Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: JOHN 14:18; REVELATION 21:1-5; 22:20 One semester, while my friend was taking a seminary class on Tuesday mornings, I’d watch her two-year-old daughter. These mornings were typically filled with coloring, reading books, eating snacks, and other fun things my friend’s daughter and I enjoyed doing together. One morning though, this dear little toddler was really missing her mom. As we played all her usual favorite games, she would occasionally get very quiet and say, “Mama home soon.” When this happened, I would say, “That’s right. Mama will be home soon. She loves you so much and can’t wait to come back to see you.” Sure enough, her mom did arrive soon, and both mother and daughter were so happy to see each other. This interaction with my friend’s daughter kind of reminded me of what it’s like waiting for Jesus to come back, and how excited I’ll be when I finally see Him face-to-face! But right now, we live in a world that’s broken by sin and its effects. We see all that brokenness and sadness and hurt—which is only amplified by the information overload we’re experiencing at this time in history. Yet, we can rest in Jesus’s love. He longs to be with us, and He has promised that He will return to make everything new, free from the brokenness we see right now. In the meantime, He is present with us through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people (the church). When my friend’s daughter would say, “Mama home soon,” it made me think about how the Bible records that the early church was eagerly waiting for Jesus to come back, and they would often say “Maranatha” in Aramaic, which in English means, “Come soon, Jesus!” That’s my prayer too. I long for the day Jesus will return—it will be a day of celebration! Our loving King will make all things new, and we will be together forever—with Him and with all our siblings in Christ, all who put their trust in Jesus. Like my friend and her daughter were so happy to see each other after being apart, when we meet Jesus face-to-face, we will be filled with such incredible joy—a joy that will never end (John 16:22). • Aurora Scriver • What are you most looking forward to about Jesus’s return? What questions do you have? • What can Matthew 28:20, Luke 13:34, and John 14:18 reveal about Jesus’s love for us? • Are there any moms or mother figures in your life who’ve shown God’s love to you? Consider taking a moment to thank God for them, and maybe thank the person/people too! He [Jesus] who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20-21 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 20:1-16; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-15 Veena had to hold herself back from running to the fruit stand. She’d finished her first week on the job—pulling weeds from the pine-melon fields—and now after a long week, she’d saved enough money to buy one of her own. The deep green melons shone in the morning sun, each one perfectly ripe. It would make the perfect breakfast. Veena carefully looked over the melons and picked out the best one. She handed her large silver coins to the vendor and awaited her change. Something was wrong. The vendor scowled at the coins and then turned that scowl to Veena. “Where’ja get these?” He held up her wages. “I just got paid this morning. I-I work on the pine-melon farm,” Veena stuttered, panic creeping into her voice. “These…” The vendor clinked the coins on the counter for emphasis. “Are fakes. How’d you even get your hands on these? And what kind of establishment do ya think I’m running here that I wouldn’t recognize fake coin?” Now he was shouting at Veena. Tears started to well up in her eyes. “I didn’t know! I promise I didn’t know! This is my first job. I just thought—” Someone interrupted Veena, stepping between her and the vendor. “Excuse me, kind sir. I’ll pay for the pine-melons. One for me and one for the young lady.” This stranger gave Veena a glance, noting her shrunken frame and shaky hands. “Actually, make that five for the lady and one for me.” The man dropped two golden coins on the table and picked out his melons, handing the five to Veena. The vendor grumbled but collected the money on the counter. “Th-thank you!” Veena blurted out. She didn’t even know this man, yet he’d bought her not one but five melons. “You said you worked at one of the pine-melon farms? Well, if they’re giving you fake coin as wages, why don’t you come and work for me instead? I have plenty of room for new workers in my field, and I promise the wages will be more than fair.” Veena looked up at him in astonishment. Then a smile spread across her face. With her arms full of pine-melons, she nodded and followed the generous stranger. • Naomi Zylstra • Today’s story is an allegory based on a parable Jesus told in Matthew 20:1-16. Jesus said, “So the last will be first, and the first last” (verse 16). How does this parable reveal God’s generosity? • Jesus invites us to follow Him, to entrust ourselves to His leadership. Read John 10:10-11. How has Jesus shown Himself to be worthy of our trust? (If you want to know more about trusting Jesus, check out our “Know Jesus” page.) • Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. As Christians, we follow our generous Lord, who calls us to be generous to others. What are some practical ways you could show generosity today? And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (WEB)

READ: JOHN 1:18; ROMANS 12:19; REVELATION 21:3-4 Do you have a favorite place to think or pray? I do. Most mornings I grab my coffee and head to the back porch. There, I meet with God in prayer, asking to be led by His Spirit and asking for grace to face the day. This is one way He brings me comfort. Along with prayer, Scripture reveals other ways we can know Christ’s comfort. First, we have God’s people. Scripture teaches believers that we “belong to each other” (Romans 12:5) and make up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Thus, we can say that God is present, comforting believers through one another (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Second, we find comfort in God’s Word. John 1 teaches that Christ is the Word made flesh who has “revealed God to us” (verse 18). What an unfathomable comfort. And Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word is “sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword… It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Because of this, we can take comfort in being fully known and completely loved by Christ—He is the Word of God who has come to us. Third, we have God’s promises. His final word on suffering declares two things. One, evil and pain will be hijacked (transformed and remade) into good (Romans 8:17-39). And two, every wrong will be made right: “‘I will pay them back,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). So, we can give all our desire for vengeance to God, who will ensure justice prevails at Jesus’s return. When this happens, all will be made new. “There will be no more death or sorrow… or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:3-4). When Jesus returns, we will celebrate with joy as we are made whole by the presence of God. And we will enjoy the unceasing comfort of Christ forever. • G. Kam Congleton • Although Scripture doesn’t explain why evil and suffering exist, we know suffering entered our world when sin entered it (Genesis 3). And we know that in the end, God’s goodness and justice will triumph. In the meantime, when we experience pain, we can ultimately trust in God’s love, demonstrated visibly in the person of Jesus, as Romans 8:39 says, “indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you want to dig deeper into the topic of suffering, consider reading through one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John), and ask God to help you see His love made visible in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. …God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5b (NLT)

READ: JOHN 16:33; ROMANS 8:17-39; 1 PETER 1:6-7 I once saw a bowling team that called themselves, “It’s All Good.” Wouldn’t it be awesome if the saying “it’s all good” were true? Sadly, troubles abound on earth. But even as we acknowledge these troubles, let’s also explore a promise that offers real hope for truly good endings. In Romans 8:28, Paul plainly states that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God.” And, because Paul’s readers were suffering persecution, he also poses the hard question: “Does it mean he [God] no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity…?” (verse 35). Earnestly, Paul replies, “No, despite all these things [i.e., pain and persecution], overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (verse 37). I wonder if what God calls “good” in Romans 8:28 doesn’t always match our idea of good? My idea of good might mean all my problems are gone immediately. But what does God mean by good? Romans 8:29 provides a clue. It hinges on the phrase “become like his Son.” The whole of Scripture teaches that becoming like Jesus will involve suffering. (Now, more suffering doesn’t always equal more Christlikeness—Christlikeness comes from the Holy Spirit’s work in us through the Word, not our circumstances.) But following Christ also means experiencing the good that God promises. Far more than fixing a temporary pain or problem, this good includes a glorious hijacking of evil. Today’s key verse expresses this perfectly: in Genesis 50:20, Joseph says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it…for good.” Peter expresses this idea too, expounding on the most profound reversal of evil ever: “[God’s] prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed…you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip” (Acts 2:23-24). In Christ’s resurrection, the most tragic ending is transformed into the best of new beginnings. Because Jesus rose from the dead, all God’s people will be resurrected when He returns. Jesus will make everything new, and all our problems and pain will be gone forever. Now, even in the midst of all the bad, we can say with certainty: it’s all good. • G. Kam Congleton • Can you think of a time when something bad happened in your life, and looking back, you saw God’s goodness in the midst of it? Let’s pray that God will help us recognize the lasting goodness He is working in our lives. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it…for good.” Genesis 50:20a (NLT)

READ: PSALMS 73:28; 119:67-71; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4-7; HEBREWS 12:5-12 Let’s continue our study on suffering. Suffering exists because God’s good world has been broken by sin. Today, we’ll talk about how, for believers, suffering has significance—or meaning—for our lives, both in the present and for eternity. Scripture reveals this in a couple of ways. First, the apostles (people who walked with Jesus while He was on earth) taught that believers are called to share both in Christ’s comfort and in His sufferings (1 Peter 2:21). Because we follow a suffering Savior, we can expect to suffer as well. These authors also pointed out that when believers suffer, it’s intimately connected to Christ’s own suffering, using phrases like “share his suffering” (Romans 8:17). So, we can remind ourselves that our suffering as the body of Christ has unique significance because it’s connected to the suffering of Jesus. In our suffering, we can look to Jesus—who suffered the cross on our behalf, then resurrected from the dead—and find comfort in His presence. We are never alone in our pain. Second, God can use affliction to draw us near to Himself—which is the best place to be (Psalm 73:28). One psalmist says: “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (Psalm 119:71). Through the Holy Spirit, God is always at work to lovingly form us more and more into the likeness of Jesus because He knows it’s the only way for us to be truly whole. The author of Hebrews echoes this, stating God disciplines His children—and that His discipline is “always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). While not all suffering is necessarily discipline, these and other passages still give us a lot to think about (Luke 13:1-5; John 9:1-3; Colossians 1:24). As a teen, most of the Bible studies I used tiptoed around the topic of suffering. Yet, if we don’t dig into scriptural truth about suffering, how can we withstand difficulties—including persecution—without losing hope in God’s love and goodness? But if we know we will face great trials, we can be a bit more ready for their inevitable arrival. However, as Peter joyfully reminds us in 1 Peter 1:6, our troubles are but “for a little while,” and our hope and comfort in Jesus will last forever. Amen! • G. Kam Congleton • God can draw us nearer to Himself at any time (including good times) and through any circumstance. How might God use suffering to help us grow closer to Him? He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)

READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:6-8, HEBREWS 4:14-16; 1 PETER 5:7 When I was thirteen, I attended my first church camp. I experienced life-changing things, like when I encountered 1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” I’d never noticed this verse before, but that week 1 Peter 5:7 sank into my soul. Because, like most teens, I had worries and cares! Problem was—exactly HOW do you give them to God? Well, over time I learned that giving our cares to God isn’t an event—it’s a process. First, I remember who I am coming to: Jesus—God in flesh—who also suffered. In fact, Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Jesus “learned obedience from the things he suffered.” Hmmm…that’s mind-boggling. Even though Jesus’s suffering and obedience are different from ours, it’s incredible to ponder Jesus learning obedience from His suffering. Then, I think about why Jesus suffered on the cross and rose again—out of His great love for me, He chose to personally redeem me, both from sin and (when He returns) from suffering (Revelation 21:3-4). Lastly, I remember even Jesus agonized over His suffering. In Luke 22, we see Jesus face the cross, fervently praying for deliverance from His “cup of suffering” (verses 42-44). Since Jesus truly empathizes with us in our weaknesses, we know we can boldly come to Him. And so… how do we boldly come to Jesus? Simple—we follow the instructions in Philippians 4:6-8. In this passage, we see what to pray about: everything! And we see how to pray: “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (verse 6). And that’s it! We are giving our cares to Jesus. And, as we continue to bring our requests to God (notice the word “continue”), we can experience God’s peace (verse 7). In this way, we can come to Christ whenever we are weary—and find true rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). • G. Kam Congleton • In the book of Psalms, we see God’s people giving their cares to Him—often with strong words, even accusing God of being distant, hurtful, and uncaring (Psalms 6, 10, 88). In times of pain and suffering, God invites us to come to Him honestly, telling Him just how hurt, angry, or sad we feel. He isn’t afraid or ashamed of our emotions, even if we are. And it’s only in being honest with God that we can truly experience His comfort. We can tell God what we actually want from Him, not just what we think He wants to hear. How could this truth affect the way you give your cares to God? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about these things now. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

