Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-18; 12:8-10; HEBREWS 4:14-16; 12:1-3   Sharp and sheer, Against the white-washed sky, Winter trees stand stark and frozen— Not a leaf to greet the eye.   Thick and thin, Limbs lifted to the wind, Shining in the morning sun, Side by side they stand.   Crisp and clear, Awash in winter’s glory, Patiently they wait, watching— Certain of the coming spring.   I don’t know about you, but I tend to “wish away the winter.” But one cold morning God grabbed my attention as I rode by a small grove of trees— sparkling like slender diamonds in the sun, their naked limbs coated in icy frost. As I paused to soak in this unexpected beauty, I was hit by a soft twinge of conviction. Something about those trees got to me. There they stood—barren and leafless— yet beautifully reflecting God’s creative glory. The whole scenario reminded me of another kind of beauty described in Scripture—that of the soul. Like the winter trees, we may find that God sometimes works through harsh winters in our lives, helping us mature and reflect the beauty of Christ in unexpected ways. And though some winters seem to drag on way too long, we can be sure that God will redeem our sorrows. For Jesus goes before us in facing hardship (Hebrews 4:15). And in His grace, God gives us “endurance and encouragement” (Romans 15:5). Thus, the strength to endure hard times is not something we have to dredge up by our own will power! So let’s pray for the grace to receive this endurance, so that even in our barren seasons we may, like the winter trees, be found glorifying “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6). • G. Kam Congleton • Can you think of a time God gave you endurance and encouragement through a difficult season of your life? What was that like? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)

READ: ACTS 18; ROMANS 16:3-5; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19 Who are Priscilla and Aquila? This was a question I asked as I was reading through Romans 16. They’re mentioned in verse 3, and for some reason it caught my eye. So, I looked up their names in my Bible app, and I was surprised to learn their story! In Acts 18, we find that Paul first met this married couple in Corinth. Paul had come to Corinth to continue his ministry. Aquila was originally from Italy, but because he was a Jew he had been ordered to leave Rome. So, both he and his wife Priscilla (or “Prisca” in more formal Greek) traveled to Corinth. When they met Paul, they began to work together as tentmakers. Acts 18 goes on to tell us that after “some time” the couple traveled with Paul to Ephesus. This is where Priscilla and Aquila stayed, while Paul moved on. Then Apollos came to Ephesus too. Apollos was already a good teacher who had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, but he had some significant gaps in his understanding of Jesus. So, “when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). I don’t know about you, but this verse amazed me! I’ve heard of Apollos many times before, and I’ve heard about how great a teacher he was. It’s cool to know that this seemingly humble, inconspicuous couple was able to explain the way of God to him more adequately! The Bible mentions Priscilla and Aquila three more times. In 1 Corinthians 16:19, Paul says, “Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.” Here we learn that this welcoming couple hosted a church in their home, as churches meeting in homes was common at the time. And in two other letters, Paul sends them greetings (Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:19). This couple is not very well-known, but they seem to have meant a great deal to Paul. And the way they welcomed people and shared the love of the Lord can be an inspiration to us today. • Kimberly Brokish • The gospel is amazing, and as we grow in our understanding of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we are compelled to share it with others in a number of ways. Some of us are called to be missionaries like Paul, and others are called to be more like Priscilla and Aquila—offering hospitality, teaching, and support. What gifts has God given you to help others know Him better? If you’re not sure, consider spending some time asking God, and also ask trusted Christians. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my [Paul’s] co-workers in Christ Jesus. Romans 16:3 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 119:9-16, 105; JOHN 14:5-6, 16-18 Have you ever heard the advice, “Be true to yourself,” and wondered, But what does that mean? How can you be true to yourself if you’re not one-hundred-percent sure who you are yet? After all, you’re still learning and growing—not just in your teen years but throughout your whole life. As you make choices about what to do for your education and career, if and who you will marry, what values your family will reflect, where you will live, and everything in between, these choices will influence the person you become. If you feel confused about “being true to yourself,” know that you’re not alone. I found it hard to know what choices to make every day to be true to myself when I didn’t know for sure who I was to become. Still, I had an advantage in figuring it out: I had put my trust in Jesus. My identity is first and foremost that I am a child of God, because Jesus died and rose again to forgive me and make me part of His family. Once I recognized the identity I already held, choices to be true to myself became easier. The Bible, which is God’s words to all of us, gives a lot of guidance about good and bad choices for those who want to follow Jesus Christ. As we look forward to spending eternity with Him on the new heavens and new earth, our decisions should reflect that hope. When we look to Jesus in making daily choices, we find that He sheds light on the path forward (Psalm 119:105). When we dig into God’s Word, we start discovering who we are—and we see that, ultimately, our identity is defined by our relationship to Him. In Christ, we are fully loved and forgiven. The fact that Jesus Christ is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) begins to permeate our very being. He is worth giving ourselves over to and being true to. • Ronica Stromberg • When you’re in a confusing situation, how do you decide what to do? Can you think of a time when God’s Word, the Bible, helped you decide? What was that like? • If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are new people—we are dead to sin, and we have the Holy Spirit living in us, guiding and empowering us (Romans 6:8-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:16-26). Who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of your identity in Christ, help you discern God’s guidance, and help you live in ways that honor God and reflect His love—even when it’s hard? Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; JOHN 1:1-18; 3:16-17 One of the greatest mysteries for the church to comprehend is the nature of Jesus. In the incarnation—that is, the event in which God became human— something happened that theologians call the hypostatic union. This refers to the union of two natures in one person: Jesus is one-hundred-percent human and one-hundred-percent divine. He is fully human and fully God. To save the world, God did not simply appear from heaven and announce what was going to be done. But in Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, God was born into the world like any other human being. If you read the account of Jesus’s birth in Matthew’s Gospel, you will notice that the author presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). It’s as if Matthew is saying, this child who has been born in Bethlehem, He is human, but He is also God. One thing that the event of the incarnation teaches us is that God planned, decided, and executed the project of drawing near to human beings in Jesus. It’s as if Jesus moved to our neighborhood. And when Jesus died and rose again, He broke down the wall that separated us from God (Matthew 27:50-51; Ephesians 2:11-18). In this way, God drew near to human beings, and He made the way for us to draw near to Him as He calls us to Himself. Today, if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can say that He is close to us, not only when we are aware that we need Him, but always. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says to His followers, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” From the beginning to the end of his Gospel, Matthew is trying to communicate something to us: God is with us in Jesus! In this week of Advent, when we await the birth and coming of our Lord Jesus, let us remember that, in the midst of feasts, loneliness, gifts, sorrows, banquets, and need, Jesus is our eternal companion. God never abandons us! Jesus, thank You for being Immanuel, God living with us. Thank You for dying for our sins so we could be in Your eternal company—You are with us at all times, and You never abandon us. Today, help us notice and rest in Your company in our lives. Amen. • Samir Eljagh • Have you ever thought about how Jesus became human because He loves you and wants to be with you? How does this make you feel? Is it hard to believe it’s true? You can always ask God to help you know for sure that what He says about Himself, and about you, is true. (Ephesians 3:14-21) “And they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 5:43-48; EPHESIANS 4:26, 31-32 Have you ever worn a full backpack for more than a few minutes? When you first put it on, it doesn’t seem too bad. But after walking across campus or standing in line for a while, it can feel like that backpack is getting heavier and heavier. Of course, you didn’t add anything to your load. But as your back gets more tired, it can certainly feel like the backpack weighs more. Sometimes, anger and bitterness can work like that too. At first, it may seem easy to carry around a grudge against someone who’s hurt you. But after a while, it starts to get very heavy. It wears you out and drains your energy, leaving you exhausted and sore. But Jesus offers us a different way. Instead of stubbornly clinging to our resentment, Jesus tells us to hand it over to Him. As we rely on Jesus, He replaces our hatred with His love and forgiveness (Ezekiel 36:26). And this is only possible because He died and rose again to forgive our sin. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we don’t have to carry around our anger and bitterness anymore. Through His Word, His Holy Spirit, and His people, God reminds us of how much Jesus loves and forgives us, and that truth frees us to extend that same love and forgiveness to others. Have you ever felt the heaviness of anger and bitterness in your heart? Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end, unforgiveness hurts. It weighs on both you and the person you’re angry at. But, when you find yourself getting mad at someone, you don’t have to let your anger fester and hurt your relationship. Instead, with the Holy Spirit’s help, you can honestly tell that person how you feel and be willing to forgive. Remember, Jesus died for our sins and rose again so we could know His love and forgiveness and show it to others. We can always give our grudges to Jesus, and then trust Him to help us forgive those who have hurt us. • A. W. Smith • Can you remember a time Jesus helped you let go of a grudge? What was that like? • Sometimes, letting go of anger and bitterness is easier said than done. It can be a process—and that’s okay! Whenever we notice it starting to resurface in our hearts, we can bring it straight to Jesus. He is eager to help us lay these burdens down. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you process the hurts you’ve experienced with Jesus and, if necessary, set up good boundaries? Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 4:3-42; 7:37-39; REVELATION 7:16-17 The drought in Xzerio had gone on for a year. People were so thirsty they were fainting in the hot streets. That is why I came up into the mountains—I hoped to find water. I plod on. Then, I see a glimmer up ahead. What is it? Lakes! Three lakes, shimmering in front of me. I rush toward the first one. A sign, made of gold, is engraved with the words “The Lake of Wealth.” Leaning over the water, I see jewels lying on the lake floor. But what do jewels matter? I am too thirsty. I fill my cupped hands with water. “K-ph-eul!” I spit the water out, rubbing my tongue in an attempt to get rid of the incredibly, awfully sweet flavor of the water. I can’t find the words to describe it. I am still desperately thirsty though, and I can only hope that the other lakes are not like the Lake of Wealth. I run along the gold dust shore toward the second lake. Its waters sparkle against white sands. A huge sign with brightly colored letters blares out, “Fame Lake.” Here I am still faster to fill my cupped hands and bring the water to my lips. I start coughing and collapse on the sand. My tongue! My mouth! That couldn’t have been water. It was liquified dryness and bitterness! I begin to run. I will run down the mountain before I find out what the third lake will do to me. But I am too thirsty. I find myself heading toward the third lake. I will only taste a little. Just the smallest sip. The lake is calm, with green grass along its banks. A modest board is carved with only two words: “Living Water.” I kneel and drink. Everything changes. My dry mouth feels moist again. I feel strength and…and joy flowing back into my body. I feel as though I’ll never be thirsty again! I yank out my waterskin and fill it. Then, I run down the mountain, eager to share the news of this Living Water with everyone I meet. • Lorna Garlets • Have you ever felt like the character in today’s allegorical story, desperate for something to soothe your pain, but sorely disappointed at every turn? Jesus has so much compassion on us, and He wants us to come to Him. Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about your longings. • In John 4, Jesus sat down by a well in the heat of the day, and then He talked with a Samaritan woman who came there every day to draw water. Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but… the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus knew about this woman’s messy past, and He loved her. He offered her living water and told her that He is the Messiah, the Savior who has come into the world. Why is Jesus the only one who can truly satisfy our deepest longings? • Because of God’s overflowing love for us, Jesus was willing to die a terrible death to save us from sin. And then, He was raised from the dead to give us new life. Each of us is in need of His living water every day of our lives—and, praise be to God, He freely gives it to us! If you’d like to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page. • After meeting Jesus, the Samaritan woman ran to tell everyone about Him, and many more people believed in Him! Who is someone in your life you could share the good news of Jesus with? How could you share about the living water Jesus gives you daily, and invite them to come and see for themselves that Jesus really is better than we could hope? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person and ask God to help you notice opportunities to show His love and share His good news. “But whoever drinks the water I [Jesus] give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of w...

READ: PSALM 63; JEREMIAH 33:3; COLOSSIANS 2:2-8 I don’t have time for devotions. Not today. Have you ever had this thought before? I know I certainly have. I mean, who has time for devotions? We’re busy, growing young adults. We have family, friends, school, sports, hobbies, jobs…the list goes on and on. In all the chaos—fun as it can sometimes be—it’s easy to think that we don’t have time for God. That other things are more important, and we can just have our devotions later. And then it gets put off. Again. And again. And again. The funny thing is, skipping devotions doesn’t make our lives easier. In the moment, maybe we have that extra couple of minutes to finish that last bit of homework, or stay on social media just a little longer. But we weren’t designed to be alone. God created us to have a relationship with Him. That’s what our ultimate purpose is—to know God. Or, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. All these other things—sports, friends, school, hobbies, family, you name it—are amazing. They can be crazy fun, and it’s good to enjoy these good gifts from God. …But when God is first in our lives, everything becomes so much better. We have purpose behind our passion. As we regularly spend time in the Bible, learning about how much God loves us, how He saves and redeems us through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, and how He calls us to follow Him, our lives become rich in meaning and full of hope. I really noticed the difference when I was at camp last year. We had half an hour for devotions every day. And the more I did them…the more I really wanted to spend time with God. It doesn’t have to be much. Even just ten or fifteen minutes a day. But as we spend time in God’s Word, we find that it draws us. We start thirsting after Him and yearning to know Him more. It gives a whole new meaning to life. And when we press in to relationship with Jesus, we become more like Him. And life becomes a whole lot more incredible. • Chloe Ludlum • If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God is always with us. Yet, He still calls us to spend intentional time with Him, reading His Word and talking to Him in prayer. When is a good time of day for you to set aside a few minutes, maybe even an hour, to spend time with God? But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 (NIV)

