Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: ECCLESIASTES 7:10; JOHN 10:10; ROMANS 8:28-39; EPHESIANS 2:7-10 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ECCLESIASTES%207%3A10%3B%20JOHN%2010%3A10%3B%20ROMANS%208%3A28-39%3B%20EPHESIANS%202%3A7-10&version=NIV] It was my junior year of high school, and I was miserable. The I-don’t-want-to-be-here leave-me-alone kind of miserable. I was supposed to be back at school with my friends in Kenya, where my parents were missionaries. Then the difficult decision was made not to return. I was devastated. So, I shut down. Like a robot, I would get up and go to school every day. At night, I would pour out my heart in letters to my friends in Africa where life was going on without me. One day at school I was in the girls’ bathroom having a good cry when my classmate Sheryl walked in. Noticing my puffy eyes, she asked if I was okay, and I blurted out everything. Sheryl listened like I was the most important person in the world and what I had to say mattered. Sheryl and her family had also lived in Africa but had to leave because of unsafe conditions. Looking me in the eyes, she spoke truth over me: Africa was in the past for both of us. She encouraged me to live in the right here and now. At first, I didn’t want to hear it. But then the truth sank in. Without even realizing it, my tattered soul had been giving in to the enemy, Satan, who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came so that we would have life to the full! And deep down in my heart, I knew that to be true. After that, I began to let my guard down and made some great friends. My junior and senior years were full of volleyball games, Thursday night Bible studies, play auditions, opportunities to sing, and so much more. I don’t think I would have ever even tried if Sheryl hadn’t nudged me to let go of the past and live life fully, without holding back. • Kelly Hope Parke • Have you been through a major life change recently? Even seemingly minor changes, like moving from one grade to the next, can be challenging. And letting go of the way things used to be can be painful and difficult. The good news is, Jesus is with you through the whole process, offering His strength and comfort. He won’t let you go through this change alone. He is with you through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Consider spending some time in prayer, asking Jesus to help you grieve what’s behind you and embrace what’s in front of you, thanking Him for the good things that were and the good things that are yet to come. [Jesus said,] “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 1:26-27; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7; 5:17 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS%201%3A26-27%3B%201%20CORINTHIANS%201%3A26-31%3B%202%20CORINTHIANS%204%3A7%3B%205%3A17&version=CSB] My first day in Psychology 101, the instructor said, “There is no such thing as normal.” That really took me by surprise, but I was glad to hear it because I had never considered myself normal. I saw myself as a high strung, mixed-up teenager who grew into a high-strung, mixed-up adult. Go figure. But the truth is, God created me to be the person I am. He made each of us uniquely, and that’s a good thing. I’m not saying God wants us to wallow in our individual struggles and sin patterns—He doesn’t want me running around haphazardly, snapping at people, and wading through a river of worries and doubts. Instead, it’s like we’re diamonds in the rough, and God wants to shape us. Even though sin twists the talents and personalities God has given us, He still loves us, and He sees us as infinitely valuable. That’s why Jesus came to save and restore us through His death and resurrection. When we put our trust in Jesus, we become new creations, and His Spirit begins to transform every part of our personalities. Obsessive planning and compulsive hard work can be transformed into a God-honoring and solid work ethic, adding to any project or team. An active imagination that’s prone to worry can be guided by God to come up with awesome ideas to creatively minister to others and uplift them. And even though being impulsive can lead us into trouble, impulsivity can be remade into the courage needed to try something new in our walk with Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul writes, “God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” I’ve always loved that verse because I don’t think God can find a more foolish person than me. Yet He works through imperfect people—people who are devoted to Him yet mess up every day—to do great things in His kingdom. My psychology teacher was right: there is no such thing as normal. I suppose life would be boring if there were. God created each of us uniquely in His image, and He calls us to serve one another through our differences. And even though we’ll all struggle with sin until Jesus returns, we can have hope knowing the Holy Spirit is always working in us. • Sharon Rene • How could it be helpful to remember there is no such thing as a “normal” human being? • What is one thing you like about the way God made you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