READ: ISAIAH 53:2-6; ROMANS 8:17-39; REVELATION 21:3-4 At age seventeen, Joni Eareckson Tada awoke after a diving accident—paralyzed from the shoulders down. Thus began her new life—from a wheelchair. Over time, Joni became known for her contagious joy and her compassionate ministry to others. As a teen, Joni’s story made me think hard about suffering. Should tragedy strike, how would I react? Where is Jesus in all of this? And so began a lifelong look at suffering in Scripture. We know that sin and suffering invaded God’s good world after humans chose to rebel against God, but what else does Scripture say? Eventually, I noticed some intriguing themes. Today we’ll introduce three themes, and over the next few days we’ll explore each one more deeply. Then we’ll wrap up with a glimpse at the comfort Christ promises. So, let’s dive in! Theme one: God does not explain suffering, but He never ignores it. Indeed, through Jesus, He invites us to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Through the cross, Jesus joins us in our pain and offers Himself as our “ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) and our ultimate Deliverer. Theme two: Suffering has significance. First, as the body of Christ, we are called to share both in Christ’s sufferings and in His loving comfort. This is not only for our benefit, but also for each other’s benefit (2 Corinthians 1:4-7). Second, God can use our affliction to get our attention and correct any areas where we are straying from His good ways, ultimately drawing us nearer to Himself (Hebrews 12:5-12). Theme three: Through the Holy Spirit, God is with us in our suffering, granting us grace and often hijacking hardship for our good (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).This truth helps explain why the apostles encourage believers to rejoice when facing trials (Romans 5:3-5). Ultimately, when we encounter suffering, we can remember that Jesus defeated sin and death through His own death and resurrection, and He will heal all suffering at His return. As we rest in this sure hope, we can face whatever suffering lies ahead of us, held by our Savior who suffers with us. • G. Kam Congleton • What questions do you have about suffering—your own suffering or the suffering of others? • To dig deeper into the topic of suffering, you can read Psalm 119:65-72 and James 1:2-4. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

Why do we do kind things for other people? If we really examine our motives,/is it so we’ll win points with them and make them like us? Or do we think doing good deeds will win us points with God?.In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth, and he says: no matter how much good we do, if we don’t have love in our hearts, our good deeds just sound like an annoying, ever-clanging cymbal (verse 1). In other words, doing good things doesn’t mean much if these actions aren’t done out of genuine lovethe kind of love God has for us..But here’s the great news. Love is not something we muster up inside ourselves./1 John 4:19 says, We love because he first loved us. If God didn’t love us first, none/of us could love Him or each other. But Romans 5:5 says, God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Love is a gift straight from God..God’s love for us and others is so great, and we can trust Him to fill our hearts with His love and let it overflow to others! We can depend on Him to help us do things for others out of genuine love, the kind of love that compels us to lay down our life for others (John 15:13-14)..And when we’re not sure how to love, we can rest in the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for us. Though He is fully God, He came to live among us. He died on the cross and rose again three days later so we could be restored to relationship with Him. His incredible love is always with us through the Holy Spirit, and the riches of His love are also revealed in His promise to one day make all things newfree from sin and death (Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-5). So by all/means, do good things! But first, rest in the good news of Jesus. Then, love others/because you know that you are loved by God./ A. W. Smith. In 1 Corinthians 13, how does Paul describe genuine love? What sticks out to you the most in these verses? . Can you think of a time God showed His love for you through the people around you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this, and maybe thank those people too! . Every day, we can both rest in God’s love and show it to others. We can look around us and find little ways to/show God’s great love, knowing in our deepest being that we are loved by Jesus. Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you notice ways you could show love today..My [Jesus’s] command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NIV) Read Verses: Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:19; John 15:12

When you start worrying about things happening in your life or in the world around you, look at the stars..If it isn’t dark out and you can’t see the stars,/then look at the wildflowers..If it’s too cold for wildflowers, then look at the snowflakes that fall from the sky..There are endless stars in the sky, too many to count. The wildflowers are so vibrant and vast; you could never pick them all. So many snowflakes fall that they make large piles of snow and cover entire mountains. But God made each one of them..God created each star in the massive universe, and He also created you. In Matthew 6, Jesus says we don’t need to worry about anything, reminding us that/God made each wildflower beautiful even though it so quickly dies. He cares about every little problem and difficult situation you face. God decides when the snow falls, and He made each snowflake unique and stunning to look at. Similarly, He/made you on purpose, and you are precious to Him..Ultimately, God revealed His enormous care for His creation when Jesus came to earthfully God and fully human. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, we can look forward to the day He will return and restore every brokenness, in our own lives and in all of creation..If God cares about the stars and the wildflowers and the snowflakes, we can/know that He cares about us too. We don’t have to worry about anything. Instead, we can trust Him to take care of us and all the problems in the world around us. /Bethany Acker. How can looking at creation remind us of God’s trustworthy love?. If you find yourself worrying a lot, you’re not alone. Jesus empathizes with you, and He wants to help. One of/the primary ways God helps His people is through His people. Who are trusted adults in your life you can talk to about worry, such as pastors, counselors, parents, or teachers? If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling/1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate..God made two great lightsthe larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. Genesis 1:16 (NLT) Read Verses: Matthew 6:25-Matthew 6:34; Genesis 1:16

When you were little, did you ever dress up as royaltymaking paper crowns, walking around in old fancy clothes from a dress-upbin, or sitting on imaginary thrones and bossing around the people of your pretend kingdom?.While the imaginary kingdoms of our youth weren’t real, as Christians, we can know that we belong to God’s very real kingdom. When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we can know that God is our Father, and He is the King of the universe. And so, because we are the children of the King, we are royalty..As God’s royal children, we have the privilege of inviting others into the kingdom of God by sharing the good news: that Jesus, our God and King, became human, lived among us, died on the cross and rose from the grave to beat sin and death and is returning one day to make all things new. In His kingdom, love and righteousness rule instead of sin. We have the honor of sharing this true story through our words and our actionswith everyone around us..In God’s kingdom, everything is better than we could imagine. Instead of paper crowns that wear out and get ripped, we have God’s promise of eternal life with Him (1 Peter 5:4)..Instead of fancy old clothes from a dress-up bin, we are clothed in Jesus’s goodness instead of our sinfulness (Isaiah 61:10; Galatians 3:27)..Instead of imaginary thrones and bossy leadership, we are called to love others the way Jesus, our just King, loves us (John 13:34; 1 John 4:19)..That is a kingdom worth being excited about! Now, as royal children of the King,/let us share the good news of our Father’s kingdom./ A. W. Smith. If you trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are God’s child and you’re part of His kingdom. How could remembering that our heavenly Father is the Ruler of the universe give us hope when we experience bossy or unjust leadership here on earth?. As a child of the King, how could you show others who Jesus is by the way you treat them?. To learn more about what it means to be God’s child, check out our “Know Jesus” page..He [Jesus] is Lord of lords and King of Kings Revelation 17:14 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 24; Ephesians 5:1-Ephesians 5:2; Colossians 1:12-Colossians 1:14; 1 John 3:1-1 John 3:3; Revelation 17:14

Wind colder than the day before swarmed into the shallow mountain cavern/and bit at the exposed skin on the back of Mior’s neck that she hadn’t been/able to cover with her cloak. She shivered, readjusted the cloak, then clasped her/hands together to finish her prayer..Footsteps scratched the rock at the entrance. The stench of a Karith swelled into/the cavern. Mior froze, cold sweat dripping down her back..A girl her age stepped into view, sword gripped tightly in her hand. The scent of the Karith invaders clung to her clothes, and blood stained her shoulder and sword arm, though it was too dark for Mior to tell if it was red or purple..Mior relaxed and gave a nod to the girl as she entered. Zeela. Find anything?.Corpses. Empty orchards. Karithgot ambushed by one inside town. Zeela/sheathed the blade and grabbed a withered apple from their pitiful mound of food. She narrowed her eyes at Mior. What were you doing? Praying to your precious Lord again?.Mior realized her hands were still clasped. We need His help..Zeela scoffed. You think He’ll come? You’ve been asking for months now. He/cares nothing for us..He/died/for us. Of course He cares!.Then where is He?,Mior dropped her gaze..Whatever. I’m going back out. Zeela took a bite of the apple, spun on her heel, and slipped out of the cave..Mior drew the cloak tighter around her shoulders. You’re still there, aren’t You? she whispered into the empty darkness. Howling wind and the distant, awful scream of a Karith was the only response. Then someone else screameda villageronly to be abruptly cut off. A moment later, the Karith screamed again,/this time in the voice of its recent kill..Mior sank her head onto her knees and shivered. I don’t know if You’re listening. But I’ll keep asking anyway. Please come./ Linnae Conkel. Today’s story is an allegory. Sometimes, it seems like God has gone silent and is ignoring our prayers. Can you think of a time you felt this way? Are you in a time of waiting right now? . Reread Psalm 13. How did David, the author of this psalm, respond when it seemed like God was silent? . Although it may not make sense to us, God still loves us despite times when He seems to be silent. How can remembering the overwhelming love He has for usa love so great that He came to live among us, die for/us, and rise from the grave all so that we could live with Him foreverhelp us cling to hope during the wait?/(Hebrews 10:23) . Even as we wait for Jesus to return bodily to earth and make all things new, we can rest in His promise,/Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We can be confident that He will/keep His promise because He sealed it through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. Even if He seems silent, we can know that Jesus sits beside us and weeps with us over our hurts and over the brokenness of His creation. How can remembering Jesus’s compassion give us comfort in times of fear and pain? How can we help remind each other of Jesus’s compassion and presence?/.But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 13; Psalm 34:15; Romans 5:5

Do you know the story of Paul? He was not a good guy when he was young, and he went by the name Saul. He had Christians arrested. In Acts 7:548:2, we see how Saul stood by in support while Stephen was being stoned to death. Saul had plans to do all kinds of bad things to the Christian people of his day. But God had other plans for him..When Saul was on the road to Damascus, a bright light shone all around and blinded him. Jesus talked directly to him and changed the course of his life..When you start to think that it’s too late for you to change after you’ve done something wrong, or that God could never forgive you, remember Saul/Paul. When you see someone else doing bad things and you start to judge them and think that God could never forgive them, remember Saul/Paul. While we certainly don’t have to approve of the wrong things people are doing, God calls us to see everyone as someone He loves, someone Jesus was willing to die for..It’s not too late for any of us, no matter what we’ve done. God can take some/pretty messed-up people and do amazing things through them. He can work/through anyone to help further His kingdom..Saul was not a good guy, but Jesus loved him. And His love transformed Saul into a new person. Paul became a good guy. He started serving God and even went to prison because of his faith. He wrote quite a bit of the New Testament and proclaimed the gospel to countless people, telling them about how Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave so that/everyone/who puts their trust in Him can be saved. Paul was honest about his past sins and his present shortcomings, and/he saw God do many great things in his life. More than anything, Paul was filled/with gratitude to Jesus for forgiving him and giving him a second chance. Bethany Acker. Acts 13:9 tells us that Saul was also known as Paul. Some scholars think this is because/Paul/is the Greek version of the Hebrew name/Saul, and Paul ministered primarily to Greek people. Why do you think God chose Paul to share the good news of Jesus with so many people, both in person and through his writings? (Hint: read 1 Timothy 1:12-17) . When we feel like God can’t work through us, how could the story of Saul/Paul encourage us? .Jesus told them, Healthy people don’t need a doctorsick people do. I have come/to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners. Mark 2:17 (NLT) Read Verses: Mark 2:17; Acts:9:1-Acts:9:19; 1 Timothy 1:12-1 Timothy 1:17

