Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

Hail Jesus, Savior King

READ: ISAIAH 9:6-7; 53:3-12; MATTHEW 1:21-23; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ISAIAH%209%3A6-7%3B%2053%3A3-12%3B%20MATTHEW%201%3A21-23%3B%20PHILIPPIANS%202%3A5-11&version=NIV] Every Christmas, when I read about the coming of Christ, I linger over the beautiful, contrasting descriptions of how Jesus draws near to us, even though He is holy. It’s truly a profound mystery—for Jesus IS a paradox. These contrasts led me to write today’s poem (which is also a song for me personally) because at Christmas, we celebrate history’s most incredible contrast: God Himself being born, fully human, as a sacrificial Savior—while also ruling the universe as highest Lord and King. I hope meditating on these paradoxes in Scripture will help us see how God may sometimes draw us near in unexpected ways to help us experience true fullness of joy, perhaps in losing our life to save it (John 15:11; Luke 9:24). Holy Child, the Prince of Peace, O promised Savior King! Come to fill our hearts with joy— O Man of Suffering! Mighty God, a virgin’s child, Maker of stars who cried; Creation groaned to see it so— Yet Christ was glorified! Slain for the world He fashioned, God’s holy arm laid bare; Come to free us from the curse— To conquer dark despair! Jesus Christ, begotten Son, Risen that we might be… Freed from sorrow, sin, and grave— Made new eternally! Come now, come see, on bended knee— Rejoice, O earth and sing! Our guilt and shame He cast away— Hail Jesus, Savior King! • G. Kam Congleton • Jesus is fully God, and He is also fully human—what a paradox! Those two statements seem to contradict, but both are equally true. Which of the paradoxes about Jesus from today’s poem catches your attention? • What questions do you have about paradoxes in the Bible? Who are trusted Christians you could talk to about this? • If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 2:1-2; Romans 8:22-23; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 13:8; 21:1-5; 22:1-5 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:10 (NIV)

Forgiveness at Christmas

READ: LEVITICUS 19:18; ROMANS 12:14-21; COLOSSIANS 3:12-15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=LEVITICUS%2019%3A18%3B%20ROMANS%2012%3A14-21%3B%20COLOSSIANS%203%3A12-15&version=NIV] A friend and I returned from Christmas shopping. I checked my jewelry box. Another pair of new earrings was missing! I had been excited about wearing them to school on Monday. I told my mother, and she discovered it was that same friend, who I’ll call Josie. My heart hurt that one of my best friends was stealing from me. I had trusted her. We shared meals and secrets, but she stole from me. I was so mad I felt like I couldn’t forgive her. At school, she was always smiling. My anger and bitterness didn’t cause her pain. I was miserable while she was happy. Later, I learned that Jesus Christ came to earth to die in my place for my sins and rise again to give me new life. I chose to admit my wrongdoing, receive His forgiveness, and follow Christ. I knew that I had been forgiven much—and that Jesus called me to forgive others as well. I wanted Josie to apologize to me so I could forgive her, but I realized that I can forgive her no matter what she does. It felt like forgiving her meant we had to be great friends again. But while forgiveness is freely given, trust is earned. It’s okay to let go of the hurt in my heart without inviting someone who has stolen from me back into my house. It felt like I should hold back forgiveness to punish her, but the Bible tells us that revenge belongs to the Lord. When I hold resentment in my heart, the only person it hurts is me. As Christmas approaches, I remember that Jesus was born to bring us forgiveness. Since He laid down His life to offer me forgiveness, He will empower me to forgive others. Jesus was born to bring peace on earth (Luke 2:14), and letting go of unforgiveness brings peace to my heart. • Mary Schilling • Are you struggling to forgive someone who has hurt you? Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about the wrongs that have been done to you. Jesus grieves our hurts with us, and one way He helps us heal is by helping us let go of unforgiveness. And as we reflect on how much God has forgiven us, we often find it becomes easier to forgive others. You can thank Him for forgiving you, and you could even try picturing God’s forgiveness flowing through you to others. • God will punish every sin at judgment day—but the sins of those who trust in Jesus have already been paid for by Jesus’s death on the cross. How might knowing that God will handle every wrong in His perfect justice help us let go of the desire to punish someone? (Psalm 86:5; Proverbs 20:22) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Immanuel

