refusing to rest made it substantially worse. I ended up spending a week (during my vacation) in bed. I hadn’t listened to my body or to good advice, and so I was forced to stop everything. As I lay in bed, feeling sorry for myself, I had no one to blame but myself. I recalled how, when my friends or family were ill, I would rush around buying throat lozenges, fruit, or whatever I thought might help them—but then I neglected my own body. I realized how easy it is to nurture and help other people but forget ourselves. In the Bible, God teaches us that it’s important to rest and recharge. Resting doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It might look like relaxing, enjoying a hobby, or doing something that allows your mind to rest. It could also mean making sure you’re getting enough sleep or listening to your body when you’ve overexerted—or when you’re feeling poorly and just need to take a break. Whenever we start to feel overwhelmed, we can listen to God. He cares for us more than we know, and He wants to give us rest. Even when we overdo it and wind up exhausted, God has so much compassion on us, and He is ready to help us. If you, like me, find it easier to care for other people than for yourself, remember that taking care of our bodies is necessary if we want to keep helping others. When you’re feeling poorly, you can rest and give yourself a dose of tender loving care in the same way you would a close friend or relative (Matthew 22:36-40). You don’t have to keep pushing yourself—you can rely on Jesus, the one who has already done everything that was needed to save us through dying and rising again, the one who gives us true rest. • Cindy Lee • Do you sometimes throw yourself into things and then forget to take time out to rest? Have you ever found it difficult to give yourself permission to take a break? Why do you think that is? • Sleep is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Sometimes we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that’s okay. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor? In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:2 (NIV)

Stranded and Alone

READ: JOHN 8:12; 1 JOHN 1:5–2:2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%208%3A12%3B%201%20JOHN%201%3A5%E2%80%932%3A2&version=WEB] This is Captain Rodriguez, leaving another message. It’s been about ten Earth days since the accident. It’s difficult to tell time here…wherever here is. I’m slowly running out of food and water. After that, it’s over. I’m still alone, but I’m hoping someone is getting these messages, although I don’t know if the crash damaged the comms beacon. I’ve been thinking about my old church lately. (Thinking is the only thing I can really do now, besides sending these messages.) I never really liked going to church. Growing up, my parents made me. They said, “A healthy Christian is always in community.” All I really wanted was to be by myself, which is why I chose this job. But even here I had a small community, up until ten days ago. Everybody’s gone now. I’m all alone. I feel like I’m in a dark, empty room, and no matter how long I search the walls, there’s no light switch. I’ve always called myself a Christian, but I never really wanted to have community with anyone, even God. I’m realizing that I used to think I was better than those people at church, always pretending they were fine and denying their brokenness. But, turns out, I was doing the same thing. What a numskull I was. Blast! I wish I wasn’t in charge of controls that day! But that’s part of my job, so it is what it is. Now all I have left is seeking community with my God. I hope it’s okay to talk about these things here. I don’t even know if anyone is receiving these messages anyway—so, if you’re listening, deal with it I guess. The truth is, while I’ve been stranded here, Jesus has shown me His grace. He’s giving me a second chance to return to His light. To allow Him to be the light in this dark and empty room. I’ve been reading the Bible, and I believe what it says—that because Jesus died and rose again to bring me close to God, the community I have in Him will be more than enough now, even if I never get to be rescued. And if I am rescued, being reunited with the community of God’s people will be the sweetest part of all. Nonetheless, I know that Jesus is my deliverance. That’s all for today. Captain Rodriguez signing off. • Andres López • Today’s science fiction story explores how God designed all of us to be in relationship with Him and with each other. Can you think of a time you really appreciated some of the relationships in your life? Consider taking a moment to thank God for the people He has placed around you who show you His love and kindness. • It’s not good when we try to isolate ourselves from the world or from our church community. Yet, throughout our lives, we all fall into this trap. The good news is, Jesus is eager to help us. How might He be calling you into community with others and with Himself today? • Why is it so important that Christian community be characterized by authenticity and vulnerability? How does Jesus’s death and resurrection make it possible for us to be ourselves and not try to pretend we have it all together? (Romans 12:1-13; Galatians 6:1-2) • According to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 21:1-5, why is it so important that our Christian community will last for eternity? (For more about what it means to have eternal community with God and His people, check out our "Know Jesus" page.) • We all have times when we just want to be alone, and it’s healthy for everyone to spend regular time away from other people—even Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16). But we also have times when we feel lonely and we long for connection. In both cases, how could it be comforting to remember that God always wants to be with us and that, through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He has promised never to leave us? (Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:35-39) But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (WEB)