One of my favorite parts of our family vacations at the beach was boogieboarding. My sister and I picked out boogieboards with colorful designs at the store, packing them into the car loaded with our luggage. Every summer, we looked forward to bringing those boards with us on our ocean getaways, the promise of another exciting adventure on the horizon..Upon arriving at the beach, however, the tall waves cresting in the distance could be intimidating. Waiting on my board, I watched as the waves curled ever closer. It seemed like every wave was more enormous than the last. What if one rolled right over me, leaving me spluttering, salt burning my eyes? Just how far from the shore should I goshould I inch even further into the ocean, or stay closer to the sand where the waves petered out?.Ultimately, I decided to hang on, keeping my balance, remaining at the ready, then coasting with each of the waves, letting them carry me back to the shore. I discovered that timing was everything. Instead of turning around and giving up, it was exhilarating to catch the perfect wave, cruising straight through. At the end of the day, I was relieved that I hadn’t gone back to shore right away, that I’d chosen to wait and ride the waves..Sometimes, life can feel a lot like boogieboarding. But we’re not aloneif we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God is always with us, no matter how big the waves might get. As we follow Jesus, trusting in God’s perfect timing, He will carry us through, helping us move past fear. As we take each wave at a time, we come to see that even the tall waves that may intimidate us are just small ripples to God. Looking back at what once scared us, we realize there was no need to have feared. God doesn’t let go of us, leaving us stranded in the middle of the sea. He walks across to us, meeting us where we are, bringing us to where we are meant to be. Kathryn Sadakierski. Can you think of a time God helped you in the midst of a scary situation? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this.. Often, our lives can feel confusing, and we don’t know what to do. Yet God is with us through everything we face, and He won’t abandon us to figure things out on our own. He invites us to come to Him with all the questions, frustrations, and fears that weigh on us (Matthew 11:28-30). In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to?.Mightier than the breakers of the seathe Lord on high is mighty. Psalm 93:4 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 107:28-Psalm 107:31; Matthew 14:22-Matthew 14:33; Psalm 93:4; Psalm 46:1-Psalm 46:5

I struggle with making decisions. I have some perfectionistic tendencies, so I spend too much time thinking about choices that don’t matter much in the long run. And in the past, I’ve let myself sit in these decisions for far too long, going back and forth and seeking out every expert, trying to pick the absolute right thing. .But one thing God has been teaching me lately is that when we make the best choice of all, the other parts of our lives tend to fall into place. And even if they don’t, it’s okay. Because after we make the best choice, we can know that we are never alone..When someone becomes a Christian, they begin a relationship with God through Jesus. God is showing me that when I choose to trust Him, He gives me peace. When I surrender my control to Him, He gives me freedom. And friends, those gifts of peace and freedom change everything. As we lean into relationship with Jesus, He releases us from the burden of perfectionism. He helps us see that we don’t even have the ability to make perfect decisions on our own. When we come to Jesus, He lifts a weight we weren’t ever meant to carry (Matthew 11:28-30)..I love the words of Psalm 118:8-9: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. I can’t rely on my own ability to choose. And while advice from others can be valuable, it’s still not the most important thing. What’s most important is to take refuge in the Lord..Let’s seek Him as our refuge today, and may all the other choices just fall into place. Becca Wierwille. Because life is complex, there is often more than one good choice in any situation. In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, what does God tell the Israelites to do? In Matthew 22:36-40, what does Jesus say about God’s commands? While none of us can keep God’s commands perfectlyafter all, that’s why we need Jesushow could these verses help us make good decisions? . As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, guiding us and empowering us to follow the Lord in everything we do. God has also given us His Word (the Bible) and community with fellow Christians who can help us discern His guidance. What kinds of decisions are you facing today? What might it look like for you to take refuge in the Lord in these situations? .It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. Psalm 118:8 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 118:1-Psalm 118:9; Proverbs 3:5-Proverbs 3:6; John 15:1-John 15:17

Let my life, here, nowBe about You, let me follow.Let my future, each step, decision Be about You, not my own opinion.Let the air I breathe, filling me Be air from You, fresh and free.Let my heart, my plansBe about You, in Your hands.Let my goals, my dreams, my reason Be what You want for this season.Let my hurt, my misery, my pain Be healed by You as You sustain.Let my contacts, my family, my friendsBe in good standing, let me make amends.Let my trust, my beliefs, my coreBe always deeper, pressing into You more Emily Acker. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose from the dead, we can know that God is always with us through His Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people. He shapes every moment of our lives. How could this truth affect the way we live day-to-day? Consider taking a moment to read this poem again, and then pray your own prayer to God. .Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Godthis is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 19:14; John 12:23-John 12:26; Romans 12:1

We’ve all been hurt by others. Sometimes, it’s a family member or a friend. Sometimes, it’s a stranger. When we are hurt, it can be hard to know how to react. As we deal with our pain, there are some things that can be helpful to do and some that can cause more harm. Avoid lashing out in response. Try not to do something in anger that you will regret later. It’s normal to want to repay someone by treating them the same way they treated you, but that will only cause more hurt. Instead, ask God for help and healing. Express your anger to Him, letting Him know how mad and hurt you are. When you are in deep pain because of what was done to you, you can turn to our loving God and ask Him to hold you. He loves you, and He will never leave you. Avoid isolation. You may be tempted to believe the lie that you are all alone. It’s normal to want to pull away from others when you’ve been hurt, but isolation will only make the pain worse. You might think that no one has been where you are, but that’s not true. . Instead, reach out to someone you trust and talk with them. Share what’s going on and seek their advice. And talk to Jesus; He is right there with you, grieving your hurt alongside you. . Avoid using the hurt you’ve experienced to justify hurting others. When you’re struggling because someone mistreated you, you might be impatient with people in your life or feel justified brushing them off or hurting them. These feelings are normal, but remember that the people around you don’t deserve mistreatment any more than you do. Instead, remember how Jesus Himself was mistreated. Remember that because of His great love, poured out for us on the cross, His forgiveness and justice cover you and those who hurt you. We can pursue wholeness as we rest in His love. Emily Acker . When we’ve been hurt, our first response is often to hurt others. In our pain and anger and confusion, we tend to lash out or withdraw entirely. But that is not the place where healing is found. Healing is found in the compassionate arms of Jesus and His people, the church. What are some ways we can remind each other of these truths when we experience hurt? . In some cases of deep hurt, the best thing we can do is set up loving boundaries. Who are some trusted Christians you could talk to about this, such as parents, pastors, or counselors? . Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) Read Verses: Ephesians 4:30-Ephesians 4:32; Romans 12:17-Romans 12:21

I am writing this from La Presa, a small town in Atenas, Costa Rica. There are mangos, star fruits, and bananas scattered across the lawn. Toucans are perched in the trees, and iguanas are sunbathing on the roof. It rains every daya beautiful, cooling rain. We’re surrounded by mountains and tropical rainforests. There’s no air-conditioning and no hot water, but somehow everything feels incredibly fresh. . While I’m here, I spend my weekdays studying ecology and ecosystem conservation at the School for Field Studies, and in doing so, I’ve been exposed to an incredible amount of literature on environmentalism. To be honest, environmentalism had never really interested me before. But as I read and learn about all sorts of methods of sustainability and conservation, I can’t help but wonder about the relationship between environmentalism and Christianity. . God’s charge regarding our relationship with nature actually begins in Genesis, the very first book of the Bible. God tells us that Adam’s duty in the Garden of Eden was to work it and take care of it (2:15). And God blessed Adam and Eve to fill the earth and care for every creature in it (1:26-28). Think about that. The universe is nothing less than God’s masterpiece, a testament of His love, glory, and beauty. And He has entrusted it to usHis people, His children! . We are stewards of God’s creation. The entire universeincluding our planetis the wonderful creation of a perfect God, and the only appropriate response for Christians is to embrace our calling as stewards of the natural environment. In everything we do, we need to remember that the world is so much more than our playground. It’s a beautiful gift to us, and it’s where Jesus Christ will one day return. Then heaven will meet earth, and He will renew and restore all things. Now, Jesus calls us to be part of His life-giving work, even as we are filled by the sure hope of His return. So let’s do everything we can to preserve the earth God has given us. Christian Davis . What is one of your favorite parts of creation? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. . What are some ways we can be faithful stewards of creation in our everyday lives? . How can we enjoy the natural environment and its benefits in ways that are honoring to God? . The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15 (NIV) Read Verses: Genesis 1:26-Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:15; Psalm 8

What school subject do you like the least? Even though I love to write, I always loathed English classespecially grammar. Diagraming sentences, parts of speech, verb tenses it wasn’t my thing. So imagine my surprise when I realized that what I had learned about grammar could help me study the Bible. . Take Ephesians 5:18 for example: be filled with the Holy Spirit. This verse is telling us to submit our lives to God and let Him fill us with His Holy Spirit. . The grammar lesson here is in the words be filled. First, the object of this command is plural. This means that these words apply not only to a single reader or listener of this verse, but to everyone who believes! After all, Paul (the author of Ephesians) was writing this letter to the whole church in Ephesus, not just one person. So, not only does God fill each of us with the Holy Spirit individually, but He also fills the church as a whole with the Holy Spirit. . Second, these words are written in the present tense. Paul didn’t say was filled or could be filled. He said, be filled. It is a present actionevery day we can choose to submit to God and be filled with His love and joy, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts (verse 19). . Third, this phrase uses a passive verb. It doesn’t say, fill yourself. It says be filled. All we have to do is ask God, and He will fill us. We don’t fill ourselves. God is doing the work; all we have to do is submit to Him. . He gave everythingincluding His Sonfor us. Jesus died on the cross and resurrected from the dead so we could be filled with His presence through the Holy Spirit. When we put our trust in Him, He fills us up and helps us follow His good ways, overflowing His love and joy in everything we do. Kimberly Brokish . What does it look like to live a life filled by the Spirit? (Hint: check out today’s Bible passages.) . How can the things we learn about the world (such as languages, history, culture, science, etc.) help us better understand Scripture? . be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18b (NLT) Read Verses: Ephesians 5:15-Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 1:9-Colossians 1:14

I lived in a city of mirrors. As I attempted to amble surreptitiously down the street to my destination, I nervously adjusted my mirrored glasses. Everyone wore them in the city. In fact, removing your glasses bordered on appalling. . Figuring a mocha might jump-start my day, I squeezed in line at a local cafe. The girl in front of me turned, and our mirrored eyes met. The person I saw reflected back at me was anxious, fidgeting, trying to untangle a knot of hair. Too much frizz. Was that leftover breakfast in my teeth? I sighed. Who would want to hang out with me anyways? I turned my head in defeat and the girl turned away. . “Everyone must see exactly what I seea disaster!” I thought. Blinking back tears, I hurried down the street. “If only I didn’t have to look in one more mirror ” Suddenly, I saw a pair of sandaled feet blocking my path. I stopped short and slowly raised my head I gasped. His eyes, kindness radiating from them, and smile lines that crinkled pleasantly around the edges. This man looked at me with mirrorless, glasses-free eyes! . There was no other way to explain it, but I felt as though he had known me my whole life. Then, he spoke my name, soft as a whisper. Jayden, you see yourself through your own eyes, but you are so much more to me. People look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart. I shook my head. But how do you look at someone’s heart? How can I see differently? . He threw back his head and laugheda pure, musical sound. Up until now you’ve only seen reflections, but soon you will see face-to-face. I’ve come to tell you that you are fully known and completely loved by me and by my Father. Hearing his words, I felt joy filling my soul and splashing over, like a dry fountain come back to life. I blurted out, Show me. I want to see! He reached out his hands, and lifted the glasses from my eyes. Savannah Coleman . Today’s story is an allegory. We live in a world that places a huge emphasis on outward appearances. This is nothing newjust look at 1 Samuel 16! But God sees everything about us, including our hearts. He loves us, and He invites us into the freedom of knowing Him through Jesus. God showed how much we are worth to Him when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us. We find our true identity in Jesus. How can knowing Him affect the way we see ourselves and others? . For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) Read Verses: 1 Samuel 16:1-1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Corinthians 13