READ: ISAIAH 7:14; MATTHEW 1:18-23; 28:20 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ISAIAH%207%3A14%3B%20MATTHEW%201%3A18-23%3B%2028%3A20&version=NIV] When I entered the auditorium, my stomach fluttered with nervous energy. But spotting Debbie in the audience reminded me that a friend would be there cheering me on. During my first year at college, I was a drum major in the marching band. Then, near the end of that school year, I tried out again for the position of drum major, hoping to continue in this role. Auditions took place in a large auditorium and were open to the public. Debbie had been mentoring me in my faith that year, and I asked her for prayers for the upcoming tryouts. She agreed to pray but also committed to more. Debbie told me I could count on her presence in that auditorium. When I walked into the building on the day of tryouts, my friend and mentor had already taken her seat and greeted me with a wide smile. Debbie showed up for me, and she showed up to be with me. One of my favorite ways the Bible refers to Jesus is as Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When we trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness for our sins, we enter a new relationship with God as our Father. Sin no longer separates us from Him because Jesus has bridged that gap through His death and resurrection. In this relationship with God, as His children, we can count on Him to be available to us with His power and comfort. Yet Christ offers more than the opportunity to lean on God’s wisdom and look to Him for compassion. In the Person of Christ, God has come to be with us—walking alongside us, suffering with us, rejoicing with us. Though Debbie supported me from the audience, Jesus was right there with me on stage as I performed. • Allison Wilson Lee • Jesus came to be “God with us.” Why is this good news? What encouragement does it give us? • Where in your life do you need to experience Jesus as Immanuel right now? Maybe you’re facing an overwhelming decision, a season of loneliness, or a tough situation that calls for perseverance. Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about whatever is on your mind. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

The Talk

READ: MATTHEW 19:4-6; EPHESIANS 5:25-33; HEBREWS 13:4-5 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%2019%3A4-6%3B%20EPHESIANS%205%3A25-33%3B%20HEBREWS%2013%3A4-5&version=CSB] Christians are notoriously bad at talking about sex. We gloss over it, give incomplete information, and usually end the conversation with, “Sex is bad. Don’t do it.” So, on behalf of Christians everywhere, I want to apologize. Sometimes we struggle with awkward subjects. We make the mistake of believing that sex has nothing to do with the gospel. But God’s Word says otherwise. The Bible is overwhelmingly clear: creation is very good, and that means sex is very good when it’s used as it was created, in its God-given context of marriage (Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:23-25; Song of Songs 7:10-12). God created us male and female, and He did that on purpose. Males in their male-ness and females in their female-ness. When couples are brought together in the one-man-one-woman-one-lifetime covenant of marriage before God, they reflect His image in a unique way. According to Scripture, this points to God’s relationship with us, His church. You see, sex is a reminder of a covenant that has already been made. It physically acts out the fact that, in marriage, spouses have given their whole selves over to that other person, just like Jesus has given His whole Self over to us. Sex is an act of loving completely, faithfully, and freely, mirroring the way Jesus loves us completely, faithfully, and freely. Sex says, “I give everything I am to you. I will never leave or abandon you. I have made a covenant with you, and I will never break that covenant.” Has Jesus ever said things like that? Here’s the hard part for you, as people who, I assume, are not yet married: we cannot act out a covenant that we have not made (and that covenant must be made publicly, before God and the church). If we choose to have sex outside of marriage, we are lying with our bodies. Sex is a good gift from God, and when we misuse this good gift, it is a sin just like any other sin. But, my friends, there is abounding grace in Jesus. You can rest in the one who loves you more than anyone, including a future spouse (if that’s what He has planned for you) ever could. • Taylor Eising • How can knowing that we bear God’s image affect the way we view sexuality? • God created sex as a good gift to be shared and enjoyed by a husband and wife within marriage. Why are all other expressions of sexuality (lust, pornography, etc.) not good? • Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about questions you have about sex? God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Genesis 1:31 (CSB)

Listen to God

READ: LUKE 10:38-42 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=LUKE%2010%3A38-42&version=WEB] I often find myself caught up wondering if I’m doing enough for God or others. The Bible tells us to do good, serve God, and love others. All these things are important, but sometimes I can forget what’s most important. In Luke 10, Martha is in a similar predicament. Jesus and His disciples were staying at her house, and Martha “was distracted with much serving” (verse 40). She was serving Jesus and His disciples and being hospitable, which seems good! But her sister Mary was not helping her serve. Rather, Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet,” taking the posture of a disciple and listening to His teaching (verse 39). Martha told Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her” (verse 41-42). It’s better to sit at Jesus’s feet and listen to Him than to be distracted with serving Him. It’s not about what we can do for Jesus, but what Jesus has done and is doing. God is calling us to be with Him and listen. We don’t need to be anxious about serving or doing “enough.” Jesus has already done enough. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. All we need to do is listen. When we come to Him in belief, He forgives our sins and gives us the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit means God dwells in us and we are always with Him. So we are always free to set aside the distractions and draw near to Him. • Elizabeth Cooper • Have you been striving to do “enough” to serve God? How can knowing that Jesus has already done enough help us rest in Him? • God calls us to serve Him, but He also calls us to listen to Him. What is the difference between serving God as we listen to and rely on Him, versus serving God as a distraction from listening to and being with Him? Who are trusted Christians you could talk with more about this? • In some cultures and communities, being busy and sometimes overworking is seen as a good thing. But this is not the way of God’s kingdom (Matthew 11:28-30). Do you struggle with overworking yourself? How could you set aside time in your day just to rest and be with God? “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (WEB)