READ: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-14; MATTHEW 28:20; ROMANS 8:35-39 Have you ever seen a plant that’s been repotted? If a potted plant gets too big, it needs to be moved to a bigger pot so it can grow and flourish. But, when you first put it in its new home, it may look droopy. That’s because it’s in a state of shock from being uprooted. Yet, if someone takes care of it, the plant will soon take root in the new dirt and get the nourishment it needs. With time, it will even start to thrive. Have you ever felt like a repotted plant—ripped out of a familiar situation and placed in a new one? This can happen when we move, or a relationship changes, or we have a health struggle, or we change schools. We might feel like a droopy plant in a state of shock. And it’s okay to feel that way. Being uprooted and making a new start is difficult. We may feel overwhelmed or helpless. It may seem like we’ll never adjust. But, like a potted plant, we have someone looking after us. Jesus is with us through every new change, and He will take care of us. He’ll give us the strength we need to adjust to each new situation. So, if you’ve just gone through a big change, remember that the state of shock is temporary. It won’t be like this forever. Eventually you will adjust, and grow, and even thrive. And in the meantime, you can lean on Jesus. Like a capable and attentive gardener, He promises to take care of you. His love for you always stays the same, and He wants to walk with you through this season of change, mourning what was lost and celebrating the good things that are to come. It may not be easy adjusting to a new situation, but you can trust Jesus to give you courage and strength as you acclimate to your new surroundings, and to help you thrive in the new place He has planted you. • A. W. Smith • Changes—even good changes—can take a toll on us. They can leave us feeling exhausted physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But Jesus offers us stability, refreshment, and rest. Can you remember a time when you felt disoriented by changes in your life? As you look back, can you see any ways Jesus was caring for you in that time? • It’s easy to let good habits drop off when we go through a life change. But habits like prayer, Bible reading, and worshiping with other Christians can be powerful ways that Jesus sustains, energizes, and comforts us through changes. When life feels busy or just plain overwhelming, what are some ways you can incorporate intentional moments with Jesus throughout your day? He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 1:29; ROMANS 6:8-11; HEBREWS 10:1-25 I sat against my bunk bed. I had just realized that after being a believer for sixteen years, I didn’t understand Jesus. I know this sounds strange—and trust me, it was. I was devastated and confused. I had put my trust in Jesus at five years old and faithfully served ever since. But I realized that I didn’t really understand the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. I narrowed my questions down to the fact that I didn’t get why Jesus didn’t stay dead. I didn’t think it was fair. If the cost of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and we as humans would be separated from God’s presence forever if we didn’t receive His rescue, why didn’t Jesus have to do the same? Yikes. Those are kind of scary statements. But they were big questions that I’d never asked…that I’d never heard anyone else ask. So, what did I do? I spoke to my Christian mentors. I read multiple books about the heart of Jesus. I spent a lot of time praying. And I can confidently say that today, I feel close to Jesus. And I can personally testify to His unending, unfailing grace in a way I couldn’t before. While it may feel uncomfortable to ask certain questions about our faith, it’s imperative if we ever want to grow. The Lord invites questions. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” And, by the way, the reason Jesus didn’t stay dead is because He completed the sacrifice. Before Jesus went to the cross, God’s people had to make repeated sacrifices for their sins. They had to use the best of their crops and animals for these sacrifices. But no sacrifice was perfect. Jesus? He’s perfect. And He loves us so much that He was willing to give up His life for us. Because Jesus is the sinless sacrifice, and He is God in flesh, He was able to take all our sin upon Himself, satisfying the righteousness of God. So, He completed the sacrifice once and for all. I like to imagine that He “broke the system.” And now we’re free. • Natty Maelle • What questions do you have about your faith? Who is a trusted friend, parent, counselor, or pastor you could talk to about these questions? Remember, there are some questions we may never get answers to. After all, we’re humans trying to understand things on God’s level. How does that make you feel? Consider taking some time to talk to God about these feelings. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 15:13-15; ROMANS 3:21-24; 15:7; 1 JOHN 1:8–2:2 Are you good enough? I’m not. Not nearly good enough to please all those voices that tell me to do better, try harder, be perfect. How I’ve tried! Many of us are side-lined perfectionists, watching from the benches while other brighter, bolder, better perfectionists are in the game, seemingly living that gleaming, perfect, successful life where they seem to shine. “Seem” is the definitive word! All the posts and pictures that dominate our feeds make these perfected humans “seem” so perfect. Better than us, for sure. But it’s all an illusion. Not real, not at all. Perhaps they project the illusion that they themselves want so badly to believe. “Maybe, if I appear this way—beautiful, smart, athletic, successful—I will eventually believe it myself.” Because, believe it or not, those who seem so put-together struggle with the same inadequacies that we do. Turns out, humans just aren’t perfect—it’s been that way since humans first sinned. We can’t always achieve high marks, make the team, or have a slew of friends. But I’ll tell you what we do have. As believers in Jesus, we have Him as our Friend. Such a Friend! He will always have your back, include you, and love you exactly the way you are. His love never fails. And He doesn’t require you to be better, try harder, be perfect, measure up. Instead, God in Christ extends to each of us this marvelous, extraordinary gift called grace. Grace is God’s unearned favor, the kind of love and acceptance and inclusion that we all dream of enjoying. But the marvelous truth is, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus can enjoy God’s grace every day. And then, do you know what we can do with this wonderful grace of God? We receive it. We daily remind ourselves that, despite our imperfections, God loved us so much that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so He could give us this grace. And then we give it out freely, to everybody around us. • Kristen Merrill • In what ways have you tried to measure up? Do you ever feel like you’re pretending to be the person you want to be? How could it be freeing to rest in Jesus’s grace and love for you instead? • Do you feel far away from this free gift of grace? Maybe a bit distant from God? As Christians, sometimes this happens when we have unconfessed sin we need to take to God in prayer. Other times, it may be we’ve been believing things about God that aren’t true, and that makes it hard to feel close to Him. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can walk with you when you’re struggling? (If you’ve never received the grace of Jesus, you can find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:8; MATTHEW 6:25-34; JOHN 10:3-5 I was 24 years old, and I was bawling. I sat halfway down a mountain slope, one ski at my feet and the other several yards uphill where it had landed when I’d crashed. I had actually chosen this area of snow to land on, as leaping into a snowbank in order to stop had seemed less frightening than continuing to hurtle down the mountain. I was overwhelmed, soaked with wet snow, and quite done with skiing. Unfortunately, I realized there was no way to reach the bottom of the hill without continuing down it. Suddenly I heard a familiar voice and looked up to see my dad, who had followed me and watched me crash. He dropped my escaped ski beside me and helped me put them both on again. This time, he promised, he was going to show me something different, rather than the pizza-shaped ski formation I’d learned that morning—which had apparently failed me in my hour of need (I found out later I’d pulled a muscle). He directed me to angle my skis perpendicular to the mountain and go very, very slowly across the snow, turning sharply to keep the position. “Don’t look down the mountain,” he advised. “It’ll scare you and you might give up. Just look at the snow right in front of your skis, and follow in my tracks.” As long as I kept this thought firmly in my head—don’t look down; follow his tracks—I found I was alright. I even started having fun. Since then, overwhelming moments in my life have brought my dad’s words to mind, only now I hear them from the perspective of my Father in heaven. I imagine God saying, “Don’t look too far ahead; it’ll scare you and you might give up. Just follow the tracks I’m placing right in front of you. We’ll make it down together—I promise.” • Kathryn Venegas • God wants to help us follow Him, and often He calls us to just focus on the very next step of today—not the next five, just the next one! He leads and guides us through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). And remember, even when we mess up and crash, Jesus has promised to be with us and help us (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 4:14-16). Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you see where He is leaving tracks for you to follow. • Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern the next steps God might be inviting you to take in your life, and who can also help you get back up when you fall? Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 139:14-18; MATTHEW 6:26; 10:29-31; EPHESIANS 2:10 I love snow. I love the way the delicate little snowflakes dance and spin as they fall from the sky. I love it when they all pile up into fluffy, white, satisfyingly smooth mounds. I love the way they look, with each little ice crystal so small, beautiful and intricate all at the same time. And yet, you’d think with just how much snow falls every year, surely there’d have to be some identical snowflakes. But no two snowflakes are ever the same. God put time, thought, and effort into everything He made. He even took care to make these little ice crystals wonderfully complex, each with their very own design. Each one is unique. Each one is beautiful. Each one is caringly crafted by God. Just like you and me. God made each of us unique and beautiful, and He took great care when He created us (Ephesians 2:10). He gave us each our own features, personalities, spiritual gifts, and even our own stories to live out. He takes so much time shaping you and me, thinking of you and me, and caring for you and me. We are His masterpieces, and He loves us so much we can’t even begin to understand it (Ephesians 3:18-19). He put much love into making us, just the way we are. So the next time someone tries to make you feel less-than, worthless, or like you don’t matter, think of the snowflakes. Think about how intricate and complicated they are, and how God even put care into making these little ice crystals that we hardly ever notice. Then think about how much more important you are to God, and how much more He cares for you and loves you. Remember that no matter what anyone says, you are “wonderfully complex” and “marvelous” (Psalm 139:14). You are God’s masterpiece. • Anna Tuckfield • As humans, we’re much more valuable to God than everything else in creation. He proved how great His love for us truly is when Jesus died and rose again, making the way for us to be with Him forever. Have you ever felt more like a toddler’s scribble than a magnificent masterpiece? God grieves these hurts with us, and He invites us to come to Him in prayer. He wants to help us feel His great love for us and comfort us with the truth that we are His handiwork. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us a new in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