Sometimes, it’s easy to become intimidated or even jealous of other Christians. “Alondra is so good at teachingwould I be a better Christian if I could teach like she can? Blake always knows how to show mercy to peoplewhy is that so hard for me? Is it bad that I can’t lead people in worship like Jade?” . God has equipped His people in so many different ways, and that’s a good thing. We don’t need to compare ourselves to other Christians because we belong to the same God. It’s not a competitionwe’re all on the same team. As 1 Corinthians 12 puts it, we are all part of the body of Christ. Even though different body parts have different functions, they all work together as a whole. . Similarly, Christians are equipped with different spiritual gifts, but these gifts are the work of one and the same Spirit (verse 11). God doesn’t leave anyone out. All of us are important in the body of Christ, each of us tremendously and equally loved by God. He demonstrated His great love for us in JesusHe came to serve, giving His very life for us so that we could be with Him (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). The reason we serve now, in whatever capacity that may be, is because we love Jesus and want to share His love with others. . As members of the same team and family, we have the freedom to explore the gifts God has given us. Some Christians will have gifts that are similar to ours, others will have very different gifts. But we can trust Jesus to guide us in how to serve Him as we listen to His Spirit, His Word, and His people. Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can serve Him faithfully as one of the many unique members of His church, knowing that we are loved no matter how we serve. A. W. Smith . Consider taking some time to reread 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:11-16. The Holy Spirit gives different spiritual gifts to all Christians. What questions do you have about spiritual gifts? . Who are trusted Christians in your lifesuch as pastors, counselors, parents, or teacherswho could help you discern your spiritual gifts and talk through questions you might have about the gifts you have, and the gifts others have? . Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Read Verses: 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-Ephesians 4:16

Until recently, I didn’t realize how often Paul had help writing his letters to the churches in the New Testament. I knew that God inspired and directed Paul to write these letters, but it never occurred to me that he had human help too. And Scripture spells it out clearly for us! . Skim through the first verses in 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. In each of these letters, Paul names people who helped him write: Sosthenes, Timothy, and Silas. More than half of Paul’s letters were collaborative efforts. . That blew my mind! But the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. God has designed us to lean on each other and work together. . I see this every day in my Job I work here at Keys for Kids Ministries, editing and writing devotional content for “Unlocked.” And while my name is listed at the end of this devotion, I didn’t write it alone. Even as I write this first draft, the ideas and thoughts I write about have been shaped by pastors, teachers, parents, authors, and friends. By the time it’s published, this devotion will have been touched by a team of editors, theological reviewers, proofreaders, and graphic designers. Every devotion you read in this publication is a collaborative effort. And that’s without even mentioning the donors, data processors, administrators, audio producers, radio staff, and more. . Jesus doesn’t want us to do life alone. As God the Son, He Himself lives in perfect community with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus died and rose again so He could live in union with us, His people. Jesus is wild about community. . It’s easy for us to believe that we have to do everything ourselves. After all, that’s what everyone else does, right? But the thing is, that’s not true. Nobody does anything by themselves. We’ve all had people guide us, shape us, and come alongside us. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s good! It’s the way God designed it! . Leaning on others is a strength, not a weakness. And as we embrace this truth, we learn how to better embrace Jesus. Taylor Eising . Who are trusted Christians in your life you can lean on? And who can lean on you? If nobody comes to mind, you can ask Jesus to help you identify people in the future. . All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) Read Verses: 1 Corinthians 12:12-1 Corinthians 12:27

Have you ever had to help a toddler learn a basic task, like putting on shoes or using a fork? While the process can be cute, it can also be long and frustrating. But no matter how challenging the journey might get, when we love little ones, we know that the time spent helping them learn and grow is worth iteven if the process takes lots of twists and turns. . In the Bible, Christians are often called children of God. Even as adults, we are God’s kids, and our spiritual growth and learning can be just as twisting and turning as the average toddler’s quest to grow up. . As Christians, we can rest in the truth that Jesus knows we have a lot to learn. He loves us, and He won’t give up on us. We can trust Him to be patient with us and give us strength as we learn to love others the way He has loved us (1 John 4:19). . Simply put, God is always patient and loving with His children. We can know this is true because He demonstrated His love for us by dying to save us (John 3:16-17). What a promise to rest in: that we are secure in the work of our Savior, Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the grave. He’s never going to give up on us. He WILL complete the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). So even as we learn and grow, we can look forward to the day when Jesus will return and we will reach full maturity. And in the meantime, our patient God will keep helping us through all the twists and turns. A. W. Smith . Do you sometimes get impatient with your own spiritual growth, getting frustrated when you find it difficult to show love to people or resist doing things that you know are wrong? Consider taking a moment to talk with Jesus about these struggles (Hebrews 4:14-16). . Until Jesus returns, we all continue to struggle with sin. How could the truths from today’s Bible passages encourage us when we’re struggling? What are some practical ways we could remind each other of God’s love, forgiveness, and patience? . And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) Read Verses: Ephesians 5:1-Ephesians 5:2; 2Thess:3:3-2Thess:3:5; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19

“Ninety-eight, ninety-nine and that makes one hundred, I counted aloud while another volunteer added the total to the app on my phone. My family and I had volunteered to pick up trash surrounding a lake in our community. One of our tasks involved tracking the number of various kinds of items we collected in our clean-up efforts. Even before the end of our shift, my team and I had retrieved over 100 used, stubbed-out cigarettes from the ground near the lake. We knew this place needed some attention, but until we joined the clean-up crew, we hadn’t realized how carelessly it had been treated. . Many of us may have noticed signs instructing us not to litter. But for those who seek to follow Jesus, our motive for caring for God’s creation goes deeper than simply following human rules. . When we put our trust in Jesus, we begin a relationship with God as our loving Heavenly Father. Our lives take on a new direction; the Holy Spirit works in us so our actions and choices can honor God as we love and obey Him in decisions big and small. . So, how should a child of God interact with the natural world? By first remembering that God created the world; that the earthand everything in itbelongs to Him. And by reflecting on the reality that God called His creation good (Genesis 1). As God’s love fills our hearts, it overflows in acts of love for the people and the environment around us. Our Lord invites us to care for His creation, compelled by the sure hope of Jesus’s return, when heaven will meet earth and He will renew and restore all of creation. As we keep in mind that God takes pleasure in the world He has made, we can uncover a deeper meaning behind choosing not to litterand a deeper purpose in cleaning up the litter we find around us. Allison Wilson Lee . Jesus loves His creation (John 1:2-3; Colossians 1:15-23). How could this truth affect the way we view the earth? . What are some practical ways we can care for the physical world that God has made? . The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1 (NIV) Read Verses: Genesis 1:1-Genesis 1:10; Psalm 24:1-Psalm 24:2

What are worms good for? Well, they help the earth breathe. As worms burrow through the ground, they let fresh air through the soil. The more they eat and digest the soil, the better it is for growing things. In little details like these, we can see glimpses of how amazing God is. The Creator has intricately woven His creation to work together, all of it bringing honor to Him. . Take the sun as another example that shows us God’s goodness. It’s just the right distance away from planet Earth so we can live. If we were just a little closer, animals and plants couldn’t survive the heat. But if we were a little farther away, we couldn’t survive the cold. And that’s not allas the Earth moves around the sun in an elliptical orbit, the seasons follow one another in splendorous order. Only God could have fashioned everything so well. . The beauty and complexity of nature points to our loving God, the One who made everything and makes it all work together. And, even though sin fractured creation in deep ways, we can still catch glimpses of the goodness of God in everything He has made. . As we stand in awe of creation, we can also marvel at how God became human and came to earth to live among us. He died on the cross to defeat sin, He rose from the grave to defeat death, and one day He will return and make all creation newso it’s no longer affected by sin, no longer held captive by death. Until that day, Jesus is holding all things together. Because of Him, all of creationdown to the smallest earthwormhas a purpose in God’s universe. A. W. Smith . What is one of your favorite parts of creation? How could this remind you of God’s goodness? . How could you find a way to spend time in nature today and marvel at some of the things God has made? As you notice what catches your attention, consider spending some time thanking God for what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. . For in him [Jesus] all things were created all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (NIV) Read Verses: Genesis 1:1; Romans 8:20-Romans 8:22; Colossians 1:15-Colossians 1:19; Revelation 21:1-Revelation 21:5

In those Dark Ages before smartphones, streaming, and DVDs, there was VHS, which is what I grew up with. Whenever I wanted to watch my favorite movies, I would pop the VHS (video home system) tape into the VCR (video cassette recorder). . While I may be nostalgic about VHS now, I would always dread when the tape would start to skip and the movie would blur into staticky incoherence. When that happened, it was my signal to clean the VCR. This whole process reminds me of spending time with Jesus in prayer. . Prayer helps to clear our minds. When there’s a sense of spiritual blurriness or fuzziness surfacing inside, and we’re unsure of how to go forward, it’s time to pray. Much like how I would clean my VCR to see my movies more clearly, prayer can clear our minds so we can focus on what God is telling us. If the static of life is deafening, we can hone in on the quiet sanctuary of prayer within, listening to what God wants us to know about His love in this present moment. . Then, once our minds have cleared and the static has been wiped away, we can start seeing the bigger picture instead of just focusing on what is stressing us in the current moment. Prayer helps us clear out the static so we can see the story of Christand our place in that storykind of like a movie. We can watch the progression from His birth to His death, and then the high point of His resurrection. And we can realize that there is no ending to Jesus’s storythe story continues as Jesus lives in each of us through the Holy Spirit. By remembering this big story and our place in it, we can see how Jesus is at work even in the midst of our stresses and worries. . There is more to this part of life we find ourselves in than what we see at first. Prayer helps us see that more clearly, allowing us to shine Christ’s love into this fuzzy, staticky world. Kathryn Sadakierski . How could seeing our place in the big picture of God’s story help us understand the details of our lives more clearly? . In many psalms (which are prayers or songs to God), the psalmists remind themselves and each other of the great things God has done and the bigger story they are a part of (Psalms 71, 81, 105). How might it be helpful to follow the model of these psalms in our own prayers? . Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (CSB) Read Verses: Philippians 4:4-Philippians 4:9; Colossians 4:2; Psalm 32:6-Psalm 32:11; Psalm 46

Have you ever prayed and prayed for something to happen, something that you know is good and right, something thatby all logicseems like it should happen and it doesn’t? What then? Well, John the Baptist was in a similar situation. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact, John was the one who baptized Jesus and saw the Spirit descend on Him like a dove (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:29-36). But John still sent messengers to Jesus, asking if Jesus was truly the Messiah. Why would he do that? Did John, of all people, have doubts? . John was in prison at the time he sent the messengers, and he had been imprisoned by Herod the tetrarch for quite some time at this point (Luke 3:19-20). And Jesus knew that John was in prison. I can see how some doubt about Jesus’s identity would creep in. I can just imagine John murmuring to himself in jail, I know Jesus is Lord, but how could He just leave me here? . So, what’s Jesus’s answer? He quotes parts of the Old Testament, saying He is there to make the blind see and preach good news to the poor, but He leaves out one specific part. Freeing the captives. In essence, it’s like Jesus is saying, Yes, I am the Messiah, I am who you think I am, but this isn’t something I am meant to do for you. . We don’t get much explanation beyond that except another passage where Jesus states that He is not going to fulfill all the expectations that people had for Him (Matthew 11:16-19). Jesus is the perfect Messiah, but He is going to do things in His own way and His own time. . John the Baptist was beheaded in the same prison that he sent those messengers from (Mark 6:17-29). But even though John remained a prisoner, Jesus was no less of a Savior. And someday, Jesus will free all prisoners and justice will come. When Jesus returns, He will raise all His people from the deadincluding John the Baptistand together we will see the glory of the Messiah on full display. Naomi Zylstra . Can you think of a time your prayers were not answered in the way you were expecting? Have you ever felt like God wasn’t doing His job? . Jesus does rescue John, but not from the prison cell. John’s rescue is from death itself. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns! How can remembering Jesus’s promises give us hope in the midst of hardship and confusion? (Matthew 28:20; John 16:33; Romans 8:31-39) . Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see Matthew 11:4 (CSB) Read Verses: Isaiah 35:4-Isaiah 35:6; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 7:18-Luke 7:23; Matthew 11:4

