Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

Dramatic or Not

READ: ACTS 9:1-22; 2 TIMOTHY 1:5; 3:15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ACTS%209%3A1-22%3B%202%20TIMOTHY%201%3A5%3B%203%3A15&version=CSB] Of all the conversion stories in the Bible, none are more dramatic than the Apostle Paul’s. Before knowing Jesus, Paul—also called Saul—was one of the most vicious, violent persecutors of the early church. Brilliant in intellect, he used his mind to orchestrate beatings and deaths against the converts of this new religion called Christianity, fearing it threatened his Jewish faith. His conversion story has been told and retold countless times. He was traveling the road to Damascus when he was blinded by a great light and the voice of Jesus asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Saul’s conversion was so dramatic that the leaders of the fledgling church didn’t believe him at first. It took a good amount of time before they finally accepted the truth: Saul the persecutor was now a disciple of Christ. My conversion was nothing like that. My brother shared the gospel with me when I was twelve, and I prayed a simple prayer while sitting on the side of my bed. There were no fireworks, no lights, certainly no voice from heaven. Later, my story of conversion was mostly met with shrugging shoulders and blank stares. I wasn’t a rebel or criminal before my conversion, so afterward, few people noticed any differences. But, like the Apostle Paul, I was different, even if nobody really saw it. I was a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The death and resurrection of Christ that was sufficient to convert Paul in ancient Israel also covered a twelve-year-old in California. Maybe you don’t have a Paul conversion story either. Whatever your story, your sins are forgiven and you’re a new creation in Christ, all based on His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. • Mike Hurley • If you’re a Christian, how would you describe your salvation story? • If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are a new creation. Jesus has freed you from the power of sin and death. And one day, when you see Jesus face to face, you won’t struggle with sin and its effects anymore, because sin and death will be gone forever (1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Revelation 21:1-5). How might remembering that we are forgiven and that we are new creations help us rely on Jesus through the ups and downs of life? Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

All I Ever Did

READ: JOHN 4:1-30, 39-42 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%204%3A1-30%2C%2039-42&version=CSB] There was something about His eyes, the way He looked at her. It was unsettling. She thought she knew all about men, understood how they thought. But this was different. “Go and call your husband,” He said. She hesitated, eyes lowered. “I have no husband.” He nodded. “True. You’ve had five—and the man you live with now isn’t one of them.” Her fists tensed defiantly. “Since you know so much, prophet, tell me this. Is God’s chosen place of worship here, among my people, or in Jerusalem, where the Jews worship?” Her eyes flashed up to meet His, ready for the judgment and rejection surely waiting. What she saw startled her. An intense compassion in His eyes matched by words washing over her in love. He said, “The Father is seeking worshipers in spirit and truth.” She heard, “The Father is seeking you.” Her battered heart leapt for joy. It didn’t matter—it never had! What she’d done, where she’d been—her fruitless search for God’s hiding place. He’d been there all along, pursuing her, waiting for her to see Him. Her water jar forgotten, she ran into the city. The words burst out, a testimony that wouldn’t be held back. “Come and see a man who told me all I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?” He knew her past, and He still wanted to give her a future. Jesus gave Himself to save us. There is no greater love, no greater offering to be made. God in flesh went to the cross so we could have life with Him. This love, freely given, cannot be earned. Only received. Jesus knows all you’ve ever done. Everything. And He loves you and wants you anyway. He loves you just as you are. • Remi Oyedele •Today’s story is how one author imagines John 4:1-30. Consider taking some time to read this passage for yourself. What do you notice? What questions do you have? • Can you think of a time you felt like the woman at the well? Sometimes it can be hard to believe that Jesus loves us just as we are. Thankfully, God knows we need reminders of His love, and He invites us to come and see Jesus, the one who knows everything we’ve ever done, the one who went to the cross to die for us and be raised from the dead so we could be forgiven and brought near (Romans 5:6-11). Consider taking a moment to tell Jesus whatever is on your mind. • To learn more about Jesus’s love for you, and what it means to receive it, check out page 104. [The Samaritan woman said,] “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” John 4:29 (CSB)

Is It Okay to Date Them?

READ: 1 KINGS 11:4-6; 1 CORINTHIANS 7:39; 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-18 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20KINGS%2011%3A4-6%3B%201%20CORINTHIANS%207%3A39%3B%202%20CORINTHIANS%206%3A14-18&version=NIV] He’s cute, he’s sweet, and he’s oh-so-nice. But he’s not a Christian. She goes to church, and she’s so much fun, but Christ is not particularly important to her. Is it okay to date them? Being attracted to someone who doesn’t love Christ can be a really tough situation. Trust me, I’ve been there. What can you do? First off, dating them is a bad idea. I’m really sorry. If Christ is the center of your life and identity, you can’t have a partner for whom Christ isn’t important. Even if they’re happy to live your Christian life right now, they don’t share your ultimate goal to love God and serve in His kingdom. It doesn’t matter how nice or “good” they might be. Entering a romantic relationship with someone who doesn’t know Jesus is often a path to heartache, sin, and regret. So, you say no. Sound hard? It is. It’s the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever done. But if I survived it, so can you. Because Christ is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). “But wait!” you may ask, “what if they become a Christian? Then can I date them?” If they really are sincere about following Christ—and wouldn’t give up on Him even if you weren’t in their life—then, yes. They’re God’s child, and you’re on equal footing. Good news: there are lots of real-life examples of this happening! Bad news: there are also a lot of real-life examples of someone “converting,” but really only doing it for the other person, and never truly loving Christ. That’s an even worse situation, so be careful. If someone says they know Jesus, take your time before starting to date them. Find out why they believe and get lots of counsel from godly Christian adults in your life. When in doubt? Wait and pray. And remember that, if Christ has a future spouse for you, it’ll be someone who really loves Him. You can trust God for your future. • Christiana Albrecht • Have you ever been attracted to someone who doesn’t love Christ? What did you do? • Do you know any Christians who are currently married to non-Christians? What could you learn from their experiences? How could you pray for them? • If you’re attracted to someone who doesn’t share your faith, talk to Jesus about it. He has so much compassion on you. He knows your hurts, and He’s with you through it all (Hebrews 4:14-16). Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)