READ: 1 SAMUEL 20:32-42; LUKE 1:26-45; HEBREWS 2:18 Do you know Mary’s story well? It begins when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would be carrying the Messiah, the Son of God. Mary was a virgin and probably a teenager at the time. How did she explain this to her parents? Did they believe her? Did she tell her peers? Did they think she was crazy? These are some of the questions that came to my mind. But there’s something about Mary’s story I never noticed until recently: Mary’s story contains a beautiful picture of true friendship. God knew that Mary would probably have a tough time finding someone to believe her—even her fiancé Joseph had doubts at first. God understood how Mary felt and provided her a friend! That person was Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin. Like Mary, Elizabeth had experienced a miracle from God. Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age after being childless for many years. She was able to understand what Mary was going through and believe her. In fact, when Mary went to look for Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy (Luke 1:41-44). Both pregnant women were able to share each other’s joys and burdens. Another example of true friendship in the Bible is David and Jonathan in the Old Testament. They were great friends even though Jonathan’s father, King Saul, wanted to kill David because David was chosen by God to be the next king. Despite this opposition, Jonathan went against his father and protected David. They had sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, and they parted in tears at the end (1 Samuel 20:41-42). Friendship is a wonderful gift from God. Sometimes God provides a special person to support us in our times of need. It may be a neighbor, or a church friend who has gone through a similar experience, or somebody else. But that’s not all. God sent His Son Jesus to earth. Jesus is able to understand all the pain, suffering, and temptations we go through. So whenever we’re facing hardships or temptation, we can turn to Jesus for help (Hebrews 2:18; 4:14-16). He is our dear friend who will never forsake us (John 15:13-15; Hebrews 13:5). • Kelly Choy • Do you have someone you can confide in? If so, consider taking a moment to thank God for bringing this friend into your life. If not, you can ask God for this anytime. • Is there anyone in your life you could come alongside of and support through a difficult time? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person and ask God for His guidance and help. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

READ: PSALMS 106:1-2; 146:6-10; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18   When I look at my hands, each finger formed by You, When I feel the wind, each breath coming because of You, When I hear the noise of a crowd or the quiet of a peaceful place, All of this points to You. How can I not thank You?   When I move my body, all my strength given by You, When I blink in the sunshine, the brightness coming from You, When I listen to the trickle of a stream or the boom of thunder, All of this points to a creator. How can I not thank You?   When I feel stressed then have tensions eased, When hard things come up then somehow go away, When fear or grief fills my body, but I can still go forward, All of this is because of you. How can I not thank You?   Whether bringing me joy when I am down Or showing Your love through created things, Whether listening when I need to talk or speaking to me To show me the way, Whether taking the pain or just being with me in it, I thank you for everything You are. Because of You, I will forever be filled with gratitude. • Emily Acker   • Do you ever get caught up in thinking about all God has done for you? As we notice God’s good gifts and thank Him, we often find that our confidence in His goodness grows. Consider taking some time to thank Him right now. You could start by just looking at your own body and how it all works, or feeling the wind and the sunshine, or remembering a time God helped you. And even when it’s hard to think of anything we can be sincerely thankful for, we can always thank Jesus for coming to save us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the sure hope of living with Him in renewed creation, forever free of all pain and sorrow. And that good gift outshines them all. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 12:1-3; JOHN 1:1-13; GALATIANS 4:4-6 For many people, the word family evokes ideas like safety, love, acceptance, and happiness. But for others, family evokes ideas like anxiety, strife, fear, and rejection. God established the family as the first human social structure, starting with the first marriage between the first man and woman as part of the “very good” world He created; He intended their family to multiply and flourish as they ruled the world on His behalf (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:18-25). That all changed, however, when the humans rejected God and rebelled against Him. Everything in God’s creation began to break down into evil, chaos, and corruption. Not only did their sin fracture their relationship with God, but it also fractured their relationships with each other. Where the family had once been a place of love and trust, it was now fractured by selfishness and distrust. These deep-seated sinful propensities affect every family today. But God did not give up on our now greatly-extended human family, although He would have been justified in doing so. Instead, He chose one very fractured and dysfunctional family—the family of Abraham—through whom He promised to restore His blessings to all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3). Despite this family’s long history of being continually unfaithful to Him, God was still faithful to keep His promise by sending His own Son, Jesus, to be born into the family of Abraham. Jesus is fully human, yet He never sinned. He lived as the perfect representative of all humans (Romans 5:17). Through His death for our sins and His resurrection from the dead, Jesus made the way for all people—all members of the human family—to be reconciled to God. He wants to make us part of His eternal family. In Jesus there is hope and healing available for every person and for every fractured family. • Kayla Esguerra • What comes to mind when you think of the word family? Why? • What are some practical ways you could demonstrate God’s loving and faithful heart to your family this week, such as praying for them, serving them, or encouraging them? • If you’ve experienced a deep hurt from someone in your family, who are trusted adults in your life who can help you set up healthy boundaries? • Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is adopted into God’s family! If you want to learn more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page. And if you want to dig deeper, read Romans 4:16; 5:12-21; Galatians 3:7, 29; Ephesians 1:5; 2:19-22. See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 (WEB)

READ: ISAIAH 53:1-6; LUKE 15:1-10 Shivers snaked through my body. I blinked. The sun lit the surrounding snow with gleaming white light. I pushed my curls out of my eyes and away from the wound on my head. I touched the bruising and winced; the memory flooded back. After we lost the fugitive, a fight broke out. Of course, the others would leave me here. I muttered something unsavory. “Welcome, my child.” I snapped my head around, taking in the warm fire and the man sitting across from me. My eyes swam from the sudden motion, but my hand crushed a fistful of my fur cloak. I recognized him. “You came to Abaddon last year. I thought the Elders told you to stay away. We don’t want any of your nonsense about our home being destroyed!” The glint in the depth of his green eyes dimmed with sadness. “Yes, you have rejected me, but I have not given up on you. I would still guide you to Zahar, the Shining City.” “I need to go home.” I tried to push myself up but fell back, my head spinning. The snow crunched as he stood and walked to me. He offered his hand. “Let me help you.” “No! I need to go back. I have too much to do.” I rolled out of his reach, crawling until the snow turned black with soot and the sun darted behind a cloud. That night wolves howled in the distance. Exhausted from crawling toward my home, I curled into a ball. Why hadn’t anyone from Abaddon searched for me? I wasn’t far away. I could hear the laughter. But of course, no one came. I was the only one to ensure my success. I was alone. The wolves howled again, and the wind sent icy needles through my furs. Tears rose unbidden with the knowledge I would die here, and no one would care. “Let me help you." A warm hand rested on my shoulder. I rolled over and looked up into his green eyes. “Please,” I whispered. He placed a hand on my head and the pain dissipated. He offered his hand again, and I took it. The laughter from Abaddon seemed cold and indifferent. He led me away up the rising path into the mountains. Presently the moon came out and lit the path in silver light. • M. M. Liles • In Luke 15, Jesus tells a parable of a shepherd who loses one sheep, so he goes after it and searches until he finds it. In the same way, Jesus pursues us. He comes after us, even when we’re stubborn and determined to go our own way. Even when we’ve gotten into trouble because of our own sins and failures. In what ways have you been pushing God away lately? What have you been tempted to turn to instead of turning to Jesus—such as hard work, busyness, other people, fleeting pleasures, etc.? Consider taking a moment to imagine Jesus coming after you, extending His hand to help you. • Jesus is the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus knows that we will die without Him, and He wants to rescue us and give us life “to the full” (John 10:10). That’s why He was willing to endure the cross for us. Because He died and rose again, we can have new life. If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page. • Once we put our trust in Jesus, we are forgiven and set free from sin, and the things we used to go to for security or pleasure or purpose might lose their appeal. After all, most sin comes down to loving the wrong things, or loving the right things in the wrong way. But Jesus loves us more than we could imagine. Life with Him is rich in meaning, and He gives us joy and peace far beyond what any created thing can offer. Has there ever been a time in your life when an old sin pattern lost its appeal? What was that like? • If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 7:13-14; 16:21-28; 24:1-35; Mark 6:34;...

READ: ROMANS 12:13; HEBREWS 13:2; 1 PETER 4:7-10 Did you know that all Christians are called to some sort of ministry? You don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to have a ministry—the fact is, God commands all Christians to minister to others. The word ministry basically means service. And in Galatians 5:13, all Christians are instructed to “serve one another humbly in love” just as Jesus served us. What does this service, or ministry, look like? Well, God gives each of us spiritual gifts to use to serve others in various ways, and yet there are a number of ways every Christian is called to serve (1 Peter 4:9-10). And one ministry that all Christians are encouraged to participate in is hospitality. Hospitality is welcoming others and treating them in a warm, friendly way. Often that involves being willing to share our home and meals with guests. Hospitality is just one of the ways we show people God’s love, but it’s an important way—because hospitality reveals the heart of the gospel. Think about it. Jesus warmly welcomes each of us into His family. God calls us to Himself, gives us a home with Him, and shares all He has with us. That’s why it’s important for us as Christians to be welcoming toward others. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Some people welcome traveling missionaries or international students—or even complete strangers—into their homes. As a teenager, you probably don’t have a home of your own to offer others. But you could talk to your family about ways you could extend hospitality to people who need it. And maybe you can offer hospitality to your friends by inviting them over, offering them a meal or a snack, and making them feel safe and welcomed. Or maybe you could invite someone new to sit with you at lunch or in church. As you go about your daily life, be on the lookout for ways you could make others feel included and valued. And if your family opens up your home to others, you can take part in showing hospitality. When you help prepare meals, wash extra dishes, or give up your room in order to welcome guests, you can show them the love of Jesus. Because He warmly welcomes us into His family and shares all He has with us, we have the opportunity to show others what a kind and hospitable host He is by treating them the same way. • A. W. Smith • Can you remember a time when someone extended hospitality to you? What was that like? • How does Jesus’s love for us enable us to extend hospitality to others? Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34 Since I was young, I’ve often had to remind myself to just consider the next moment instead of trying to figure out everything that’s going to happen in the future. The truth is, it’s all in God’s hands, so I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. I don’t have to get stressed about what I’ll be doing in an hour or how things are going to turn out today. All I need to do is live in this moment. Take it slow. Just a little at a time. In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (verse 34). I get too stressed when I try to take on everything at once. I quickly realize I can’t control everything I want to. And sometimes, it’s best to just let go. It’s good to know I don’t have control over everything, but God does. My thoughts don’t always have to be on tomorrow, or further in the future, because God is already taking care of it all. As Jesus says, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (verse 32-33). God loves me, and He just wants me to live in the present and do what I can now, focusing on His presence with me and how He’s calling me to participate in His kingdom. I can’t handle everything at once. I’m not capable of doing that, much as I might want to. When I try to take on too much, I get overwhelmed. I worry that the future won’t be all that I want it to be. But when I trust God with my life instead, it’s easier to feel content in this moment. And I know He will gently lead me to the next. • Bethany Acker • In what ways do you find yourself worrying about the future? While it’s good to make plans to use our time wisely and consider how our actions will affect the future, it’s ultimately not our job to make the future turn out the way we think it should. And when we get wrapped up in trying to control the future, we may miss out on what God is doing here and now. Next time you’re distracted by worries about the future, consider bringing your worries to God in prayer, then ask Him to guide your attention to what He’s doing in this present moment. • As Christians, how can knowing that we are forever held in God’s love—and our eternal future is already secure—free us to follow Jesus moment by moment? (Romans 8:31-39) “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 23:27-28; EPHESIANS 2:4-10; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-9 Have you ever cut into a shiny red tomato, only to find it was all rotten in the middle? It may have looked perfect on the outside—not even a bruise. But inside, it’s mushy and not fit to be eaten. Sometimes we are like that rotten tomato. Many of us put up a good front. We may do good things—we follow the rules, read the Bible every day, volunteer at church, and help out at home. We look great on the outside! But God sees the sin in each of our hearts. He knows what we’re really like on the inside. The truth is, all of us sin. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.” Apart from Jesus, our hearts are sinful and deceitful even when our actions look impeccable. Doing good things doesn’t make us good. So what can we do? We can’t make a rotten tomato good, and we can’t fix our rotten hearts either. But God can. Jesus took all of that mushy, rotten sin upon Himself when He died on the cross in our place—then He was resurrected from the dead to free us from sin and death. When we stop trying to make ourselves good and instead trust Jesus to save us, He removes our sin and gives us His righteousness. He gives us new hearts, free from the decay of sin (Ezekiel 36:26). In the end, we can’t make ourselves look good to God by doing good things. That might make us look good to other people, but God sees our hearts—He knows we’re sinners. We need Jesus. Only He can save us from sin and give us good hearts. Once we put our trust in Jesus, we will still struggle with sin until the day He returns, but we can rest knowing that in Him we are forgiven, and He has purified our hearts through faith (Acts 15:9). • A. W. Smith . • When are you tempted to trust in your own good deeds to make you righteous in God’s eyes? We all fall into this from time to time, and we all need to be continually reminded of the gospel ("Know Jesus" page). Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to help you notice ways you are trusting in your own goodness— and to recognize how you fall short. You can ask Him to help you trust in Jesus’s goodness instead, and you can thank Him for His sure forgiveness. We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

READ: PSALMS 46:1-3; 61:1-3; MATTHEW 14:22-33; HEBREWS 13:8   You are my refuge and strength, My strong tower in the storm. So I do not shudder as The clouds darken.   You promised peace In the midst of turmoil, Peace that does not falter, So I stand firm as the thunder rolls.   And as the rain pours down I remind myself of the one Who walked upon the waves To reach for me in the storm.   And though the wind howls and The waters threaten to overwhelm me, I will keep my gaze on You, The only one who never changes. • Emily Gwaltney   • Which line sticks out to you most in this poem? Why? Can you find a verse from today’s Scriptures that inspired this line? • What kinds of storms have you experienced lately? We all go through storms, like doubt, fear, uncertainty…upheaval in our relationships, finances, or health…or struggles with sin. But in every storm, Jesus is with us. As we fix our gaze on Him, we find peace and strength in His unwavering love for us (Hebrews 12:1-3). Jesus has already saved us from the greatest storm of being lost forever, so all the other storms we experience pale in comparison. Like Jesus reached out to save Peter when he was sinking beneath the waves, Jesus reached out for us (Matthew 14:31). He came to rescue us from sin and death by dying for us and rising again. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can look forward to the day He will return,and every storm will finally be stilled. And in the meantime, we can always find refuge in Him. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)