When we see injustice in the world, what should motivate us to act? As Christians, we believe God loves every person. God revealed His love forus on the crossthe place where Jesus gave up His life. Jesus suffered moreinjustice than anyone, and His self-sacrificing love is what motivates usto show that same love to others. We love because we have been loved firstby Jesus. . This is what motivated Corrie ten Boom. As a Christian woman living duringWorld War II, she was a part of the Dutch resistance, and she helped manyJewish people escape during the Holocaust. While earning her living as awatchmaker in the Netherlands, Corrie worked in secret with other membersof the Dutch resistance to create a hiding place for Jewish refugees insideher family’s home and watch shop. Their efforts saved many people fromdeath, but one day Corrieand members of her familywere caught andarrested by the Nazis. Corrie was eventually released, but several of herfamily members died while they were imprisoned. . Throughout the rest of her days, Corrie wrote about God’s work in her life,and she continued to seek out ways to help Holocaust survivors. It was herrelationship with Jesus that helped her process all that had happened toher and around her, and it was Jesus’s love that motivated her to continuehelping others until the end of her life. . As Christians, we serve the God of justice. The same Jesus who died androse again for us will one day return to set everything right (Romans 8;Revelation 21:1-5). We are part of His family and His eternal kingdom, sowe have the joy and privilege of pointing people to our Savior throughwords and actionsincluding acts of courage and love toward our neighbors,even in the face of injustice. Aurora Scriver . What sticks out to you the most about Corrie ten Boom’s story? We live in a world that’s broken by sin and its effects. As Christians,how can resting in God’s love equip us to love our neighbors in this brokenworld? . Corrie ten Boom was able to help save lives because she was part of acommunity that was united around God’s love for the people He has made. Howcan working for justiceas a communityhelp us better serve our neighbors? . We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV) Read Verses: 1 John 4:19; John 3:16-John 3:17; John 13:34-John 13:35

What does treasure mean to you? Is it money you save up? Is it valuables you hide in the rooms and closets of your home or put on display for others to admire? Is it good grades, or likes on a screen? There are lots of things we can treasure. But in Matthew 6:20, Jesus invites us to a different way. He says, Store your treasures in heaven. But what does that mean? . Jesus explains, Don’t store up treasures here on earth (verse 19) where everything falls apart or gets stolen. Instead of being devoted to earthly treasure, our loving God wants our hearts to be devoted to Him (verse 24). He is our true treasure. Knowing Him is the only thing that will fill our deepest longingsHe treasures us, and we don’t need to do anything to earn His love. . If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are God’s people, and now everything we do out of love and service to Him builds on the treasure we already have in knowing Him and being part of His eternal kingdom (Ephesians 1:3-8; 3:8; Colossians 2:3). Basically, as Christians, it’s not what we do that stores treasure in heaven, but who we do it for. As we follow Jesus with our lives, He helps us store up heavenly riches that will last forever. Through His Holy Spirit living in us, Jesus is making us more like Him and empowering us to show others His amazing love. . Things like money, success, and popularity come and go, and they can only last as long as our lives on earthor even shorter. But the treasure found in Jesus lasts for all eternity. In other words, anything we build can be torn down, but the kingdom of God cannot be torn down. As Christians, our hope isn’t in our possessions or our status in society or our accomplishments. Instead, our hope rests in the work of Jesus: how He died on the cross and rose from the grave and how He promises to return and make all things new and dwell with us forever. . Maybe right now you don’t have much earthly treasure, or maybe you have a lot. Just know that all of that earthly treasure is temporary, and it won’t satisfy you anyway. Jesus is the true treasure. He is inviting you to come to Him and live a life that is truly meaningful by loving God and loving the people around you (Matthew 11:28-30; 22:34-40). A. W. Smith . What things in your life do you consider to be treasure? Why are these things important to you? . How could the good desires associated with these things (desires for safety, strength, relational closeness, knowledge, wisdom, beauty, etc.) point us to Jesus, the One who ultimately satisfies these desires through His kingdom and His family? . Store your treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20 (NLT) Read Verses: Matthew 6:19-Matthew 6:34; Matthew 13:44-Matthew 13:46; Matthew 19:21

Prayer has never been easy for me. It’s not that I don’t know how to pray, but it takes a lot of discipline for me to stick to praying even when I don’t feel like it. I’ve heard stories of people in the Bible and missionaries who had ground-shaking prayer lives but that’s never happened for me. However, as I pushed through my insecurity about prayer and just started doing it, I found out that I don’t need to have all the answers. My life became so much more peace-filled when I interacted with God regularly in prayer. . For me, one of the best things about praying is that I can do it anytime, anywhere. More than that, I can choose to have a constant conversation with God. This has been such a beautiful part of my walk with Him. When I’d have to make a split-second decision, I’d whisper God, help me, and then, often, I would have clarity. When I saw something beautiful, like a waving flower or a singing bird, I’d smile and pray, Thank You, God. These simple prayers became more and more natural. I wondered if this was what Paul meant when he said to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). I started calling these short, one-sentence prayers breathing prayers because I started doing them without thinking, kind of like breathing. . As I interacted with God more and more through these simple, child-like prayers, my relationship with Him deepened. He opened my eyes to things I hadn’t seen. It was like I was holding His hand throughout the day. The truth is, you don’t have to be a missionary to have a rich prayer life. Every child of Godevery person who has put their trust in Jesuscan enjoy constant communication with Him. God is listening, He loves you, and He loves hearing from you! Through prayer, He invites us to lean into His strength as He equips us for everything we face. As we communicate with God, we get to experience the closeness we have with the One who loves us so dearly. Lily Walsh . God invites us to be in relationship with Him. Even though our sin separated us from God, He made the way for us to be close to Him through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Now, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus is brought near to God! Yet, we can still choose how much we interact with Him. Why do you think God calls us to communicate with Him continually? . We all feel hesitant to pray sometimes. How could this author’s personal experience with prayer give us hope to reach out to God even when we feel resistance? . Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) Read Verses: Jeremiah33:3; Luke 18:1; 1Thess:5:16-1Thess:5:18; James 5:13-James 5:18

“She must really want this job, I told my roommate. All throughout our dorm, posters promoted a candidate for dorm treasurer who I’ll call Millie. Each time we entered or exited the building we spotted these well-made campaign signs. . Other people were competing for positions on the leadership board of our dormitory, but nobody had plastered as many notices as Millie. I assumed she would serve well in the position because she seemed serious about taking on this role. When it came time to vote for dorm leaders, a majority of residents voted for Millie as treasurer. . We paid our dues to help support fun dormitory activities, and it was the treasurer’s responsibility to maintain these funds. We hoped this money would cover an extravagant end-of-year party in May. The first semester ended in December without any special celebrations. . When we returned after Christmas, we discovered that Millie had not come back to campus. She also didn’t return to class. She had simply disappearedand the dorm treasury had disappeared with her. Did something bad happen to Millie? Or did she purposefully take the money we had trusted her to manage? . Unlike our loving Heavenly Fatherwho is always faithful and truepeople let us down. Sometimes, they make promises they fail to fulfill; sometimes, they betray our trust. Kings, presidents, parentsand dorm treasurersare flawed and fallible human beings. Only God is worthy of our complete confidence. He keeps all His promises. He promised to rescue His people from sin and death, and that promise was fulfilled in Jesus’s death and resurrection. He also promises to someday return to destroy sin, brokenness, and death forever. Our God is trustworthy. We can trust the Lord to redeem us from our sin, and we can trust Himand Him alonewith our whole hearts. Allison Wilson Lee . Have you ever been let down by someone you trusted? What was it like? . How is putting confidence in God different from putting confidence in people? . Trusting God is hard sometimes. When it feels difficult to trust Jesus, we can tell Him that. He wants us to be honest with Him, and He has compassion on us. When is it hardest for you to trust God? Who are Christians in your life you would feel comfortable talking to about this? . It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:9 (WEB) Read Verses: Psalm 118:8-Psalm 118:9; Psalm 146:1-Psalm 146:6; Proverbs 3:5-Proverbs 3:6

How could He just storm the gates like that? Do we have a plan? Is the war over? Hundreds of questions attacked from all sides as we stared at the broken gate. This was a fortressno one should have been able to break through. Today we were supposed to revel in our victory! Didn’t we all hear the Savior cry out for the last time? Didn’t we see Him take His last breath? He was dead. So, how could He have broken through the gate and stolen the key? Not only that, but He stared us in the face and declared victoryover death itself! . ENOUGH! Not another word, the Great Darkness ordered. Then the voice dropped dangerously quiet. The Great Darkness was not in the mood for questions. Today, the Chosen One from above thinks He has won, but we will wreak havoc on all His land until the end. If we cannot defeat Him personally, we will attack that which is most precious to Him His people. . As we prepare for war, we can’t help but shudder. The gates were breached, and the so-called Savior took the keys. The Great Darkness declared there are more battles to fight. Yet today, there is another who is more worthy of our fear. This Chosen One who defeated death and darkness certainly isn’t afraid of us. . Yes, there may be more battles to fight, but the war is over. The Savior has stolen the victory. Nothing we do now could ever change that. And the Great Darkness knows it. Kayla Miller . Today’s story is an allegory, showing Jesus’s victory over sin, death, and all the forces of evil and darkness. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we get to celebrate that our Savior holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). Now, even though we will experience suffering as the forces of darkness wage war on God’s people, we can know that nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). How could pondering these truths help us rest in Jesus’s undefeatable love for us? . As Christians, we don’t need to be afraid of death or evil. Instead, God calls us to come to Him with all our worries, and He empowers us to resist the enemy and stand firm in His true grace, which He has given us in Jesus (1 Peter 5:6-12). When you’re facing hard things, who are trusted Christians in your life who can pray with you and help you follow our Lord? How can you be this kind of friend to others? . I [Jesus] am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18 (NIV) Read Verses: Deuteronomy 3:22; Revelation 1:4-Revelation 1:18

“So, let me get this straight. Petronius glared at the two Roman soldiers sitting across from him. There was a bright light, and you were knocked to the ground, and when you got up, the seal was broken, the two-ton stone was rolled away, and the body was gone? . There was also a roaring sound, Justin added. He glanced over at Lucius, who was staring at the table in silence, still in shock. . A roaring sound, their commanding officer repeated. Like a lion? . No, like scraping Justin stopped to think. But yes, also like a lion. . Petronius threw his reed pen down in frustration. A scraping sound that roared like a lion. Do you know how crazy that sounds? Honestly, if it weren’t for the other soldiers on guard last night with similar nonsensical stories, you two would be on your way to the execution block for sleeping on the job, because this all sounds like a crazy dream! . Justin saw Lucius cringe. I know how it sounds, said Justin. That’s also how it felt. Crazy. Impossible. . Petronius dismissed them so he could converse with the other officers. Don’t go far, he warned them. You’re being watched until we get this sorted out. . Justin led Lucius to the courtyard. I’ll get us something to eat, he said as he sat his friend beneath an olive tree. Lucius nodded and slumped against the tree trunk. . Justin walked to a nearby booth selling pomegranates. As he handed his coins over, he wondered if this would be his last meal. What had the dead manwhose tomb they had been guardingeaten for his last meal? Justin shuddered as he thought about the crucifixion he had witnessed just a few days before. He’d seen many executions, but this one was different. He’d gotten the distinct sense that this man in no way deserved the abuses heaped upon him as his death sentence wascarried out. Now, Justin wondered if he, too, might be executed. . As he walked back toward the courtyard, a shadow fell across his path. Move, please, Justin said, his voice lacking the hard Roman edge it normally had. Let me pass. . The man took a step closer. Justin looked up, and the pomegranates he was holding fell to the ground. It’s you, he whispered. The eyes were the same as when they beat him and nailed him to that cross, but he didn’t look weak and helpless anymore. He looked healthy and whole. . The man gave him a kind smile. Go get your friend, he said, nodding toward the courtyard. Then follow me. Courtney Lasater . After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to many people before He ascended into heaven. Today’s fictional story imagines Jesus appearing to some of the Roman soldiers who were present at His tomb and His crucifixion. While we don’t know if something like this happened or not, we do know that Jesus called many gentile (or non-Jewish) people, including Romans, to follow Him, both before His death and after His ascension. What does this reveal about God’s compassion and mercy? (If you want to dig deeper, check out Matthew 8:5-13; 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 7:1-10; Acts 10:1-48; 16:23-34; 27:1-44.) . Jesus is God in human flesh, and He came to die a terrible death on the cross for people who were His enemies. The reality is, without Jesus, we are all God’s enemies. But because Jesus died and rose again for us, we can be forgiven and reconciled to God by putting our trust in Jesus (Romans 5:10). Have you ever felt like you were somehow disqualified from following Jesus? How might today’s Bible passages speak into this? . Jesus seeks out the lost, He meets us with immeasurable kindness, and He beckons us to follow Him....

“Glad that business is over, Lucius said as he tapped the base of his spear against the huge stone in front of the tomb. . Justin nodded in agreement. I just hope it doesn’t cause a revolt or something, he said quietly so the other guards stationed nearby wouldn’t overhear. . Nah, Lucius replied. Did you see how many Jews were at the crucifixion? Yet only a handful of them wept. Most were screaming, Crucify him! Crucify him!’ I don’t think the Jews are going to cause any trouble over this. Their leaders were the ones who brought him to Pontius Pilate to be crucified, after all. . Then why are we here? asked Justin. Why have this many soldiers guarding the sealed tomb of a man crucified as a criminal by his own people? It makes no sense. . Lucius shrugged. Some of the Jewish leaders are afraid his followers will try to steal the bodysomething about a prophecy he made about rising from the dead. But trust me, no one’s getting through this. Lucius patted the heavy stone, then nodded toward the other soldiers. Or us. Anyway, they say his followers scattered when he was arrested. Why would they risk it all now for someone who’s already dead? . Justin let out a breath. Maybe it wasn’t so bad. Even though standing guard outside a tomb still required his full attentionevery Roman soldier knew that failing to fulfill his duty meant pain of deathhe could still think of it as a break. No breaking up fights in the street or kicking beggars out of sight so prominent Romans didn’t have to look at them as they passed by. He could breathe the fresh air and listen to the breeze whispering through the trees . Justin’s thoughts were interrupted as heat and light seared through every part of him. A scraping roar filled his ears, and he was knocked to his knees as the earth shook. He could hear the faint screams of the soldiers around him but couldn’t open his eyes in the blinding light. All he could do was throw his arms over his head until it was over. . Finally, Justin felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Lucius. What happened? Justin asked. . I don’t know, said Lucius. He pointed toward the tomb. But we’ve got a situation. . Justin turned and gasped. The huge stone had been rolled away from the tomb’s entrance. They walked inside and stopped dead. Justin saw Lucius’s face pale to the color of ash. He’s gone. Justin’s voice trembled as they both stared at the empty tomb. Courtney Lasater . Today’s fictional story is based on the true events of Easter morning. Read Matthew 27:57-66 and 28:1-6. What do you think it would have been like to be one of the Roman soldiers standing guard outside of the tomb when the angel rolled the stone away? . What sticks out to you most, either in today’s story or in the Bible passages it’s based on? . Why is it important that Jesus literally rose from the dead? How might knowing the precautions taken by the Roman government, so that no one could steal Jesus’s body, give us confidence that Jesus’s resurrection really did happen? . He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6 (CSB) Read Verses: Matthew 17:22-Matthew 17:23; Matthew 27:57-Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:1-Matthew 28:6

Christianity is based on faith in Jesus and the factual, historical events of His life, death, and resurrection. Because of eyewitness reports, we can know these things really happened in time and space. Without the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity would be nothing but fairy tales. It would be nothing more than humanity’s attempt to explain reality. . When Jesus died on the cross, the Pharisees and the High Priest knew of Jesus’s claim that He would rise from the dead. They were afraid His disciples would steal the body and tell people that Jesus had resurrected. If that happened, everyone would follow Jesus instead of their teachings. So the Pharisees asked Pilate to secure Jesus’s tomb. Pilate gave them a Roman guard unitsoldiers from the best trained military force in the world at that time. If any of these guards fell asleep at their post, they would be executed. The Roman officials also put a seal on Jesus’s tomb. If this seal was broken, the penalty was death. Nobody would dare break a Roman seal. . So, when Jesus did rise from the dead, this was a problem for the Pharisees. They worried that His followers would tell everyone about it. So they came up with a plan: they would say the disciples stole Jesus’s body. . Yes, they would tell people that the disciples came and overpowered the best trained military force in the world, broke the Roman sealrisking the penalty of deathand stole Jesus’s body. People from that area knew how foolish this story was. Besides, when Jesus died, His disciples thought their Messiah had failed and got Himself killed. They didn’t understand that He would rise from the dead, even though Jesus had told them about it beforehand. All hope in Jesus died when they saw Him on the cross. Why would they steal a dead body? . The truth of the resurrection was apparent to the thousands of people who became Christians soon after this event (Acts 2:41; 4:4). Now we, too, can trust in the factual, historical account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And because of His resurrection, we can trust that He will raise us from the dead at His return, and all His people will live forever in His loving presence in renewed creation. Doug Velting . What questions do you have about Jesus’s resurrection? Who are trusted Christians in your life you could bring these questions to? . But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT) Read Verses: 1 Corinthians 15; Matthew 27:62-Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:2-Matthew 28:4; Matthew 28:11-Matthew 28:14

On Good Friday, many Christians remember how Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Then on Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’s resurrectionhow He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever! On Monday, lots of people resume everyday lifegoing back to school, friends, homework, part-time jobs, sportsbut Easter is not the end of the story. . When Jesus died on the cross, His followers were not only saddened, but very confused. Then He rose from the dead and showed Himself to His followers, opening their minds to understand that the Messiah had to suffer on the cross and rise from the dead so that our sins could be forgiven and we could live with God forever (Luke 24:44-47). Then they finally understood and were overjoyed! . But that’s not the end of the story either. The ascension of Jesus Christwhen He was taken up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Fatherfinishes up the most important series of events in the universe: the Son of God died for our sins, rose on the third day, and ascended to heaven. This end of the story is often overlooked, but it’s very important because it answers the question, What ever happened to Jesus after He rose from the dead? Is He still wandering around earth somewhere? Did He die again? It’s also important because after Jesus ascended, those who believed in Him were given the Holy Spirit to dwell in them. The Holy Spirit helps us understand Scripture, gives us guidance and courage in proclaiming the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, and distributes spiritual gifts. This wondrous power of the Holy Spirit was given only after Jesus’s ascension. . Jesus ascended to heaven, but one day He will return to earth and finally restore all of creation to perfect relationship with God (Revelation 21:1-5). Sometimes, we forget the importance of Jesus’s ascension, focusing only on the cross and the empty tomb. But the ascension finishes the story of how the holy and loving God came to rescue us from our sins so that we could be with Him forever. Doug Velting . Read John 14:15-31 and John 16:5-22. Why is it a good thing that Jesus ascended? . As we wait for Jesus’s return, we can rest in His love and His promise to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). He is present with us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). What questions do you have about this? Who are trusted Christians you could ask? . Since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14 (NIV) Read Verses: Acts:1:3-Acts:1:11; Acts:2:32-Acts:2:33; Hebrews 4:14; Luke 24:44-Luke 24:53

Mary Magdalene pressed a hand against her aching heart. “How do I still have tears left in me?” She had been mourning for three days, along with others who were Jesus’s friends, followers, and family, but the realization was still sinking in: he was actually gone. It was dawn on the third day, and Mary couldn’t wrap her mind around ither heart was empty, and so was the tomb. She couldn’t even anoint his body for burial; someone had taken it away. . “I don’t understand,” Mary wept, “You were strong enough to cast the seven demons out of meyou set me free. Why did you have to die? Why didn’t you put a stop to that crucifixion? Where are you now?” Mary clutched at the cold stone of the tomb to steady her shaking knees. She bent to peer into its emptiness once more. . Mary gasped. The tomb wasn’t empty! Two angels dressed in brilliant white were sitting where Jesus’s body had been, one of them perched by the cloth that had been wrapped around her Lord’s head. This angel was swinging his feet and smiling, the other was gazing at Mary with compassion. His voice carried over to her, soft and musical. Why are you crying? . They have taken my Lord! A sob stuck in Mary’s throat. I don’t know where he is The unspoken words echoed in her heart, “Everything is empty without Him.” . Exhausted with grief, she turned back to the tomb’s opening to take a deep breath, and there was a man standing before her. His eyes radiated warmth and kindness, which only made Mary cry harder. Then he asked, Who are you looking for? . “This must be the gardener,” Mary thought. “Maybe he knows where my Jesus is!” Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where, and I will get him! . Mary. That one wordher namespoken soft as a spring rain falling on hard ground Mary knew only one voice could speak her name in such a way. She looked up at him. Teacher! . Sorrow fled from her soul like the breaking of dawnher Lord, her Jesus, was alive! He had driven the seven demons out of her tortured body, and now He had conquered death itself. All that once ached empty inside her was now fullfull to overflowing. Savannah Coleman . This story is how one author imagined what it was like for Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. Read John 20:1-18. What sticks out to you about Mary’s encounter with Jesus? . Today, Christians around the world are celebrating Jesus’s resurrection from the dead! Why can remembering the empty tomb fill us with joy? . Jesus willingly died for us so that we could be God’s people and have life to the full (John 10:10)a life of freedom and forgiveness. Jesus shed His own blood on the cross for us, covering our sins and making the way for us to have a restored relationship with the living God (Romans 10:9-10). This is what makes our story different from every other religion: we serve a God who gave up His own life for ours, and He is alive! If you’ve already put your trust in Jesus, who is someone you could share this good news with? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person now, asking God to help them know the truth of His love for them. If you’re not sure about trusting in Jesus, that’s okayGod doesn’t rush us, and He invites us to ask questions and wrestle with Him. What questions do you have about Jesus? Who is a trusted Christian you’d feel comfortable bringing these questions to? (You can also read more about Jesus on our “Know Jesus” page.) . I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10b-11 (NIV) Read Verses:...