READ: GENESIS 1:26-27; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20; 1 PETER 2:9 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GENESIS%201%3A26-27%3B%201%20CORINTHIANS%206%3A19%3B%202%20CORINTHIANS%205%3A20%3B%201%20PETER%202%3A9&version=CSB] As I brushed my teeth, I examined the reflection of my nametag in the bathroom mirror. By now, the words were so familiar I could even read them backwards: “CHILD OF GOD.” I smiled as my other names echoed through my head: “Image-bearer.” “Chosen People.” “Ambassador.” “Temple of the Holy Spirit.” They each flashed onto my nametag briefly as I spat out my toothpaste before gathering my backpack and walking outside. Today will be different, I told myself. Today, I will be kind. Today, I won’t sin. Today, I will remember that I am a Child of God. I kept this promise really well…at first. I made it all the way to the school bus. Then Mason called my shoes “ratty” and went on and on about how my parents couldn’t buy me new Jordans because they were poor. I cringed as new nametags appeared elsewhere on my jacket, identifying me as “Ratty” and “Poor.” Burning with anger, I spat back, “At least my family cares about me! Your parents just buy you stuff to make you shut up!” A nametag with “Unloved” appeared on his sleeve as his fist collided with my nose. By the time the fight ended, we each had a few bruises, a week’s worth of detention, and several more unflattering nametags. After school, I slumped onto my bed, exhausted. Why, Lord? Why can’t I control myself? Why am I such an awful sinner? I sighed as “Sinner” arrived on my chest. I just need to be better. I just need to try harder. I just need… Silence filled my head. “You need Me,” Jesus’s voice answered. One by one, the nametags I had accumulated throughout the day disappeared. With each one that left, a weight lifted off of my heart. Finally, nothing was left but my one, true nametag: “CHILD OF GOD.” • Taylor Eising • Can you think of a time you felt like the characters in this allegorical story? According to today’s verses, who does Jesus say you are? What do you think it means to find our identity in Him? (If you want to dig deeper, read Ephesians 2.) • When we sin, it’s easy to get frustrated with ourselves and resolve to try harder. But the truth is, no matter how hard we try, we’ll struggle with sin until Jesus returns. Thankfully, God loves us with an unending love. He calls us to bring our sin to Him, confess it, rest in His forgiveness, and let Him remind us of who we are in Jesus. Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about any sins that come to mind, and any nametags you’ve picked up that aren’t your true identity. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name. John 1:12 (CSB)

READ: PROVERBS 3:5-6; MATTHEW 6:25-33; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-20 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PROVERBS%203%3A5-6%3B%20MATTHEW%206%3A25-33%3B%20PHILIPPIANS%204%3A4-20&version=CSB] Have you ever been so busy that you felt like you didn’t have time for God? I know I have. From school to work to extracurriculars, not to mention family and friends, sometimes it seems like my to-do list is ten miles long. In busy times, I’m easily tempted to believe I don’t have the time or energy to read my Bible, memorize Scripture, or pray and seek God’s will. Recently I went through a season like that. I was feeling overwhelmed with difficult classes, a job opportunity, family stress, and more. I convinced myself that if I made God a priority, all the “real life” stuff wouldn’t get done. Then one day, while I was thinking about everything I had to do—and secretly feeling a bit guilty for not putting God first—a Bible verse popped into my head. It was 2 Peter 1:3, which says, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” Instantly, I felt both convicted and comforted as I realized I had gotten things totally backwards. God already has everything I need, and it’s available to me because I know Him through Jesus. By neglecting my relationship with God, I was actually making my own life harder, trying to do things on my own without first seeking His peace, strength, and guidance. It turns out, while things like college and career decisions are important, God is a lot more interested in my spiritual growth. Not only does God want to save me through Jesus, He wants to continue helping me learn to love and obey Him. Putting Him first may not make all my dreams come true, but it does something much better. It helps me grow in my relationship with the God of the universe, and that’s where I find everything I need for life. • Faith Lewis • What kinds of dreams and plans do you have for your life? It’s good to work hard and think about what we want, but Jesus calls us to hold our dreams with open hands. And as we press into relationship with Him, He shapes our desires and gives us rest (Psalm 127:1-2; Matthew 11:28-30). • Has there ever been a season when you had so much to do that you found it difficult to make time for God? We all go through times like this, but God is eager to help us and provide joy, direction, strength, and much more. How could you spend intentional time with God—in His Word, in prayer, and with His people—this week? His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 (CSB)

READ: ROMANS 5:6-11; 8:1, 38-39; 1 JOHN 4:15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROMANS%205%3A6-11%3B%208%3A1%2C%2038-39%3B%201%20JOHN%204%3A15&version=NIV] Recently I started taking voice lessons. When I first met my voice teacher, we talked for a long time, and she told me about how she studied contemporary Christian music in college. She also told me that when she was my age, she felt that God was calling her to sing for people on death row. She said that sometimes people wouldn’t receive it well, but other times it would really have an effect on them. It’s interesting to think about, because anyone who’s ever lived has sinned. And in God’s eyes, every sin is deserving of death—whether it’s something major, like killing someone, or something seemingly minor, like telling a fib. We have all broken God’s perfect law. And in doing so, it’s kind of like we were all on spiritual death row. We all need forgiveness equally. But then Jesus came, and He took the punishment for our sin. Jesus is God the Son, and even though He never sinned, He suffered the death that we deserved. And then, He rose again, declaring that everyone who puts their trust in Him is forgiven and forever freed from death row. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He offers us the gift of salvation. And it’s not just for the seemingly “righteous” or “good people.” It’s for the lost and hopeless sinner. And the truth is, that’s all of us. We are all desperately in need of Jesus. And this gift of salvation is for anyone who puts their trust in Jesus. No matter who you are, or what you’ve done—even if right now you are literally on death row for committing a horrible crime—God still loves you, and it’s not His desire that anyone should perish, but that all should come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and have eternal life (2 Peter 3:9). • Elizabeth Blanton • Do you ever feel that you’re too far gone for God’s grace? How does it feel to know that God loves you so much that He would send His only Son to die for you? If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page. • Do you ever look at others and think they’re too far gone for God’s grace? According to today’s Scripture, how does God see all of us? • If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28; Luke 5:27-32; John 3:16-17; Romans 3:23-24; 1 Timothy 2:4; James 2:10-11; 2 Peter 3:9. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NIV)