Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

Cast Aside

READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:6; ROMANS 8:28-39; COLOSSIANS 3:12-16 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=DEUTERONOMY%2031%3A6%3B%20ROMANS%208%3A28-39%3B%20COLOSSIANS%203%3A12-16&version=WEB] When I was thirteen, my parents divorced. My dad remarried and moved out of state. My mom had to work two jobs to provide for us, so our time together was special, but limited. Eventually, we had to move so Mom could find a better job. Whenever I tried to give my opinions about moving, she cast them aside. And, over the years, we kept moving. At each new school I attended, I struggled throughout the day. I felt invisible when the other kids passed me on their way to class. Most days, I felt alone. My heart hungered for friendship. Each time we moved, Mom and I would search for a new church. I always felt special and loved in God’s house. In my junior year, the musical theater department at my newest school scheduled auditions. I tried out, and the music instructor gave me one of the solo parts. A few classmates made comments saying they didn’t understand how I, the new kid, got a solo. Then, on opening night, I found the sleeves of my costume ripped off and my shoes missing. A few students smirked as I ran to the bathroom to sort out my feelings. I remembered that Jesus felt abandoned at times—not only by His friends but by His Father too. Jesus cried out on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). As I struggled in my pain, I talked with God about it. I saw that Jesus knew how I felt. God empathizes with me, and He loves me. His incredible promise—to work all things for the good of those who love Him—helped me to sing my solo that night. No matter what happens, Jesus will never cast me aside. • Linda Ray Center • Can you think of a time you felt cast aside, alone, or invisible? What was that like? • If we know Jesus, we can rest in God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God loves us so much that Jesus was willing to die on the cross to save us. Because He died and rose again, we can look forward to the day our suffering will be over forever (Revelation 21:1-5). Until then, we can always go to God in our pain and receive His comfort (1 Peter 5:7). Consider taking some time to talk to God about any hurts you’ve experienced lately. • If you’re going through a tough time, and especially if you’re being bullied, who is a trusted adult you can talk to about it—such as a parent, pastor, or teacher? We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (WEB)

Flowing Life

READ: EZEKIEL 47:1-12; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-17 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=EZEKIEL%2047%3A1-12%3B%202%20CORINTHIANS%205%3A16-17&version=NIV] Anew thing is coming with the rising of the sun, Old things have passed away; a new story has begun. For death has been buried, wherever the life water flows; In the dry, sandy soil of the desert, the flower now grows. Animals and fowl have returned, filling the land with life; Fawns frolic, wild goats play, and the eagle takes to flight. The stream teems with fish, where salt waters are now fresh, The river, widening still, brings life to all flesh. The water, always reaching out with life it freely gives, Thirst it completely quenches; all around it, abundance lives. Trees ever bearing fruit replace the barren, rocky slade; They nourish those residing there, giving rest beneath their shade. Their leaves, they never wither, as they border the life water shores. What waters could be so living, unless they flowed from sanctuary doors? This is the paradise, in the place where all hearts are kneeling. He’s provided all our needs: food for the soul, grace for our healing. • Madison Mae • Today’s poem is inspired by Ezekiel 47:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-17. In Ezekiel’s vision, he saw a river of life. Later, Jesus announced that He gives living water and new life to all who come to Him. If we know Jesus, we have His living water flowing from within us right now, and we’re also looking forward to the day Jesus will return and make all things new. The book of Revelation tells us part of the new creation will be the river of life described in Ezekiel 47! How can these Scriptures give us hope? What questions do you have about the river of life? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 4:1-14; 7:37-39; 10:10-11; Revelation 7:17; 21:6; 22:1-2, 6, 17.) Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17 (NIV)

Future Telling Rodents?