Oh, day of awful darkness when I cried unending tears, the very thing I dreaded most now haunted all my fears. . Where could my lovely child be, my Savior and my Son? Who sought to wrench His life away; what foul thing had He done? . With Peter, James, and brother John, I hid myself away; as all around a cosmic roar defined the wretched day. . I did not know where He had gone; my world was torn apart. Perhaps I’ll only have Him now in the cradle of my heart. Susan Sundwall . Today’s poem is how one author imagines what it may have been like for Mary, the mother of Jesus, when He was put to death on the cross. We don’t know if Mary knew that Jesus would rise from the dead, but we do know that Mary had been with Jesus from the beginning of His life on earth. The angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be pregnant through the Holy Spirit (even though she was a virgin at the time). When she gave birth to Jesus, she cradled Him close to her, yet she knew that He was the Messiah: the Savior who God had promised. What do you think was going through Mary’s mind during the days after Jesus died, before He rose from the grave? . In times when we don’t understand what God is doing, how could it be comforting to know that Jesus’s followers also felt this way? . Jesus told them, The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead. And the disciples were filled with grief. Matthew 17:22-23 (NLT) Read Verses: Luke 2:8-Luke 2:19; Mark 15:12-Mark 15:14; John 19:25-John 19:30; Matthew 17:22-Matthew 17:23

Jesus suffered for us. His death on the cross wasn’t a quick death. He wasn’t alive and healthy and happy one moment and then dead the next. Jesus went through pain. Before He was arrested, He knew what was coming, and He had the power to stop it. But He chose to move forward anyway. In order to save us, He had to struggle. He did it all for us. . Some of us might have had someone in our life sacrifice something to help us. Maybe a parent gave up a good job so we could stay in the school we were used to, or maybe they went without some of the things they wanted so they could buy us new clothing. Yet, none of the sacrifices humans make for us can even begin to compare to the sacrifice Jesus made for us. . Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night, and He didn’t die until about 3:00 PM. All of His followers abandoned Him. The religious leaders spit in His face and beat Him with their fists. The guards blindfolded Him and struck Him. He was flogged severely, and the whip was probably studded with broken glass and nails and shards of bone, ripping His skin to shreds. Then the soldiers stripped off His clothes and pressed a crown of thorns into His head. They took a staff and struck Him on the head over and over again. When Jesus was finally brought to Golgotha, they drove two enormous nails through His wrists and one through both of His feet. He had to push Himself up by those nails just to breathe, all while people hurled insults at Him. Finally, He cried out in a loud voice, and breathed His last. . Jesus gave His all, and He did it out of love. We mean so much to Him that He wanted to deal with sin once and for all, to save us from death and bring us near to live with Him forever. His blood was given so that we could live. When we think about what He has done, may we fall to our knees in gratitude. The suffering He faced was a gift to us. His blood was a gift. We can be saved because of Him. Emily Acker . Have you ever stopped to think about just how much Jesus suffered in order to save us? How does His suffering and all He gave for us reveal God’s love? . Jesus’s death was not the end. He rose from the grave, so now everyone who puts their trust in Him can be saved! If you want to know more about this good news, check out our “Know Jesus” page. (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 2627; Mark 1416; Luke 2224; John 1820.) . For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) Read Verses: Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:4-Isaiah 53:11; Matthew 26:47-Matthew 26:56; John 19:1-John 19:30; 1 Peter 3:18

When was the last time you were afraid? Maybe you’re afraid of bugs, heights, or needles. Maybe you have emotional fears, such as being afraid of loss, pain, or rejection. Everybody is afraid of something. Personally, I have a big fear of needlesI can’t even look at one without getting chills down my spine. Not only am I afraid of needles, but I also have other fears, like losing my family or friends. . God understands all our fears. When Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, the Bible says Jesus felt deeply distressed and troubled overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (Mark 14:33-34). Jesus was in anguish. Even after an angel strengthened Him, his sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Can you imagine being so anxious that you sweat blood? . Jesus is fully God, and He is also fully human and experienced human emotion. This is one reason we know that He can relate to us. Jesus sweat blood in the garden because He knew the excruciating pain He would soon experience on the cross, and it caused Him anxiety and anguish. However, Jesus ended His prayer by accepting God the Father’s will over His own. Jesus, God the Son, surrendered everything over to God the Father and trusted the Father to provide and take care of Him. . Even though Jesus trusted the Father to raise Him from the dead after three days in the grave, going to the cross was still incredibly hard and painful. Whenever we are afraid, we can remember that Jesus knows just how we feel, and we can trust Him with everything. Because Jesus faced the terrors of death for us when He died on the cross and rose from the grave, we can now be in relationship with God. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can come to God with everything we experienceincluding fear. He understands, and He longs to draw us near in His arms and empower us to follow Him, even in the face of fear. Lydia Lancie . According to Hebrews 12:2, why was Jesus willing to endure the cross? . What kinds of things make you afraid? How could it be comforting to know that Jesus doesn’t just know how we feel, He also empathizes with us? (Hebrews 4:14-16) . Consider taking a moment to thank Jesus for what He’s done for us, and talk to Him about any fears that come to mind. . And being in anguish, he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:44 (NIV) Read Verses: Luke 22:39-Luke 22:53; Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 34:4-Psalm 34:5

Rising prices can be frightening. They make life feel uncertain, like we’re not sure what’s going to happen next. . Maybe your family can’t go on vacation like you always did. Maybe you’re not getting the car you always thought you would have or you’re not sure if you can afford to attend college. Maybe you don’t know if your family will be able to buy groceries or medication this month. . With all the rising prices, it can be difficult to afford everything we want and need. It can be scary to think about the future because we don’t know how it will go. . But one thing to remember even when things are going crazy is that God is with us. He is still watching over us just as much today as He was yesterday and last week and last year. God knows about the issues we’re facing. He knows when we’re struggling, and He can help us. God can give us peace during difficult times. He can guide us and get us through the toughest circumstances. Nothing is too big for Him to deal with, and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. . So when we get stressed out about rising costs or anything else going wrong in the world, we can turn to God and trust Him to take care of us. His care can come in many different forms, and one way is through His people, the church. In times of economic hardship, we can work together to take care of each other and share His love (Romans 12:13). When we demonstrate His love by giving and receiving help, we get to show that God’s love is living and activethat the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead also lives in us (Romans 8:11; 1 John 3:17-24). The truth of His love remains rock solid even in the most unsteady times. Bethany Acker . When we’re anxious about the future, Jesus feels our pain. He loves us and walks with us. How could this truth bring us comfort and help us feel secure when life feels unsteady? . Has anyone ever helped you when you were struggling financially? Have you ever helped someone else? What was it like? . Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) Read Verses: Matthew 6:25-Matthew 6:34; Hebrews 13:8

Daffodils lifted their creamy yellow faces toward the sun, the birds sang in the branches of the flowering magnolia tree, a breeze sent ripples cascading across the otherwise still pond. My friend and I were experiencing year three at our annual retreat, and this place reminded us to direct our focus back on God and be still before Him (Psalm 23:2). . On our second day at the retreat, my friend announced she was going to walk the labyrinth by herself. (This labyrinth was different from a maze, because there were no choices or dead ends, just one pathedged with daffodilsthat meandered back and forth until it reached the center of the circular labyrinth.) There was something God had been prompting her to let go of, and she needed some concentrated time of releasing it to Him. I’ll be praying for you, I encouraged her as she headed out the door. I imagined her winding her way through the mown paths of the daffodil-filled labyrinth, tears glistening in her eyes as she gave the burden to Jesus. . When we met back up over an hour later, my friend’s load seemed visibly lighter. She shared with me the lessons God taught her while walking through the labyrinth: At first I was so fixated on the path, all the twists and turns, that I almost forgot to take inventory of all the beauty around me. She then chose to slow, examining the daffodils, touching the petals, enjoying the journey. It’s like life, she mused. Sometimes, we are just rushing around the corners, and we forget to slow and enjoy the beauty God has placed all around us. . In the center of the labyrinth was a large rock. When she reached the end, my friend rested on the rock, giving God the thing that had been weighing her down. I wonder if they put the rock there at the end on purposeso it’s like you’re resting on Jesus, our Rock. I shared how that morning I had been meditating on Psalm 62, in which David mentioned three times that God was his Rock. . Whether or not we have a chance to get away on a retreat, we can choose to listen and be still before God wherever we are. We can say with David, My soul finds rest in God he is my mighty rock (Psalm 62:1, 7). Jesus is worthy of all our trust; He is the One who saves us and gives us salvation and rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30). Savannah Coleman . Psalm 62 points to the only One who can save us: Jesus, the Rock (verses 1, 2, 6). Because of Jesus’s death on the cross for us and the power of His resurrection, we don’t have to wander through life in an endless maze, unsure of our ending. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can rest assured that God’s love will always follow us, and one day, when Jesus returns bodily to earth, we will be with Him forever (Psalm 23:6). Even as we walk through darkness and difficulties in life, we don’t have to be afraid, because God is with us (Psalm 23:4). He wants us to bring all our heavy burdensour questions, frustrations, and fearsto Him. Is there something weighing on you today? Consider taking some time to bring this to God in prayer. . One of God’s gifts to us is community. How can sharing life with fellow Christians help us follow Jesus? Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk with about your relationship with God? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.) . Throughout the Bible, God calls His people to rest in Him, and He provides this rest through Jesus (Matthew 11:2812:8). What are some practical ways you could take time to slow down and enjoy the beauty God has placed all around you today? . Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes f...

I was saved at the age of sixteen by Jesus’s death and resurrection, but I remained un-discipled for a few years until I attended a Bible college. My faith grew immensely due to the solid Bible teaching and professors who loved Jesus. However, I felt out of place on campus. Other students would gushingly share stories of how they were saved at the young age of five or seven. I couldn’t relate to their experiences at summer Bible camps or youth group excursions. Because of this, I thought that somehow, I didn’t belong. . Even when I found a local church, I continued to feel out of place because I hadn’t grown up in church. From the hymns, to the structure of services, to the overall church culture, it all seemed foreign to me. But even worse than feeling like I didn’t belong was the idea that God couldn’t impact others through my life because I was unfamiliar with the established culture of the church. . I wish I’d known sooner that God does not show favoritism. Throughout the Bible, the Lord worked through people of various backgrounds and ages to spread the good news of His kingdom. From young Timothy, who was raised by his Christian mom and grandma but may have felt unqualified for church leadership because of his youth to elderly Moses, who was raised by people who worshipped idols but was called by the Lord to lead Israel out of Egypt at the age of eighty, God does not have favorites. . Throughout the Bible, God called shepherds, tentmakers, a doctor, people who had been demon-possessed, prostitutes, and even someone who had formerly persecuted Christians to tell the world of His grace through Jesus.* Today, He calls believers of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, experiences, and ages to be part of His good work. A person’s ability to bring glory to the Lord is not based on when they were saved, but on the One who saved them. Sophia Bricker . Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong in a group of Christians? Sadly, this happens to a lot of us. In times like these, how could it be helpful to remember how God sees us? . What are some ways we can be hospitable to people who have a variety of life experiences? . Have you ever felt unqualified to serve God because of your age or experiences? How could the stories of people in the Bible give you hope? (*If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 2:8-20; 8:1-3; John 20:11-18; Acts 18:2-3; Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15; Hebrews 11.) . For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11 (NLT) Read Verses: Exod:7:1-Exod:7:7; Acts:10:27-Acts:10:36; 1 Timothy 4:12-1 Timothy 4:16; Romans 2:11

Jesus came to this messed-up earth to save us. He wasn’t born to rich people or given a great beginning here on earth. When He was born, He was laid in a mangerwhere the animals eatfor a bed (Luke 2:7-16). . When Jesus was grown-up and started preaching and telling others all kinds of things about the kingdom of God and about who He was, some people respected Him and listened to Him in awe, while others became angry and jealous. . Many of the religious leaders were not happy with Jesus, especially because He openly criticized their hypocrisy and sin. They didn’t want Him to have so many followers, and they began to plot, trying to find a way to kill Him. . When they finally arrested Jesus, they treated Him horribly even though they didn’t have any proof that He had done anything wrong. They beat Him and mocked Him and called for Him to be killed on a cross. . Jesus’s life on earth wasn’t easy. On the night before He went to the cross, He even prayed to God the Father, saying that if the death He was about to die could be avoided somehow, He would rather have it happen that way. But Jesus did it all for you and me. He did it because He loves us and wants to take away our sins, to fully unify heaven and earth, and to restore our broken relationship with God. . Jesus was willing to die for us, but that wasn’t the end of His story. Jesus knew that three days after His death on the cross, He would be raised to life again. Now, He is enthroned as King over all, the Savior of the world (John 4:42). Bethany Acker . JesusGod the Sonwas willing to come to earth and suffer for us. He wants all people to be saved through knowing Him, even the people who hate Him (1 Timothy 2:4). How does Jesus reveal the depths of God’s compassion? . Because of the joy awaiting him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) Read Verses: Luke 19:28-Luke 19:48; Luke 22:39-Luke 22:53; Hebrews 12:2

On many a Sunday morning, I find myself getting ready for church. I gaze at my closet, filled with casual clothes for school, but nothing seems right forchurch. I quickly grab a simple blouse and hurry downstairs. At church, everyone seems well-dressed, happy, and eager to greet us at the door. Somehow, I don’t feel comforted by their greetings. Instead, I feel like they’re trying to deceive us with their perfect looks. All around me, everyone’s life seems so perfect with their cookie-cutter nuclear families. . I find myself falling victim to the same plot I’ve fallen for many times. Everyone is hidden behind an imaginary mask. We’re all tempted to focus more on the outside of the people we’re around. We see they have more money, married parents, and a smile on their lips. But we so often neglect to see the whole picturebecause the truth is, everybody is struggling. It’s more important to prepare our hearts for the message of God than it is to dress our bodies for a weekly meeting. But man, it’s easier to slap on a pretty shirt than to open your broken heart. . God sees our scars deep within. He calls our hearts to be open to His message. And He also calls us to see the broken beauty of others too. Jesus said, Healthy people don’t need a doctorsick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent (Luke 5:31-32). Jesus came to heal the sick, forgive the sinners, and fix the brokenness of this world that is all a result of sin. He came to save us by dying on the cross and rising from the grave for us. So, when we come to Jesus, we don’t have to be afraid to show Him who we really are, without a mask. The Lord looks at our hearts, and He sees that we all need Him to heal us from the inside. So He says, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). . When you find yourself wishing for someone else’s perfect life, remember this: they have struggles too. And God is inviting all of us to come to Him with open hearts, to just come as we are. Corinna Kahrs . In what ways are you tempted to compare yourself to others? How does comparison distract us from the gospel (or good news) about Jesus and loving each other as He loves us? (John 15:12) . Who is a trusted Christian in your life that you feel safe being yourself around, without a mask? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal someone in the future.) . People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) Read Verses: 1 Samuel 16:1-1 Samuel 16:13; Luke 5:27-Luke 5:32; Romans 15:7

I should’ve stayed with my unit. Bright flashes of color told me the oxygen in my suit was running low, not that it would’ve mattered. My cracked ribs kept me from inhaling too deeply, even though I knew I should. Short, staccato breaths were all I could manage as I glanced for the thousandth time at the flashing light on my communicator. I didn’t answer it. . This was my own fault. The Commander ordered us not to engage the enemy while we scouted, but I thought that one had been alone. I remembered how one grey insectoid had hunched over its kill and ripped into it with serrated mandibles. I’d thought I had a clear shot from behind my tree, not knowing that on this alien world, the invasive parasites liked to climb. . Luckily for me, one of the insectoids above me was just as impulsive as I was and attacked alone. Somehow, I managed to escape that brief scuffle before the swarm could coordinate. . Now, I lay curled up in the forest, camouflaged by a net of vines that nearly blocked out the scarlet sky. My wrist comm blinked the same red color underneath the vines, demanding attention. I jammed a button with my gloved finger and gasped out, Yes, Sir? . Where are you, Lieutenant? The Commander’s voice was a mixture of concern and relief. . Deep in enemy territory, Sir. They’re everywhere. I just wanted to say This is it for me. I’m sorry. I should’ve listened. . Send me your coordinates. . Did he think he could rescue me? A voice cut through the fog of my brain to remind me that he had the rest of the unit to think of and I wasn’t worth it. Finally I said, I don’t think you heard me . No, you didn’t hear me. You need to trust me. . He was right. I sent the coordinates just before my eyes fluttered shut. They didn’t open again until I lay in our ship’s medical bay with the Commander’s hand on my shoulder. He looked at me with love in his eyes and said, You are worth it. Andrea Hargrove . In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus likens us to lost sheep. Can you think of a time when you disobeyed God so badly or so often that you felt He shouldn’t forgive you? What does this Bible passage reveal about God’s forgiveness? (If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 15.) . Has anyone else ever done something so bad that you felt they shouldn’t be forgiven? What does the Bible have to say about this? (Read Romans 8:33-34.) . God’s love for you is so deep, there is nothing you could do to make Him stop loving you. He was willing to die on the cross so that you could be forgiven and live with Him forever. How does this make Him a trustworthy commander? . Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me. Psalm 40:11-13 (NIV) Read Verses: Matthew 18:12-Matthew 18:14; Psalm 40:11-Psalm 40:13; Proverbs 3:5-Proverbs 3:6

Have you ever been told that you were too young to do something? That your heart was in the right place, but you were too young to do what you felt God had called you to do? The truth is, God invites all of us to follow Him, no matter what age we are. . Mary was likely a young teenager, maybe only fourteen years old, when she gave birth to the Son of God, which resulted in many people glorifying and praising God (Luke 1:26-38; 2:5-7, 16-21). . David was just a teenager when he killed Goliatha giant the whole Israelite army was scared to fight. When everyone saw this, they knew that the Lord saves His people (1 Samuel 17:41-50). . A young Israelite girl was taken captive, and she showed concern for her foreign master, Naaman, who suffered from leprosy. Naaman listened to her when she told him about the prophet Elisha, so he went to Israel to see him and was miraculously cured! Then Naaman knew that the Lord was the only true God (2 Kings 5:1-15). . A boy gave all the food he had to Jesus, and Jesus miraculously turned those two fish and five loaves of bread into a meal large enough to feed five thousand men, plus women and children. Then the people said that Jesus must be the One they had been waiting for (John 6:1-14). . You might not think you can do what God has called you to do. Sometimes I find myself thinking that when I am just a few years older, then I can do what God has called me to do. Well, that’s not true. God can and does use people of all ages to do amazing things. He worked through people of all ages in the Bible, and they did those things because of God, not in their own ability. He can work through you too, just where you are, right now in your life. Bailey Norman . Which of these four people’s stories stuck out to you the most? How did God work through this person’s life? Consider taking some time to read the Bible passage that tells their story. . Have you ever felt like you were too young to follow God? According to Jesus, what does it look like to follow God? (Read Matthew 22:36-40 and John 6:29.) . Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (CSB) Read Verses: 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 1:6-2 Timothy 1:14

First Thessalonians 4:13-18 is my favorite passage in the Bible because it gives me hope beyond the grave. It reminds me that my loved ones who have died and were believers in Jesus Christ are not lost. We will be reunited one dayI will meet them after death or at Jesus’s return when He will make all things new, free from sin and death. . In Acts 17, after preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul had to flee due to persecution. Separated from these new Thessalonian believers, Paul wrote a letter to address certain questions that arose among them during his absence. (We know this letter as 1 Thessalonians.) . Some members in the church were worried about believers who had died. Paul wrote to assure them that the dead believers were not lost but were with Jesus and would not be left out of His glorious return. Paul also urged the Thessalonians to continue working so as to have their needs met as they awaited Jesus’s return, and to live godly lives pointing to the good news of Jesus as the one true king of the universe who has defeated sin and death through His death and resurrection. . To the Thessalonians, this passage meant their suffering and persecution were not in vain because, at the end of it all, they would have the joy of meeting and living forever with the One for whose sake they endured. They even had the promise of reunion with loved ones who had died in Christ! . This passage teaches me the same thing: that the living believers in Jesus Christ and those believers who are dead are separated only for a period of time. We will be reunitedwe will all meet Jesus at His return and live with Him forever. Charity Kiregyera . How can the hope of Jesus’s resurrection comfort us as we grieve? Read Mathew 28:20, John 11:35, and Hebrews 4:14-16. How can Jesus’s presence and empathy help us? . If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, who are trusted people you can talk withsuch as counselors, pastors, parents, teachers, or friends? . For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NLT) Read Verses: 1Thess:4:13-1Thess:4:18

Thomas Cole (1801-1848) was a Christian painter and the founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting. His work is a testament to God’s sacred touch in nature. . When I paint the sky, I make it blue with a yellow sun. . When Thomas Cole painted the sky, he made it endless with breezy clouds melting in the distance and dancing, sparkling, playful sun rays streaking and warming the balmy air. . When I paint the ground, I make it green with flowers here and there. . When Thomas Cole painted the ground, he tickled it with brambling grass that had giggles of earthy colors on land that dipped and soared. . When I paint a mountain, I make it brown in a triangular shape. . When Thomas Cole painted mountains, he made them mighty with shadows and cracks, tangled weeds and rich shades of stone and rock. . When I paint water, I make it blue with wavy edges. . When Thomas Cole painted water, he made it shine, glowing and shimmering, lit from within. . When I paint a tree, I make a brown trunk with a puffy green top. . When Thomas Cole painted trees, he made them graceful with sweeping branches, strong and solid mixed with dainty and twiggy. They streeeeetch toward the sky or cradle meadows and pastures. . After seeing how Thomas Cole painted nature in his art, I still paint the same as I always do. . But, now I see art in nature. I see God’s sacred touch. . I see leaves falling and sprouts rising, sacrifice and new life. . I see possibilities, growth, light, and infinite love. And I feel grateful for this wonderful world. Kelly Bakshi . Close your eyes and listen. Can you hear the air moving or birds singing? Can you feel the sunshine or a breeze on your skin? Deeply breathe in, then exhale. What else do you notice about the creation around you? How do those created things point to the One who made them? . Thomas Cole used his gift to rejoice in and honor God’s power. How could you use your gifts to honor Jesus, the King and Creator of the universe? (Colossians 1:15-23) . In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:4-5 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 96:11-Psalm 96:12; Job 37:14-Job 37:16; Psalm 95:4-Psalm 95:5

God’s grace is amazing. He gives us favor even though none of us deserve it. God’s love is beautiful. None of us are worthy of His great love, but He loves you so much that He became human to live and die for you. . God is the Creator of the universe and all the things in it (Psalm 24:1). He made the stars and moon in the sky. He created each planet and everything on this Earth. He made animals and plants, sky and water, and He made you. . Whenever you begin to doubt yourself and your worth, remember that God created you. He wanted you. . When you feel lonely or unloved, remember that God loves you so much that He was willing to die on the cross for you. He wanted to save you so you could live with Him forever. . God has amazing grace and an equally amazing love for you. He created the world and decided to create you too. You can feel confident in who you are and all you are meant to be when you realize that God made you, He wants you, and He loves you. Bethany Acker . What is one of your favorite things God has made? Have you ever thought about how the same God who made this also made you? . When you feel unloved, how could looking at creation help you remember that God loves you? . I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:14 (CSB) Read Verses: Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 139:13-Psalm 139:17

Have you had times in your life when things were so difficult that it felt like you were going into a battle each day? Are you going through something that feels like that right now? If so, did you know that God is ready to go to battle for you? You don’t have to face anything in your life on your own. Even if you feel unprepared for what is to come, you don’t have to be afraid. God wants to be there for you. . Throughout the Bible, we find images of God going into battle for His people. He is strong and powerful. He can face the difficult stuff in our lives head on. When we feel weak, He is ready to be strong for us (2 Corinthians 12:9-11). When we are scared, He invites us to come to Him and rest in His love. When we see so much brokenness in the world, we can know that God is fighting to heal the world from sin and its effects. Because Jesus died and rose from the dead for us, we can look forward to the day He will return bodily to earth and put an end to all evil and pain and sorrow once and for all. And in the meantime, we get to be part of His healing work, relying on Him for courage and wisdom all along the way. . Whatever you are dealing withwhether it be a tough home situation, a bully at school, struggles at work, or something elseGod is there for you. You are never alone. You never have to face anything by yourself. You always have someone who is ready to fight for you. Jesus will stay by your side through it all. Emily Acker . What kinds of hard things have you been experiencing lately? How could it be comforting to know that God is with you and wants to go to battle for you in these situations? . One of the biggest ways God helps His people is through His people. If you have felt unsafe (at home, at school, at work, etc.) who is a trusted adult you can tell right away? . Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8 (NIV) Read Verses: Exod:14:14; 2Chr:20:15-2Chr:20:17; Ephesians 3:17; Psalm 24:8