It's Okay to Be Single

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 7:1-9, 25-38 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20CORINTHIANS%207%3A1-9%2C%2025-38&version=NLT] You know that cute couple who’s always taking pictures of how much fun they’re having together and raving about one another? Ever been envious of them? It can feel really lonely to be the person who is still single when your friends are all dating. The Bible has good news: it’s okay to be single! In fact, sometimes it can be better than being in a relationship. In 1 Corinthians 7:7, the apostle Paul writes, “But I wish everyone were single, just as I am.” Why on earth does Paul say that? Think of that couple again. They spend a lot of time thinking about each other, don’t they? Some of that is good, but the trouble begins when we’re so busy thinking about making our partner happy that we don’t think about living to please God. He has great plans and purposes for each of us. But it’s easy to lose our focus on God’s love and goodness when we start to place our identity in our relationship status instead of in Jesus Christ. So, is it okay to date and get married? Absolutely. In this same chapter in 1 Corinthians, Paul makes it clear that it’s not a sin to get married and that faithful, loving Christian marriage between a man and a woman is one good way people can serve God and show His love. But it’s important to think honestly about whether your romantic relationship helps you serve God better. Do you help each other grow deeper in your relationships with Christ? Are you able to serve each other and work together to serve others? When you’re together, do you see the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Those are good reasons to date. But if you’re in a relationship just to make you happy, the way you see yourself may start to be defined by that relationship, instead of by how God sees you and what Christ has done for you. Being single can have its challenges, but remember, a lot of people in “happy” relationships end up very unhappy, and very regretful. The good news is, God wants to share His joy with us, and He can redeem even the messiest of circumstances. If you’re single, you might be surprised by how content you can feel as you eagerly look for opportunities to serve God, only pursuing a romantic relationship if that’s where He leads you (1 Corinthians 7:33-35). Regardless of our relationship status, as we seek to follow Christ above all else, we find true joy. • Christiana Albrecht • As Christians, we’re part of God’s family (Romans 8:16-18). Married or single, we are never alone because we have Jesus and the community of His people. Who in the church has shown God’s love to you? How could you show Jesus’s love, especially to those who might be lonely? But I [Paul] wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. 1 Corinthians 7:7 (NLT)

What If I Don't Know the Answer?

READ: ISAIAH 55:8-9; PHILIPPIANS 2:12; HEBREWS 11 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%3A%20ISAIAH%2055%3A8-9%3B%20PHILIPPIANS%202%3A12%3B%20HEBREWS%2011&version=CSB] In middle school, I was open in sharing my faith with friends, and they openly shared their beliefs with me too. It was fun having conversations about what we believed in and why. That is, until my friends started asking me more difficult questions, like, Was the Garden of Eden story true? Did the flood actually happen? Why would this man named “Jesus” die on the cross for us? I didn’t always have an answer. This sometimes made me feel embarrassed, like I didn’t really know what I believed in. Thankfully, I was involved in an awesome youth group where I could bring up these big questions I had about my faith. I was never ashamed to have questions; rather, I was encouraged to ask. My youth pastor and mentors would pray with me and open God’s Word to seek answers. And when I discovered an answer, I often had another question! But I realized that asking questions, seeking answers in God’s Word, and even asking a trusted adult for help massively grew my faith. You might have questions about your faith and not know where to look for answers. First, take a deep breath. It’s okay to feel this way. God is so huge and beyond our understanding that we get to spend our whole lives learning about Him! Second, don’t be afraid to take your questions to a trusted adult—like a parent, mentor, or youth pastor—asking them to pray and study God’s Word together with you. Over time, you may notice that the more you ask questions and seek answers and ask more questions, the more your faith will continue to grow. • Rachel Wierenga • Have you ever felt embarrassed to have questions about what you believe? Why do you think that is? God isn’t embarrassed by your questions. In fact, He invites them! He doesn’t expect us to know everything about Him and the Bible. Rather, He loves it when we’re curious about Him and His Word. And He loves to provide wisdom as we seek out answers. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, He is with us through the Holy Spirit, guiding us as we seek to know Him more. And even when we don’t find clearanswers, God walks with us through the process of discovery, usingall of it to draw us closer to Himself. • What are your three biggest questions about what you believe? Who is a trusted Christian adult you can share these questions with? Consider seeking them out this week and see if you can set up a time to talk, pray, and study God’s Word together. “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (CSB)