READ: ISAIAH 12:2; MATTHEW 6:25-34; MARK 13:26-37 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ISAIAH%2012%3A2%3B%20MATTHEW%206%3A25-34%3B%20MARK%2013%3A26-37&version=NIV] Do you have, in your area of the world, a tradition where people gather every year in a certain city and pull a type of rodent out of his home in order to predict the weather? Yes, it does sound funny! And if you live in the USA, you might recognize this day as Groundhog Day. Grown men in fancy suits gather around “Punxsutawney Phil” every February 2nd. They take the groundhog out of his hole, put him on top of a red-carpet-lined tree stump, and note whether Phil can spot his shadow. This “foretells” whether or not we will enjoy an early spring or expect winter for six more weeks. Then, they put him back. Groundhog Day is a funny tradition. Most people don’t believe it can actually predict the weather, but this holiday reminds us that people have always wanted to know the future. And yet God tells us throughout the Bible to trust Him for our future, even for important things, like when Christ will one day return. You might find a lot of people wondering about the state of the world, and whether or not Christ will return soon. Some start speculating about current events and think maybe they know the date. And yet, not even Jesus knew when He would return. As God the Son, He was leaving that to God the Father. I think we can leave it to the Father too. We don’t actually need to know anything more than what God has already said to us in the Bible. He has given us everything we need to get to know Jesus, to follow Him, and to live in the power of His Holy Spirit. Sure, it might seem fun to know exactly what’s ahead, but if God thought that was a good idea, then He would tell us. And since He hasn’t, we can focus on growing in Him and doing the good things He created us to do as we wait expectantly for Jesus’s return. • Kristen Merrill • Why do you think there are some things God doesn’t let us know in advance? • God calls us to trust Him with our future. And this isn’t a blind trust—we can have confidence that He loves us and that He will keep His promises, because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us. As Christians, we can look forward to Jesus’s return joyfully! What questions do you have about Jesus’s return? Who are trusted Christians you could ask? • If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 24:1-51; 25:31-46; Acts 1:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11; James 4:13-16; Revelation 21:1-5; 22:20 [Jesus said,] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32 (NIV)

Homemade Cookies at the Catered Lunch

READ: JOHN 6:4-13 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%206%3A4-13&version=CSB] Once I belonged to a church that held services at a school cafeteria. For youth group on Wednesday nights, we met at a daycare that had closed for the evening. The daycare managers didn’t charge any fees to hold our youth group events there. To express gratitude, our church leadership organized an appreciation lunch for the daycare staff. The pastor asked volunteers to provide food, so I baked homemade cookies to contribute. On the day I dropped off my goodies, I realized some youth group parents had purchased sandwiches, side dishes, and desserts from a local shop for the staff lunch. My contribution (the only homemade item) looked out of place amidst the professionally catered meal. That day, I offered what I could but felt embarrassed it didn’t measure up. But when I consider a young boy mentioned in Scripture—and how his simple meal of a few fish and bread loaves blessed a multitude—I think God might have a different view of those cookies. When we entrust our lives to Jesus, we begin new lives as children of God. Because of His death and resurrection, not only can we receive forgiveness, but we can also believe God has good plans for all of us who trust Him; that includes joining in His work to provide for others. And the success of those plans depends on Him far more than it does on us. Just look at that one little basket of lunch that Jesus multiplied until it fed a whole horde of people! I’m sure the cookies I delivered to the daycare didn’t transform into enough to feed thousands. But I do wonder if what I shared brought a smile to the face of someone craving a chocolate chip cookie. No matter what, though, we can rest assured that God has the power to take whatever little we offer and use it in big ways. • Allison Wilson Lee • Do you sometimes feel you don’t have much to offer when it comes to blessing others or sharing in the work of God? What abilities or possessions has God given you that you might have overlooked? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this and write down whatever comes to mind. • How does God measure what we give differently than the world measures? [Andrew said to Jesus,] “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?” John 6:9 (CSB)

Words and French Fries

READ: EPHESIANS 4:15-32; 5:15-20; 6:18-20 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=EPHESIANS%204%3A15-32%3B%205%3A15-20%3B%206%3A18-20&version=NIV] There’s something wonderful about French fries. But have you ever had disappointing French fries? I have. They had no salt—the worst thing that can happen to a perfectly good batch of fries! Salt makes things taste good. But do you know what else salt is good for? Our words. If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit seasons our words so we can communicate the gospel clearly. He adds things like kindness, gentleness, grace, and love—allowing us to build people up with our words, not tear them down. But our speech doesn’t just impact others, it also impacts us. If we spend a lot of time telling ourselves we are stupid, ugly, unloved, or failures, that negative self-talk can easily become part of our sense of identity. Having the ability to speak is special. In fact, language is one of the things that sets humans apart from the rest of creation. God calls us to keep a close watch over our mouths. But Jesus—fully God and fully human—is the only one who could do this perfectly. In His time of temptation, He quoted Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11). When He was mocked and beaten, He chose silence motivated by love (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:62-63; 27:14). And while dying on the cross, He spoke with grace and compassion as He asked God the Father to forgive the people who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). When Jesus died on that cross, and then rose from the grave, He not only saved us from sin—He redeemed human speech. Once we put our trust in Jesus, He begins transforming our words. We can speak the truth in love as we learn to season every word with the salt of His love and good news. And even when we mess up, we can rest in His forgiveness and start fresh. So let’s stop the trash talk and start saying something good! • Rebecca Morgan • How have you been speaking about your friends, your family, and yourself lately? How do you talk about the difficult people in your life? • In Luke 6:45, Jesus said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about what’s in your heart, asking Him to help you see others, and yourself, how He sees us— with truth and love. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV)