Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

Gregory (Grigor Lusavorich), born in the third century AD in Armenia, was raised as a Christian in Caesarea in Cappadocia. After he returned to Armenia, while a loyal servant to Armenian King Tiridates III, Gregory refused to participate in pagan worship, declaring he would worship only the true Creator God. Furious, King Tiridates had Gregory brutally tortured and thrown into a deep pit. He spent thirteen long years there. It is said a beastly affliction struck Tiridates, who had mercilessly persecuted Christians. The king’s sister had visions Gregory could heal him, so Gregory was raised from the pit. When Gregory prayed over Tiridates, God miraculously healed him. Gregory continued preaching Jesus Christ and teaching Scripture, seeing God change hearts as many Armenians turned to Christ. In faith, King Tiridates, his family, and thousands of Armenians were baptized. King Tiridates, who had once persecuted Gregory, in gratitude and sincerity declared Christianity to be the national religion of Armenia. Tiridates and Gregory traveled together, sharing the gospel and instructing the people to destroy the altars of false gods. As healing came to the land, the Armenians built chapels in place of their pagan temples. Convents and Christian schools were created, and Gregory became the first bishop (church leader) of the Armenian church. Now he is known as St. Gregory the Illuminator. He brought the light of Christ to the pagan darkness of Armenia, which became the first Christian nation in 301 AD. Declaring a nation to be Christian doesn’t mean everyone in that country suddenly knows Jesus, but, in Gregory’s case, it did provide more opportunities for the people of Armenia to learn about Jesus and embrace the good news of His perfect life, death on the cross for our sins, and victorious resurrection. The light of Jesus is worth sharing. D. Robin Newman Has Jesus and His good news brought light to dark places in your life? How? What opportunities has God given you to share the good news of the gospel? To learn more about the gospel, check out our “Know Jesus” page. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) Read Verses: Matthew 28

Weariness can hit anyone. Weariness drives happiness and peace away. Here are some good ways to respond when you’re becoming weary. One, lean on God’s help. God gives you strength and endurance when you rely on Him. He knows your needs and what you’re going through. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers you for what God calls you to do (2 Peter 1:3). Remember, Jesus is with you always. Meditate on God’s Word and promises. Two, take a rEsther Do not give up, but take a good rEsther Take a break. Even God rested (Genesis 2:2). And so did Jesus (John 4:6). God actually commands us to rEsther Jesus also said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rEsther Three, relax and do a hobby. Do what you love doing. Reconnect with your talents or passions. God delights in us, and He loves it when we enjoy the ways He’s made us. In the Bible, for example, we can see David loved music and playing instruments. Maybe you like making music, imagining stories, or creating tangible things like art or tools. Maybe you feel alive while running, practicing martial arts, or dancing. Enjoy doing these things with God. Four, reconnect with your family and friends. Spend time with them. Laugh with them. Share your burdens with them. They just might have some solutions. Maybe God will use them to lift your burdens, and maybe He will use you to lift theirs. Five, remember your blessings. List some of the things God has given you or done for you, as many as you can think of. Take a moment to draw or write down some of these blessings, and thank God for them. Connecting with God through gratitude can refresh your spirit. Six, pray for others. God calls us to pray for others, especially people who are in need. When we align our hearts with God’s, we often feel and think better. Seven, fix your eyes on the good future ahead of you. Wonder at the glory of Jesus’ return and the resurrection, and what renewed creation will be like! God offers relief from weariness. Come to Jesus; He will give you rEsther Golda Dilema Do you ever get so tired that you just want to give up? Do you want to get rest but don’t know how? Who is a trusted Christian you can talk to? Read 1 Kings 19:4-9. What did God do when Elijah was weary? But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. Isaiah 40:31a (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 23:2-3; 55:22; 127:2; Matthew 11:28-30

Sin is deadly. No one knew that better than the priests who daily carried out God’s good laws. These laws are found in Leviticus, a book of the Bible that details regulations for holy living for the Israelites. This holy living marked the Israelites as the people of a holy God. Breaking any of these good laws was a sin, and all people sin against God. Sinwhich separates us from Godleads to death. So, to make atonement (or forgiveness) for these sins, the priests would offer sacrifices to God (Leviticus 17:11). And, each year, they would have something called The Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement was vital (Leviticus 16:30-31). The High Priest would go behind the veil of the temple into the Most Holy Placethe place where God’s own presence dwelledand meet with God. The High Priest would have to follow detailed survival instructions involving a bull for a sin offering, a ram for a burnt offering, and dressing in linen clothes. He would make a sacrifice before God to make atonement for all the sins of Israel. Taking two goats, he sacrificed the first goat (its life in exchange for the Israelites’ lives) and sent the second goat into the wilderness (covering sin, indicating God remembers it no more). God’s holiness should cause us to tremble. Because sin entered God’s good world, we need atonementwithout it, we only have death. That’s why Jesus came. When He died on the cross for our sins, the curtain of the temple was torn in two (Matthew 27:51), demonstrating Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, making full atonement for His people so God’s holy presence could come out from the temple and live in His people. And when Jesus resurrected from the dead, He beat sin and death for us. Now, we can enter the Most Holy Place and draw near to God as we gather with other Christians for worship (Hebrews 10:19-25). Christ lives, and through Him, God’s holiness dwells in us. Becky Elie Leviticus can be confusing! What questions do you have? Who can you talk to about these? All the sacrifices in Leviticus point forward to Jesus. Why was Jesus able to atone for all of our sins at once when animal sacrifices had to be repeated over and over? In Christ we’re made holy as new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). How does Jesus transform us? Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ââ¬ËBe holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.’ Leviticus 19:2 (NIV) Read Verses: Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:1-14

1 John 1 is about walking in the light. It talks about following Jesus and confessing our sins to Him. Today, I want us to think more about 1 John 1:9. It’s a verse that is so simple, yet so easily misunderstood. It says, If we confess our sins, He [Jesus] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. But sometimes, what do we do instead of confessing our sins? We plead with God to forgive our sins. We promise God we will not sin again. We confess the same sin over and over again, just in case God hasn’t forgiven us. We think if we say we are sorry, truly sorry, that He just might forgive us. God doesn’t say beg for forgiveness, He says CONFESS. He doesn’t want us to bargain with Him, so that if we promise not to do it again, He will perhaps forgive us. He says CONFESS. He doesn’t tell us to apologize over and over He says CONFESS! Walking in the light means confessing our sins or simply telling God what we did wrong. Just admit it. That’s our part. What is God’s part? He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. He forgives. Why? Because He is faithful! He is just! And our faithful, just God has already paid the price for our sins through the cross. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His death and resurrection has made us holy before God so we don’t have to earn our salvation by pleading for forgiveness. Notice God not only forgives our sins but also cleanses us! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are clean and can freely walk with Him! Daniel Dore If we know Jesus, through His death and resurrection, all of our sinspast, present, and futureare forgiven. How does this truth free you to follow Jesus with joy and gratitude? Do we need to confess each individual sin in order for God to save us (Psalm 19:12-13; Luke 23:39-43)? What else does the Bible say about God cleansing us (Isaiah 1:18; Ephesians 5:25b-27)? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) Read Verses: Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:5-9

Where do you find peace? How do you react when you’re faced with challenges and situations that are anything but peaceful? When Paul and Silas were in prison, they still praised God. They had an inner peace that was not defined by their circumstances. They knew that God was still good, despite their chains. When Stephen was being put to death by stoning, he had peace. He even prayed that those who were killing him would be forgiven. Stephen died at their hands, but he knew that this was not the end. He trusted in God, and he saw Jesus alive at the right hand of God! In this life, we will face hard things. Maybe our situation won’t be exactly like the examples above, but maybe it will feel just as hard. This world is not perfect, and no one, not even the most mature Christians, are immune to pain and suffering. When we as Christians face hard times, we can put our hope in God. We can find peace in Him. Jesus said in John 16 that He has come to give us peace. Jesus invites us to bring our pain and suffering to Him in honest lament. He acknowledges that we will have struggles in this world, but Jesus also reminds us He has overcome the world. We can have peace because of that! Bethany Acker Do you struggle to find peace in the hard times? Which stories in the Bible help you see God’s goodness in the midst of struggles? How do you draw near to God when you’re experiencing pain and suffering? If you’re not sure, who is a trusted Christian you can talk to? How might remembering Jesus’ finished work on the cross and His current place of authority give you hope? Because God is so good, He can use even something as terrible as suffering to bring about good things. In Christ, what are some things suffering can produce (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4)? I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NLT) Read Verses: Acts 7:54-60; 16:20-25

Close your eyes, and imagine a dark night. You are standing in a field, and surrounding that field is a thick forest that stretches miles in every direction. It is long after sunset, and there are no lights from buildings to shine a way out. You can hardly see six feet in front of you, let alone see the bears, wolves, and other threats that lurk in the woods. Looking at your surroundings, it’s no wonder so many people are scared of the dark. You’re vulnerable and blind to danger. You have no way of telling where you’re going and can quickly become hopelessly lost. But when you look up, it’s an entirely different story. Looking up at the sky, you are suddenly aware of thousands of stars, twinkling and shimmering, while a crescent moon glows overhead. A meteor streaks across the sky, and a comet hangs in a hazy glimmer just above the horizon. Your fear is replaced with awe and wonder. It’s amazing how quickly our perspective can change depending on where we’re looking. Maybe you are in a dark place right now. It might be a struggle with illness, physical or mental, or a battle with fear or regret. Perhaps you’re fighting a recurring sin or are having trouble with family or friends. Whatever it is, look upnot just to the stars, but to the One who created the galaxies. He knows the number of stars in the sky, and He knows you by name (Psalm 147:4). Jesus is our light in the darkness, the light of the world. He is with you in your struggles, alongside you, and He promises to always be with you. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has overcome the darkness of the world. In His light, you can too. Abby Ciona Do you enjoy looking up at the night sky? Why? How are wonder and worship related? How does wonder affect fear? What dark places are you facing in your life right now? What could you do (and who could you talk with) to help you turn your gaze to Jesus? Read Matthew 5:14-16 and Philippians 2:15-16. How are we as Christians also called to be the light of the world? When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 18:28; John 1:1-5; Romans 8:37

The Exodus is my favorite Bible story. It’s an edge-of-your-seat narrative where an underdog hero defies the most powerful ruler in the world and rescues his people from slavery. Unfortunately, sometimes we look at the ten plagues as evidence that God is cruel. Was God spitefully tormenting the Egyptians? Or could He actually have been showing them an extraordinary kindness? Today, we have the benefit of seeing God’s whole plan of redemption laid out for us in the BibleJesus, God’s Son, died to take the punishment for our sins and resurrected from the dead so we can live in right relationship with God for all eternity. At the time of the Exodus, however, God had only just begun to reveal Himself. The Israelites knew of Him dimly through promises made to their ancestors, but the Egyptians worshipped false gods. Instead of leaving them in darkness, God designed a series of supernatural events that would prove, both to the Egyptians and the Israelites, that He was the one true, living God. And He did it in a way they could not miss! The ten plagues struck at Egyptian deities and rendered them powerless. Hapi, god of the Nile, should have prevented the water from turning to blood. Heka, god of medicine, could not heal the people’s boils. Ra, Egypt’s highest (sun) god, failed to lift the darkness. I think many Egyptians were beginning to take heed by the ninth plague. But when the death angel passed through, making a distinction between the obedient and disobedient, very few could have denied that Moses’ God was real. The Egyptians could not worship a God they did not know, so God revealed Himself in spectacular fashion. This is just one example of the great lengths God has undertaken to draw all nations to HimselfHe even sent His own Son to die and raise again so all people could know who He is. It’s a reminder that God wants me to know Him too. Michelle Isenhoff Why is it important to understand the Bible in its own context? What other extraordinary things has God done to draw you to Him? And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it. Exodus 7:5 (NIV) Read Verses: Exodus 6:1-8; 7:1-5; 12:12-13

A few summers ago, my husband and I were invited to an outdoor wedding. The reception was in a barn, and the summer humidity was at full strength, so we assumed attire would be casual. I wore a sundress, and my husband wore a polo shirt and khakis. We were wrong about the dress codeevening gowns and tuxedos surrounded us. Our outfits were the one sore spot at a black-tie wedding. It was humiliating! No one likes to be humiliated. But we are called to live in humility. And the word “humility” comes from the same root as “humiliation.” Jesus wasn’t afraid to risk humiliation. Because He loves us so much, He became human and died a humiliating death on the cross, taking the punishment for our sins. His humility led to His victory over sin and death when He resurrected from the dead, securing our resurrection when He returns to restore creation and right every wrong. Until that day, because sin and brokenness have corrupted God’s good world, we live in a state of division. We live polarized from our fellow humans. Many of us find it challenging to engage in conversations with people who come from different backgrounds or who have different experiences. But how can we love others if we can’t humble ourselves enough to listen to what they have to say? How can we seek justice if we are too afraid to risk humiliation? Humbling ourselves starts with knowing we need Jesus no more or less than others do. Scripture illustrates how humility is necessary for healing. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God gives Solomon four steps for leading the land toward healing: humility, prayer, seeking God’s face, and turning from wickedness. This call for humility is not an isolated suggestion. In Micah 6:8, the prophet Micah tells the people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. We humble ourselves so God’s grace may prevail and His grace to us can overflow to others. We humble ourselves by setting aside our own opinions and desires long enough to listen well and love others. If we want to see healing and reconciliation in our world, we can’t be afraid to follow Jesus by humbling ourselveseven to the point of humiliation. Becca Wierwille How was Jesus humiliated? Why was He willing to be humiliatedfor us? (See our “Know Jesus” page.) In light of this, how might listening and empathizing come more naturally to us? Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3 (NIV) Read Verses: 2 Chronicles 7:11-16; Micah 6:6-8; Philippians 2:1-11

“Brenilia, meet me at the oak tree. Love, Emerald.” Shuddering, I read the words inscribed on a stone outside my cottage. Intrigue takes over. Who is Emerald? What could she want? How long I have lived alone here, I couldn’t say. Wrapping the warm and comforting cloak around me tightly, I trudge out. The wind blows around me, touching my skin. The cloak becomes heavier, so I tighten my grip, refusing to let go. Weightier, it becomes, as I walk up to meet the island’s visitor. I keep going until I can hardly step another step, almost collapsing as I reach the oak tree, and I see her. Brenilia, Emerald says. I wasn’t sure you’d make it. My face prickles with sweat; I am dizzy. I slide to the ground. So heavy everything is so heavy. Brenilia. The voice is kind. I look up once again. You have to let go. You have been carrying too much hatred in your heart. That cloak is the cloak of your unforgiveness and still you cling to it. You have to let it go. Forgive others, and forgive yourself. They hurt me, I whisper. My family left me. My friends have gone. I glance up, and the woman’s dark eyes are so kind. Her clothes gleam golden as sparkling lights shine around her. But Brenilia, don’t you remember what Jesus has done? Don’t you remember that His life, His death, was enough? He came so that you could be forgiven set free, made whole. Jesus doesn’t want you to hurt yourself anymore. He loves you. You don’t need this bitterness anymore. You’ve been living in the wilderness. Now it’s time for a change. He will help you. It’s a struggle to let go of the warm cloak, even though it’s stifling me. Once it was comfortable, but as I let go I feel the pain, the torture I have carried for so long, release. My tears rain down; I feel the Holy Spirit beginning to heal me, and my heart is lighter. I am finally free from my own hurt and condemnation. Cindy Lee Do you feel weighed down with the burden of unforgiveness? Sometimes we have to ask God to help us release offenses to Him over and over again. He loves to help us and renew our hearts. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) Read Verses: Romans 8:1-2, 32-34; Ephesians 4:30-32

People tend to talk about peer pressure as if it only affects teenagers, but the truth is, it doesn’t magically go away once you turn twenty. And because peer pressure will always be a part of life, it’s important that we learn how to deal with it well. Why are we as humans so easily overcome by peer pressure? Well, because we’re hardwired for community. God, who lives in constant community as three Persons in One, created us in His image, so we reflect God’s love of community. And that’s a good thing! However, sin takes this good desire for community and warps it, twisting it into a fear-driven need to be liked by those around us. Satan fills our heads with thoughts like, They won’t like me if I don’t join in or If they do it, it can’t be that bad, right? Nobody is immune to this! Look at today’s reading in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul is writing to the church in Corinth that has been peer-pressured into believing nobody could be resurrected from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection (and our resurrection when He returns) is a HUGE part of the gospelin fact, with no resurrection, there is no gospel. By giving in to peer pressure, the Corinthian Christians were denying the gospel. So, how do we avoid being peer-pressured into compromising the gospel? Should we just avoid everyone? No! The answer isn’t isolationit’s gospel-centered community. Surround yourself with people who love Jesus and serve Him. Remind each other of your identity in Christ, which nobody can shake. Remind each other you are already dearly loved by Jesus and His people, so you don’t need to seek anybody else’s approval. Constantly point each other back to God’s Word so you can stand firm in His TRuth And rest in the sure hope that, someday, Jesus will return to defeat all fear and sin, and we will live together in perfect community with Him. Taylor Eising If you don’t know the truths of the gospel, it’s really easy to compromise them without realizing it. How does studying God’s Word together help you stand strong in the truth? How can knowing Jesus’ great love for youand the love His people have for youhelp you fight against the lie that you need to earn the approval of others? And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV) Read Verses: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 15:31-34; Galatians 6:1-3

“Where do I go from here?” I wondered, looking at my story. I had just finished typing out another novelanother novel for the collection of manuscripts sitting on my computer. My head swirled with story ideas and dreams, but I had no idea how to get any of them published.” How long will it be till then? Years? Decades?” When I get overwhelmed thinking about how far I still have to go, I come back to one of my favorite Bible verses: Joshua 1:9. The Israelites were about to enter the land God promised to them generations ago, and their leader, Moses, had just died. God appointed Joshua to take Moses’ place. Joshua must have been overwhelmedMoses had led the Israelites through the Red Sea out of slavery in Egypt, given them God’s good law at the base of Mount Sinai, and led them through forty years of wandering in the desert. This left Joshua with a huge position to fill at a critical point in Israel’s history. But just before entering the Promised Land, God spoke to Joshua. He promised never to leave Joshua nor forsake him, no matter where they went. And this promise came with a command that God repeated several times: be strong and courageous. Similarly, when Jesus finished His work on earthafter He defeated sin, death, and brokenness through His life, death, and resurrectionand was about to leave His disciples to return to heaven, He gave them some final instructions (Acts 1:1-11) and this promise: I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). I don’t know where my writing might take me, but I know Jesus will be with me every step of the wayand He knows what is best for me. No matter where you go in your life, Jesus is with you and has a plan through all of it. We can be strong and courageous because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Abby Ciona Do you ever get overwhelmed thinking about what your future could hold? Read John 16:33. If you’ve put your trust in Jesuswho has overcome the worldHe lives in you through the Holy Spirit. How does this equip you to face the future with strength and courage? Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Read Verses: Joshua 1:1-9; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 8:28-39

The corpse lay still and silent as maggots wriggled and writhed along its curves and crevices. If it could have tasted anything, it would have recoiled at the pungent mucus seeping into the pores of its tongue. If it could have heard anything, its ears would have strained for the slightest sound in the deep, earthen silence. But it couldn’t taste or hear anything, couldn’t feel the maggots’ coiled bodies as they burrowed into its rotting flesh. It was dead. The maggots had names. Envy. Greed. Pride. Hatred. There were too many to name them all. There were small ones, each a wayward thought, a deed undone, a word misspoken. There were large ones toowords and actions that had penetrated deep into the hearts of others. Their size had no bearing on their lust for death. They gorged on the rotting flesh around them, their oval-shaped bodies filling out as they consumed the corpse inch by inch in the cold, heavy darkness. Then, suddenly, the earth shook, and six feet of soil shifted. The grave opened, and light shone in. But this light was not merely seenit was felt, heard, tasted. It replaced the putrid stench of the coffin with a fresh, sweet aroma. It roared. The maggots were too sluggish for the light; they didn’t stand a chance. They burned up on the spot, their engorged bodies dissolving into dust. The light had a different effect on the corpse. Free of the gluttonous parasites, it began to change. Bones and tendons joined together, and gaping flesh was soon woven by strong muscle and smoothed over with fresh skin. Blood began to flow as the heart contracted and released, and the chest heaved as the lungs drew in a long, shuddering breath. I opened my eyes, stood up, and took hold of the hand reaching down to me from above. Courtney Lasater Read Ephesians 2:1-7. How does this passage describe all of us? You may have heard that anyone who tries to live a good life will go to heaven. What does Ephesians 2:1-7 say about that? What does the Bible say is the only way we can be saved? How is our salvation both spiritual and physical? (See John 6:40 and Romans 8:9-11.) If you have more questions, check out our “Know Jesus” page. How has Jesus shone His light into the deadly darkness of your life? Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14b (NIV) Read Verses: Isaiah 26:19; John 8:12; 2 Timothy 1:9-10

“What’s up with me?” The nagging thought attacks you at your most vulnerable. You’re in a room full of people, but you’re estranged. A part of you longs to join in, but you watch on, displaced and wondering, “What’s wrong with me?” Have you experienced this kind of situation before? If so, you’re not alone. Where does this discomfort come from? All of us experience insecurity on some level, but the roots of it come from much earlier in our human history in fact, from the fall of Adam and Eve. As soon as the first humans disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:8-17; 3:1-11), they both experienced discomfort and wanted to hide from the Creator. Our sin leaves us with a brokenness, a chasm between heaven and earth. Forgiveness and salvation. After Adam and Eve first sinned, all humans were sinful from the first moment of their lives. All of us disobey God, and sin separates us from Him. But there’s good news if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He heals the rift between us and God. Because Jesus, God’s Son, paid the price for our sins with His life and then raised triumphant from the dead, He can restore our relationship with our Creator and save us from death. Loved beyond measure. The next time you’re wondering, What’s wrong with me? remember you are loved and cherished by God more than you can imagine. We are each precious to God. And as followers of Jesus, we’re not meant to conform to the ways of the world anyway (Romans 12:2) but instead to follow Jesus and be guided by His Holy Spirit. Remember that being different is a blessing. The truth is, we’re all different. God didn’t want us all to be the same, but original and unique. He gave us different qualities so we can build one another up in love. Embrace your differences. Cindy Lee Do you sometimes feel like you don’t belong? What if moments of loneliness can be opportunities for us to draw closer to God? Romans 12 has a lot to say about living as individuals in community. Read the whole chapter. What sticks out to you? What questions do you have? Ask God to show you more about this. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 27:10; John 15:12-21; 1 John 4:7-12

I. was saddened this past week when I heard about someone who had been a strong Christian all their life but didn’t feel God for the past few months and now wasn’t sure about God or their faith anymore. Now, I want to clarify. Doubt is a normal part of faith, and everyone goes through cycles of doubt. What made me sad was the equation I don’t feel God = I’m not so sure God exists. God doesn’t disappear when you don’t feel Him. Can you imagine having a God so small and fragile that He poofed out of existence every time we didn’t feel a strong emotional connection to Him? The Israelites went through roughly four hundred years of not hearing much from God. He had promised His Messiah, and generations passed before that promise was fulfilled. Yet, people still had the discipline to continue believing. One Christian virtue I believe is underrated is discipline. It takes discipline to meet with fellow Christians and to praise God when you don’t feel close to Him. Jesus gave us a great example of discipline when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan tempted Jesus to make bread from stones, which would’ve meant abandoning His reliance on God. Jesus in turn recalled when God the Father provided for the Israelites in the desert (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). Like Jesus, we, too, can exercise discipline because He gave us His Spirit (2 Timothy 1:7). We can call to mind times when God did come through for us and thank Him. These memories can help carry us through times when we don’t feel close to God. And when we don’t want to connect with fellow Christians because we’re unsure about our faith, it’s all the more important that we do, so we can hear how God is working in their lives. If you’re uncertain about God right now, look to the past. See how God has come through for you and answered your prayers. And keep looking to the future, trusting that God delivers on His promises. Naomi Vroegop How close do you feel to God right now? Does that affect your belief in Him? When has God answered a prayer or come through on a promise for you? Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16 (NLT) Read Verses: Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 10:22-25

Omniscience. Hard to say and even harder to spell, but it basically means all knowing and it’s often referred to as an attribute of God. It seems like a pretty simple concept: God knows everything. But why is that important? First, God’s knowledge is infinite. This may seem obvious, but the more you think about it, the more amazing it is. Psalm 147:4-5 says, He counts the number of the stars; he gives names to all of them his understanding is infinite. Second, God knows our hearts. Proverbs 15:3 says, The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good. This is the tough part of God’s all-knowingness: there’s no escaping it. We may be able to hide ourselves from others, but nothing is hidden from God. Acts 1:24 tells us that God knows the hearts of all people; and Psalm 139:4 says, Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. One day we will each stand before God. We have all sinned, and both we and God know it. But God loves us in spite of our shortcomings and wrongdoing, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to bear the penalty for our sins. Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth, ââ¬ËJesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Third, God knows our future and our needs. We may not know what will happen, but we have a God who does. Philippians 4:19 says, My God will supply all your needs As Christians, we can trust God and know that our future is secure in Him (Ephesians 1:13-14). Fourth, God knows you. Perhaps the most amazing thing about God’s omniscience is that amid the vast multitude of stars and the billions of people, not only does God know about you, but God knows you completely, individually, and He loves you very much. Jeami Stander Have you ever worried about the future? It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of life, but no matter what happens, God will take care of us; He knows our every need. Do you ever feel like no one even notices you? The Bible reveals that God knows all about you even how many hairs are on your head (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7)! Sometimes we may feel insignificant, but God tells us we are very precious to Him. You can ask Him, Is it true? Lord, you have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 139:1-4; John 4:29

Joshua was unable to cry out for help, but he could have burst for joy when he saw a man in priests’ garb walking towards him. The Road to Jericho was quite narrow, and Joshua lay exposed right beside it. There was no missing him. Joshua stretched out his hand and tried to speak, but the priest merely edged around him and went on with his business. “Oh, I’m invisible again,” Joshua thought. Hours later, a Levite walked by. Joshua stretched out his hand, but the Levite stepped right past. Joshua watched him walk away, farther down the winding road, and then Joshua swore he could see this man reach to tear off his garment where Joshua had touched it. Joshua blinked. “Am I invisible or not? At this point, am I even alive? Am I real?” Later still, Joshua saw another mana Samaritanapproaching the spot where he lay. Joshua didn’t stretch himself out; he couldn’t try anymore. “I’m done for,” he thought. “I’m dying here.” Joshua felt himself being lifted up. “What’s happening?” he wondered. He felt wine and oil being poured on his torn flesh, his wounds being bandaged. Joshua didn’t remember what happened after that, but he woke up in a comfortable bed. He saw a man in the opposite corner of the room, making food. Where am I? Joshua asked. An inn in Jericho. A Samaritan brought you yesterday. He had to leave but gave us good pay to look after you. Two days wages. He took excellent care of you. And I thought I was invisible. A good Samaritan, of all things. Lauren N. Simmons This story is inspired by a parable Jesus told. At that time in history, many Jews hated Samaritans based on centuries of national, religious, and ethnic strife. They couldn’t imagine any good coming from a Samaritan. But in Jesus’ parable, a Samaritan showed mercy when Jewish religious leaders didn’t. Why do you think Jesus told the parable this way? Read John 4:1-43. What did Jesus do when He saw a Samaritan woman? How might it affect your relationship with Jesus if it’s true He really sees uswith all our desperate needs and all our shortcomingsand loves us so much that He would rescue us? How might this affect your relationships with others? But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34 (CSB) Read Verses: Luke 10:25-37; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:13-22

Joshua finished packing up his caravan. He had fabrics of all types to sell: wool, linen, even silk, in a splendid array of colors. On his way to the market in Jericho, he decided to stop at an inn in Jerusalem. Joshua walked toward the innkeeper. A meal and drink, whatever this will buy me, please, he said, holding up a Tyrian silver shekel. But the innkeeper walked right past him as if he were a curtain, shoving his shoulder as though expecting it to billow in the wind like Joshua’s fabrics. Disgusted, Joshua moved on to a street vendor on the other side of the road. “Better to get my food for the road anyway,” he thought. A meal and drink, whatever this will buy me. Please, he said, holding up the same shekel. But the street vendor looked right through him. Joshua waved his arms in the air and danced like a fool. The vendor did not seem the slightest bit aware of this tEsther Joshua decided he should be on his way. Enough time had been wasted. He was more than halfway to Jericho when it happened. Robbers came upon him when he least expected it, stripping him of his clothes and beating him. When they left him, they thought he was dead. In his half-conscious state, Joshua thought, “How remarkable that the robbers should have seen me. If I could, I would kick myself for not trying a third time for that meal.” He would’ve groaned, but his body was too sore. Does God even see me? Lauren N. Simmons This story is based loosely on a parable Jesus told. Throughout the Bible, we can see God cares for people who are disregarded and oppressed. How did Jesus interact with people who were overlooked by others (Mark 10:4652; Luke 4:16-21; 8:40-48; 23:32-43)? Do you ever wonder if anyone sees you? If God even sees you? Read Psalm 139:1-12. In Genesis 16:13, God is called the one who sees me by a woman named Hagar, who was severely mistreated. How could it be comforting to know that God is the One who sees you? Because sin has entered God’s good world, we all suffer from sin’s effects. Only Jesus can save us; He died and rose againbecause He loves us! Where do you see the effects of sin and brokenness in your life? How might Jesus bring healing to those areas? Jesus took up the question and said, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. Luke 10:30 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 12:5; Proverbs 14:31; Zechariah 7:10; Luke 10:25-30

God is the author of peace who gives to those who seek Him. But the enemy hates peace and tries to steal it. The good news is, the enemy is a liar. God gives us truth in His word, and He helps us stand firm (Ephesians 6:14). An opponent of peace is fear. But if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we don’t have to fear anything, because Jesus has risen from the dead! We can rest in knowing God is with us. He is here protecting us, and He has secured our eternal future with Him (Ephesians 1:13-14). When we’re afraid, we can cry out to the God of the universe, who rescues us (Psalm 34:4). An obstacle to a peaceful mind is discontentment. When we feel we’ve been deprived in some way, we can quickly spiral into discouragement. But thankfulness counteracts discouragement surprisingly well. When we set aside time to thank God for the ways He’s blessed us and provided for us, our confidence in Him grows. Psalm 23:1 says, The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. A hindrance to a life of peace is shame. Every one of us commits sin against God, but Jesus made a way for us to be totally cleansed from all that guilt. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we can know that nothing separates us from God’s love! Whenever we mess up, we can repent and come to Him (Psalm 34:4-5; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 1:8-9). A thief of peace is bitterness. Don’t let hurts fester. Tell God about them (Psalm 62:8). Unload your heavy heart to the Lord, and let Him soothe your hurts. An obstacle to a peaceful life is hopelessness. When we feel ourselves sliding into despair, we can know we’re not alone (Psalm 88; 143) and cry out to God, who rescues us through Jesus and gives us powerful hope through the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Even in the midst of hardships and suffering, we can still have peace. Jesus knew this better than anyone, and He comforted His disciples by telling them He has overcome the world (John 16:33). God refreshes and renews us (Psalm 23). With God we have peace. Golda Dilema How is the peace Jesus offers different from the peace that comes from circumstances? Who is a trusted Christian you can talk and pray with when you feel like you lack peace? Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. John 14:27 (CSB) Read Verses: Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 3:15

Even as the tears slip off my cheeks I will rejoice Even as my heart grows still I will rejoice And when fear circles around me Hissing in mocking contempt I will rejoice Though the wind may howl in my face Though the skies turn black in deepest pain Though the things I love be taken from me Though all my works are just in vain I will rejoice When I am overcome by the beauty of a sunset I will rejoice When love and peace feel close enough to touch I will rejoice On brighter, cleaner, fairer days I will rejoice When the wind gently caresses my hair When the sun and stars sparkle in my eyes When blessings fall like manna from heaven And when I am in awe of perfect peace I will rejoice Leah Najimy How can you rejoice in God’s perfect love today? Have you ever been in a situation where you found it hard to rejoice? Are you in one now? Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (CSB) Read Verses: Habakkuk 3:17-19; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:1-3

Stephen died for his faith. Because Stephen performed signs in Jesus’ name and shared the gospel, some of the Jews seized him and testified against him. Instead of defending himself, Stephen took the opportunity to share God’s story. And then he called the Sanhedrin (probably some of the same Jewish religious leaders who sentenced Jesus to death) stiff-necked and stubborn, and he accused them of murdering the promised Messiah. At Stephen’s words, the enraged members of the Sanhedrin rushed to stone him. Stephen became the first Christian martyr, killed for following Jesus. But Stephen did not falter in his last moments. Stephen’s story contains a beautiful statement in Acts 7:56, when Stephen said, Look I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Stephen saw heaven open. Few people in Scripture got to see heaven open up. Heaven opened for the prophet Elijah when God took him up on a chariot of fire and for other prophets as they experienced visions of God. It opened for Jesus after He was baptized and God declared that Jesus is His beloved Son. And heaven opened for Stephen, a man about to be martyredand yet, a man with hope and forgiveness on his tongue until his last breath (Acts 7:60). We might not see heaven open the same way Stephen did, but we can still live knowing heaven is open to everyone who puts their trust in Jesus, because He has removed every barrier between us and God (Matthew 27:51; Romans 8:34-39). God is with us and He loves us. He has adopted us into His family. He invites us into great faith, much like the faith of Stephen. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, empowering us to surrender to complete trust and faith in Jesus. We can believe in things we don’t see. We can experience the goodness and radiance of the God who opens the heavens, because He is with us here, now. And one day, when God restores the earth, we will experience that glory in a whole new way. Becca Wierwille Do Stephen’s actions and reactions surprise you? Why or why not? What might it mean to live like heaven is open? Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:56 (NIV) Read Verses: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 6:8-7:60

In England during the 1800s, prisoners were taken far away from their home and sent to Australia. If you committed a crime, a judge could sentence you to punishment in Australia. At that time, few people in England knew where Australia was. Later, some people started calling it the continent Down Under since the southern hemisphere is down on most European maps. And it is really south. In going to Australia from England, you would cross the dangerous waters of three oceans: the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Sadly, many prisoners died before reaching their destination. On finally reaching Down Under, the prisoners found Australia to be very different from Englandthe people, land, and climate were all unfamiliar. Life was hard, and going back home was almost impossible. Thoughts of family and friends brought rivers of tears. Many desired a reunion, but they were unable to be reunited. They were down underforever separated from their home. Sin can make us prisoners and drive us down under. We can feel stuck, like we are forever separated from God. Yet we have hope. Although we are down under, Jesus is able to reach the lowest depths and reunite us again with the Father. Even as Christians (being shaped by the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus), we continue to sin and need God’s forgiveness, but God’s grace is inexhaustible. Jesus’ death and resurrection made a way for us to be freed from sin and death and live eternally in right relationship with God. And, someday, Jesus will return to resurrect His people from the dead and live with them forever in His perfect kingdom on earth. We may be down under, but He can give us joy in place of despair and beauty instead of ashes. Jeff Oganga Katieno Have you ever felt like you’re down under? How can Jesus bring you home (Luke 15)? If you want to learn more about how Jesus can rescue us, check out our “Know Jesus” page. No power in the sky above or in the earth belowindeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NLT) Read Verses: Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-21; Romans 8:31-39

When everything else is in chaos, God remains the same. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the One we can cling to when we feel afraid, or when things aren’t working out like we hoped. When we lose someone close to us, we can go to God for comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). When we’re not sure how to make choices about the future, we can turn to Him (Psalm 32:8). We can know God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can depend on His character, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness (Psalm 100:5; Romans 3:3-4). God is always ready to strengthen us and uplift us when we call to Him (Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:10). He will never let the righteous be shaken (Psalm 37:23-24; 55:22). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, no one can take us out of His hand (John 10:27-30; Romans 10:9-13). But sometimes when life gets messy, it can be hard to go to God for comfort. In these times, it’s even more important that we draw close to God. If you’re not sure how to draw close to God, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Just turning your heart toward Him in faith and acknowledging Him (even if you don’t say anything) is drawing close to God. There are also ways we can help our faith grow, including reading the Bible. We can sing worship songs and hymns to God and be reminded of His goodness. And we can always talk to God in prayer and tell Him our hurts, even if it’s been a long time. We can seek Him even in the everyday moments, because He cares about every part of our lives. No matter what changes in our lives, and no matter how chaotic, sad, or scary life feels, God is never going to change. He is always going to be good. He is always going to love us. He is always going to remain in control. Bethany Acker When you feel like things are getting out of control, what is your first instinct? How might you shift your focus to God in moments like these? What are some of your favorite Bible passages that remind you of God’s goodness? How could you share this hope with others who are feeling overwhelmed? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (WEB) Read Verses: Psalm 46:1-3; Malachi 3:6; John 14:1-7; James 1:17

What do you think of when you hear or see the word “handcrafted?” Something made by someone’s hands? The verb “handcraft” doesn’t just mean to make something by hand, but also to make it skillfully. What about the word “wonderfully?” The biblical Hebrew word translated wonderfully is “palah,” and it means to be distinct or to be distinguishedset apart for a certain purpose. Can you think of anything that fits both of those definitions? To be made by hand and to be distinct and distinguished? I can. And it’s what’s holding this device right now. It’s what’s reading these words. It’s what just exhaled, sending a soft breath of air over the screen. It’s you. You are handcrafted. God created you with His hands; He formed you (Psalm 119:73). Think about how God created the first person in Genesis 2:7, then the Lord God formed a man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. And then God formed the second person, a woman, from one of the man’s ribs. After blessing them both, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). God formed you too. Psalm 139:13-14 says, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully [palah] made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. God handmade you in His good image to be distinct and distinguished! But because our world has been broken by sin, all of us have been marred by sin. That’s why God sent His Son. Jesus gave Himself up for us so that He could cleanse us from all our sin and present us totally blameless to God (Ephesians 5:25b-27). So marvel in those facts today! You are personally and skillfully handcrafted by God. And if you’ve put your trust in Jesus, God finds you pleasing and good! Natalie Gilkinson How does knowing that you are skillfully and personally created by God make you feel? Have you ever sensed God’s pleasure as He beholds the way He made you? You can ask Him to reveal this to you anytime. Do you ever find yourself trying to earn God’s approval? How might it change the way you live to know that only Jesus can make us pleasing to God (Romans 3:22-26; 1 Corinthians 1:30)? Your hands made me and formed me. Psalm 119:73a (NIV) Read Verses: Genesis 1:31; 2:4-24; Psalm 139; Ephesians 2:10

“You never listen to me! You never do what I ask. Well, you’re always nagging me! Carter had come home from school to his parents yelling at each other again and, even an hour later, it was still going on. Can you guys please stop arguing? Carter said. I can’t even concentrate on my homework. How is doing your homework going to help you? his dad said, eyes burning. You won’t get anywhere in life. You’re a failure in school, and you won’t become anything later in your life! John! his mom shrieked. How could you say that? Carter stared at his dad as tears stung his eyes. He turned and went up to his room. He sat down and tried to study some more, but he couldn’t stop hearing his dad’s harsh words. This wasn’t the first time Carter’s dad had said such horrible things to him. He kept wondering whether he really would get anywhere in his life. He wondered why his dad didn’t love him. He prayed, God, if my dad won’t love me, will You? Show me how to love my dad. Please let them stop arguing. The next morning, he called Pastor Jeff and asked if they could talk. When Carter explained what was going on, Pastor Jeff let out a deep sigh. Oh, Carter, he said. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Your dad is verbally abusing you, and that is not okay. Do you need a place to stay? *** It had been months since Carter had moved out, but the memory still hurt. God wants me to love and forgive my dad. How can I when he hurt me with his words? Carter asked Pastor Jeff. Forgiveness is hard, Carter, especially in cases of abuse. But, as Jesus was agonizing on the cross, He cried out that God forgive the people who crucified Him. And Jesus lives in you through the Holy Spirit, and He has empowered you to forgive others. As your relationship with God grows, and as you understand more and more how much God loves you, you may find it becomes easier to forgive your dad. And remember, forgiving your dad doesn’t mean you have to be in a close relationship with him, said Pastor Jeff. That night Carter prayed that God would soften his heart toward his dad. Jesus, I don’t want to carry this burden around. Help me to forgive my dad like you’ve forgiven him. Alexis Wohler If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse and if the situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, 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. Have you ever been hurt by your parent’s words? How did it feel? How did you react? All parents sometimes speak hurtful words in the heat of a bad moment, and the right response for Christian parents is to repent and seek help. There is hope and forgiveness in Jesus and as our relationship with God grows, the Holy Spirit transforms us to become more and more like Jesus (Galatians 5:22-23). When Christian parents make bad choices, sometimes they need to be guided and corrected by other Christians. On the other hand, people who haven’t put their trust in Jesus don’t have the Holy Spirit inside them (as their helper, counselor, and comforter), and they may not listen to godly guidancebut they should still seek help to prevent further abuse. Who is someone you trust who you can talk to about these things? Forgiveness takes time, and it’s an important part of the healing process. Why do you think Jesus wants us to forgive people who have hurt useven those who hav...

Do you find yourself asking God to forgive a sin over and over again? When we’re tempted to sin, the enemy whispers in our ears, It’s no big deal! Such a tiny sin! But after we give in to temptation, the enemy yells, Shame on you! You knew better! How do we respond to the enemy’s attacks? We look to Jesus and His promises. God has promised, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). This is a truth Christians can stand on! Because Jesus, who never sinned, bore our sins in his body on the cross (1 Peter 2:22-25), He has made us clean (Ephesians 5:25b-27). Because of Jesus, God remembers our sin no more (Isaiah 43:25). He is a forgiving God, and He wants us to come to Him, through Jesus, so He can purify us. When God showed me one of His promises in the Bible, it totally changed my thinking about sin. Romans 8:1 says, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Just think about that. Yes, I sin. Everyone does, because we were all sinners from the moment we were conceived (Psalm 51:5). However, if you put your trust in Jesus, you do not stand condemned (John 3:16-18). Jesus took that penalty of condemnation for you when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead, defeating sin and death. When the enemy reminds me of a sin Jesus paid for, I respond (sometimes shouting out loud), Shut up, Satan! God has forgiven me for that sin. He no longer condemns me. Instead of cowering in shame, we can thank God that He has removed our guilt through Jesus’ blood. Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you don’t need to carry that guilt. Jesus has freed you from that shame! Sharon J. Morris Do you sometimes feel guilty for your sins even after confessing them to God? How does thinking about your sin in terms of Jesus’ sacrifice affect how you view your guilt? If you want to know more about freedom in Jesus, check out our “Know Jesus” page. It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who diedmore than that, who was raised to lifeis at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33b-34 (NIV) Read Verses: Nehemiah 9:16-21; Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:8-10

Standing on top of a massive boulder in the Hoodoos of Yellowstone, I felt like I was on top of the world. Fog wrapped around the mountains and hills surrounding me, cloaking the morning in beauty. As solid as the rock under my feet was, I knew it had been broken off from a surrounding mountain and relocated by a landslide years ago. Mountains are shaken, just like our lives. That which we once deemed immovable can crumblea relationship, health, our carefully constructed plans. Where can we turn when everything that once seemed solid crashes down around us? Isaiah 54 promises, ââ¬ËThough the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you (verse 10). No matter what we may face, one thing remains unshakable: God’s unfailing love for us. Since the dawn of creation, He loved us and had a plan to save us. God gave us the ability to choose either to follow Him or go our own way. Beginning with the very first humans, we all rebelled against God and His good ways. That separated us from Godour loving creator. But God graciously offers us another choice: we can choose whether or not to believe in His Son, Jesus trusting in His death on the cross to pay for our sins and His resurrection from the dead to defeat death once and for all. This is the covenant of peace: we no longer have to be separated from God because Jesus Christ made a way for us. Isaiah 53 is all about the promised Messiah, the One who God sent to bear our sins, redeem us, and heal us. The following chapter, Isaiah 54, reminds us our future is secure because of Jesus and His compassion. When we place our trust in Him, we have an unshakable promise that the love of God will never be removed from us (Romans 8:38-39). Savannah Coleman Scripture tells us that God’s love is unshakable. Can you remember a time when you felt sure of God’s love? Take a moment to thank Him for that. Do you ever feel like God’s love is not something you can depend on? How might today’s Scripture speak into that? Also check out John 10:27-30. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 46:1-3; Isaiah 53-54

Guys, I have a confession to make. I’m a twenty-five-year-old Bible college graduate, and I JUST realized that the armor of God is, well, God’s armor. And even though this is a new discovery for me, it was old news to Paul’s original audience, the church in Ephesus. The Bible frequently uses different words or phrases to remind readers of another part of the Bible. And that’s exactly what’s going on in this passage. When Paul tells his audience to put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation, they probably said, Oh yeah, like in Isaiah! Check it out Look at Isaiah 59:17. Sound familiar? These pieces of the armor of God are what He Himself puts on to deal with sin and unrighteousness. Then, look at Isaiah 11:1-5 and 52:7-10. Ok, these references are a little bit harder to see in English, but let me explain. Isaiah 11:5 talks about the Branch wearing righteousness and truth like a belt or undergarment. It may sound odd, but that Branch is Jesus, and He’s the one wearing a belt of truth! Isaiah 52:7 talks about the feet that bring good news, and now we know the good news is the gospel of JesusHis perfect life, His death in our place on the cross, and His victorious resurrection from the dead! Kind of reminds you of the shoes of the good news, doesn’t it? So why does this matter, other than to impress your friends with Bible trivia? Because, as citizens of Jesus’ kingdom, we are at war with Satan, sin, and death. We are called to go after the spiritual powers of evil with everything we’ve got, resisting sin and promoting justice. And nothing but God’s own armor is going to protect us in that fight. He is the only One who can equip us to battle evil alongside our resurrected King. But don’t worrywe know Who wins. Taylor Eising In Ephesians 6:13, the command to put on the armor of God isn’t given to individual Christiansit’s given to the church as a whole. We aren’t supposed to do this on our own. Who can you lean on to help you stand strong in Jesus? What sins are you fighting with right now? How does Jesus help you in this fight? Bring your battles to Him in prayer. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 (NLT) Read Verses: Isaiah 59; Ephesians 6:10-20

It’s so hard to know what to do. Life is complicated, and sometimes it can be hard to know if we’re doing the right thing. To know if we’re doing enough. There are definitely times when we need to take action, but there are also times when there’s nothing we can do except get on our knees and pray. And when we as Christians come to God, the Holy Spirit helps us discern when it’s time to actand how to actand when it’s time to wait. In Psalm 37, David urges his listeners to follow God’s good ways, and he says, Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (verse 7). Then in Psalm 131, David acknowledges there are some things that are beyond even a king, but he has found contentment as he hopes in the Lord. After all, who are we to think that we are better at taking care of any problem than God is? Who are we to believe that we can get everything under control? God is the only One big and strong and powerful enough to take care of everything. God holds the world, and He knows all that’s going on in it. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Nothing is too big for Him to handle, because He’s already handled it through His death and resurrection. Even if we don’t see Him handling it right now, we can know that God is always at work (John 5:17) and He responds to the prayers of His people (Psalm 34:4; 145:18). It can be hard to let God take care of the things that are beyond us. But sometimes this is the most important and best thing we can do. Often, the moments when all we know is our need for God are the moments our relationship with Him grows deeper. When we don’t know what to do or how we can make a difference, these are times when we need to look to God, and God alone, for help. And we can rest knowing God hears us and will help us. Bethany Acker What are some of the complicated situations in your life right now? How might it be freeing to realize that God doesn’t expect you to know what to do on your own? What is one thing you can ask God about in prayer today? Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5 (NIV) Read Verses: Exodus 14:10-22; Psalm 95:1-7; Romans 8:26-28

Lieutenant Karso knew they were losing. She had led her unit into battle with high hopes, but now her troops were tired, hungry, and demoralized. The enemy had been using cheap tricks and psychological warfare for weeks. Karso opened her mouth to call for a retreat, when she saw something cresting over the hill. It was their flag. The banner they fought under. She had often overlooked their flag with its geometric triangle design, but today, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. The flag was held by one man. He marched onward, waving the flag with everything he had and signaling to follow the banner. “It’s beautiful,” Karso thought as she looked at the flag. And she remembered their King. She was filled with a longing for home. “But what home will look like depends on what we do here and now,” she reminded herself. “We need to fight off the enemy because they want to destroy us. Destroy the vulnerable and those who don’t know the King yet.” Karso looked back to the flag and was reminded what it stood for: forgiveness, grace, and redemption. That was what made her want to join the fight in the beginning, and those were the values she would fight for now. Despite the exhaustion in her muscles and the mud under her nails, Karso called at the top of her voice, Re-form ranks! Everyone band together! Under our banner! Naomi Vroegop In this story, Karso needed to be reminded of her King and what He called her to fight for. In Exodus 17, Moses called God our Banner, because He is a Savior (this name anticipates Jesus). The Israelites’ question was, Is the Lord among us or not? The staff was a symbol that God was present among them. Have you ever sensed that God is present among us? When? The flag’s triangle design in today’s story symbolizes the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit (sent to be in us). Read 2 Corinthians 13:14. How might it change our perspective to know that God is with us even when everything looks grim? How have you seen God fulfill the name my banner? (Also check out our “Know Jesus” page.) If you’re ready, pray and ask God to help you embrace your desperate need for the good news about Jesus, and that from this place you might declare the gospel fearlessly (Ephesians 6:18-20). Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means the Lord is my banner). Exodus 17:15 (NLT) Read Verses: Exodus 17:8-16; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Ephesians 6:10-20

When a catastrophe occurs, how do you normally react? Do you want to dive right in and help, or do you often find yourself standing on the sidelines? I can empathize with Jesus’ disciples when they were confronted with five thousand ravenously hungry people. Their first reaction was to send the people away, to remove the problem. Throughout my own life, when I’ve faced tough situations, I always wanted the problem to disappear. Because of this, helplessness and shame used to consume me. But we can find hope when we see how Jesus acted that day with the five thousand hungry people. Jesus, the restorer of our broken world, had compassion on all those people, and He instructed the disciples to hand out baskets of bread and fish to the hungry crowd in faith. God was the one who multiplied the food so there was more than enough, but Jesus invited the disciples to be part of what God was doing. Today, God asks us to trust Him in similar ways. Perhaps, like me, you’re naturally quiet. God asks even us quiet people to reach out with faith. It doesn’t matter what kind of personality we have; God invites us to take that step of faith, even if it’s reluctant, and He will help with the rEsther God gives us each unique gifts, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to use them to glorify Him and serve people in love. Because we live in a world broken by sin, crises are inevitable until Jesus returns and makes all things new. While I don’t see myself as someone who serves on the front lines, I’ve learned that I can offer my strengths by supporting from behind the scenes, often through prayer, encouragement, or writing. I’ve come to realize encouraging others and keeping people calm in stressful situations is an asset. Think about the young boy who gave his food to feed the hungry crowd (John 6:9). Jesus used what this boy brought to do what seemed impossible. Similarly, God invites us to help in our own way. When we do what God asks us, the journey may not be easy, but He guides us as we seek to offer whatever He’s given us, and He uses it all for His good purposes. Cindy Lee When you see an overwhelming situation, how do you normally respond? How might remembering God’s invitation to join in what He is doing encourage you in the midst of stressful situations? But he answered, You give them something to eat. Mark 6:37a (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 32:8; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11

In the church where I grew up, we enjoyed the accompaniment of two primary instruments during the hymns we sang: the piano and the organ. On rare occasions, one of the deacons might play his guitar during worship music. So, when our youth choir was given the opportunity to include a tambourine in a performance, I volunteered to play. I was handed the little percussion instrument with no instructions. I’d had a few years of piano lessons, along with one year of middle school band. I figured I would simply shake the tambourine to the beat of the song. With each rehearsal, we improvedmyself included, or so I thought. But then the day before the performance, I was told that my playing wasn’t on beat, so the tambourine was being removed from the ensemble. Without any coaching to help me improve or any demonstration on how to use the tambourine, I’d lost the chance to add more music to our church’s service. I felt overlooked and sidelined. Couldn’t they see how hard I was trying, how much I wanted to learn and do my best? In the Old Testament, Hagar knew how it felt to be overlooked and dismissed. Hagar was a slave to Abram and Saraithe old, barren couple God had promised children to. They became impatient with God, so Sarai told Abram to marry and sleep with Hagar, hoping they could bypass God’s plan and have children through her. This was a common practice at the time, but God was not okay with it. Hagar, sadly, had no choice but to obey, and she became pregnant. Then Sarai treated her so harshly that Hagar ran away. Alone in the desert, she heard God speak to her. In response, Hagar used a new name for the Lord: You are the God who sees me (Genesis 16:13). In times when we feel invisible, we can turn to the Lord. He loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die and raise from the dead so He could forgive us and make us His children if we put our trust in Jesus. The God who saw Hagar is the God who sees us too. Allison Wilson Lee When have you felt overlooked? Was it difficult to turn to God in those times? Why or why not? How can God’s truth encourage us when we feel invisible? But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. Psalm 33:18 (NLT) Read Verses: Genesis 16:1-16; Psalm 139:13-18

It’s said the new star indicates the birth of a great prince, said the trembling servant. The Sorcerer didn’t take the news well and immediately called for the servant’s execution. The Sorcerer’s only fear was an ancient prophecy which stated that a prince of Otherworld would someday destroy his evil reign. No prince can stop me. The Sorcerer cast a spell over the land rumored to be the prince’s birthplace. Soon, a local ruler sent soldiers to murder all the baby boys of the realm. And there was great weeping in the land. Many years later, the Sorcerer began to hear reports of a humble country teacher gathering a growing band of followers. Was it possible the prince had survived the massacre of the babes? Disguising himself as a wise man, the Sorcerer tracked down the peasant out in the wilderness. The young man appeared unremarkable in body, yet he was strong in spirit. He refused every enticement the Sorcerer had to offer. Nothing you can say will steer me from my Father’s path for me. The Sorcerer left the encounter frustrated. Prince or pauper, this man could threaten his plans. He decided to end the man’s popularity once and for all. I will cause his own people to despise and reject him, the Sorcerer laughed viciously. His deceptive spell worked so well that soon the people were easily persuaded to call for the man’s death. They claimed he was causing civil unrest, and the man endured a grisly execution. Yet the very event that brought the Sorcerer great satisfaction became his undoing. A power far greater than the Sorcerer’s brought the Prince back to life. The High King of Otherworld, in His great love for His Son and His people, had broken the chains of death. Soon the risen Prince claimed the world of the Sorcerer as His own kingdom. The Sorcerer and his servants were imprisoned forever, and the Prince established an ever-after reign of peace and justice for all who willingly became His loyal subjects. Marie Cleveland In this allegorical story, the Sorcerer, who represents Satan, is trying to defeat the Prince, who represents Jesus. But God’s love is greater than any power the enemy has. How does knowing the lengths that Jesus went tobecause He loves usaffect your everyday life? For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Colossians 1:13 (NIV) Read Verses: Isaiah 53:1-5; Matthew 2:1-18; Matthew 4:1-11; Romans 6:9-11

If you’ve ever run a race, you might have experienced a sudden boost of energy when you saw the finish line. Or maybe you’ve entered a contest, and when it became difficult, stayed motivated by remembering the prize you’d receive if you won. Maybe you’ve pushed through challenging classes in school by remembering the hope of summer vacation. In the book of 2 Thessalonians, we can see the church in Thessalonica was discouraged and not sure what to do with themselves. They were constantly being persecuted for their beliefs and were struggling to keep their faith as they faced false teachings about Jesus’ return. So Paul decided to write the church a letter. He began by praising their faith and perseverance in difficult times. Then he corrected the false messages about Jesus’ coming. He warned the church against idleness and encouraged them to take action, to keep doing good and working hard. We are still waiting for Jesus’ return today, and we are constantly being bombarded with false messages about the end of the world. What are we supposed to do? In teaching about His return, Jesus said the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36). When life gets hard, we can remember Jesus’ promise to return and make the world new one day soon. And those of us who have put our trust in JesusHis death on the cross and resurrection from the deadcan know that we will be with Him forever. Let that hope be our motivation to continue to serve Him, serve others, and share the good news of the gospel here on earth. We don’t have to worry about what tomorrow might bring, and we can remember that each day is another day closer to His return and another day closer to being with Him. Abby Ciona Read Matthew 24:35-51. What warnings does Jesus give about being prepared for His second coming to earth? How might knowing Jesus is coming back give you hope? May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV) Read Verses: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12; 2:13-17; 3:6-16; Hebrews 12:1-3

***Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is a fictional telling based on true biblical events. The following story is how one author imagines a day in Leah’s life.*** Three children. Three ways I tried to prove myself to Jacob. Yet here I am, pregnant again. Unloved. Standing outside in the glaring sun, I watch my sister Rachel. We used to be so close. Now she feels like a stranger as she tosses her head, laughing with him over some joke. She is more beautiful. She was the one he wanted. He worked to win her, not me. My father, Laban, tricked him. He’d seen Jacob’s usefulness as he worked for my sister. He wanted both his daughters married, but no man came asking for me. Looking at love always from the outside, knowing she’s the cherished one, I wish things would’ve been different. I don’t know why they aren’t. Tiny, soft hands touch my own rough ones. My firstborn, Reuben, grins at me. He, Simeon, Levithey’re mine. I love them. Even though Jacob won’t love me. He and Rachel walk past me. I stiffen. Every time Jacob looks in my eyes, it leaves me feeling hopeless. Worthless. Hated. Rachel meets my eyes instead, hard and triumphant. She glances at Reuben and frowns before chattering with Jacob more. I watch her go. This happens all the time. She wants children. I have them. I want Jacob’s love and care. I don’t have them. Yet why does her gaze sting more today? I close my eyes, letting a few tears flow. I gently squeeze Reuben’s hand, staring at the ground. Usually I’m strong. I can block the pain, take care of my sons. But today I don’t know how much I can take. And then, a sense of peace fills me, quieting my turmoil. Jacob has told us about the Lord. Before, I never knew his God cared for me. Yet now, He fills me with contentment, reassurance that He sees me. A small wail comes from the tent. Levi is awake. I look up. Jacob and Rachel walk away from the tent, holding on to each other and laughing. Hurt pricks me. But then peace comes again, and I remember I am loved. Cherished. Known. The wonder of it makes me smile as Reuben and I hurry to the tent. Julie Potter Leah is often seen as the other woman, especially in Jacob’s eyes. Can you relate to Leah? How did God feel about Leah? How does God feel about you? God did not intend for men to have multiple wives (or women to have multiple husbands), even though many men in the Bible did. This is called polygamy and is one form of sexual immorality. God showed over and over again that polygamy is not good, for anyone. (If you want to know more about God’s good intentions for marriage, read Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7-8, Ephesians 5:28-31, Hebrews 13:4.) Yet God is merciful, and He shows His mercy to people who have not honored marriage (for example: Abram/Abraham in Genesis 16-17, David in 2 Samuel 12:9 and Psalm 32, the woman at the well in John 4:1-42, and a woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11). And God still works in imperfect situations. How have you seen God show His grace to people, even in the midst of brokenness and messy relationships? Leah’s fourth son, Judah, became part of the family line that Jesus would be born into (Matthew 1:2-3; Luke 3:33-34). And the life of Rachel’s first son, Joseph, foreshadowed the life of Jesus (Genesis 37 and 39-50). Why do you think God chose to work through both Leah’s and Rachel’s children? What does this reveal about God’s grace? Why is motherhood important to God? What are some ways you can honor and encourage the mothers in your life? Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) Read Verses: Genesis 29:16-35; Isaiah 43:4

“You sure you want to do this? the man behind the desk asks me, hoping I will change my mind. I nod. Yep. Sure do. The man rubs his temples, clearly agitated. It’s my duty to tell you this is not a good idea. It’s taken you years to save this much money. If you withdraw all your retirement funds now, you won’t have anything to live on later. I shrug, refusing to budge. I need the money now. There’s something I want to buy. I take a list out of my pocket. I have some other things I need to sell too perhaps you could help me? His eyes widen as he reads over the list. Both of your cars, your boat your house! This is everything you own. He shakes his head. I don’t get it. What could you possibly want to buy that requires cashing in every single one of your assets? I take a deep breath. There’s a piece of land I want to purchase. He stares at me. A piece of land? What are you planning to do, start a development? No, I say. That’s not why I want it, and I won’t have any money left over to build anything anyway. The owner’s price is very high, and he refuses to take a penny less. But I need that piece of landI have to have it. The man lets out a deep sigh. He looks pained. All right. Here goes nothing. He clicks a button on the computer. There. All your shares have been sold. He points to the list. I can put you in touch with people who can help you sell these other items. Thank you. I get up and reach for my coat. I have to ask, the man says. What’s so special about this piece of land that you’re willing to sell everything you own in order to get it? I smile at him. There’s treasure on that propertytreasure worth more than anything in the world. I open the door and head out into the sunshine, a spring in my step and joy filling my heart. Courtney Lasater This story (and the verse it’s based on) is a parable. It’s not saying it’s bad to have money or own nice thingsin fact, other verses in the Bible emphasize that money is a gift from God and we should save and spend it wisely. This parable is meant to show how money and possessions pale in comparison to the greatest treasure of allJesus Himself. He is our life, our righteousness, our hope and He invites us to become citizens in God’s eternal kingdom and be cleansed of every wrong we’ve ever done. His gift of salvation is freeit costs us nothing because Jesus paid the price for us. He endured a death He didn’t deserve and rose again from the dead, all so that we could be restored to relationship with God. (Check out our “Know Jesus” page.) Did the man in Matthew 13:44 or the character in today’s story strike you as odd? Why? Read Mark 10:17-22. How did the rich young ruler’s response to meeting Jesus differ from the man in the parable’s response to finding treasure? According to Philippians 3:17-21, what mindset should we have toward the things of this world as citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom? Have you ever noticed yourself putting more importance on a worldly possession than on Jesus and His kingdom? Take a moment to talk to God about it, and ask Him to show you how great the eternal treasure of knowing Him really is! (Check out Ephesians 2:7.) The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44 (NIV) Read Verses: Proverbs 11:4; Matthew 13:44; Philippians 3:17-21

READ: EXODUS 3:14-15; JOHN 4:4-42; 18:1-11 The book of John is vastly different from the other three Gospels. John carefully crafted his account to demonstrate Jesus is the great I AM (God’s personal name used in the Old Testament) so his audience would continue to believe in Jesus as Messiah, the promised rescuer. John uses a lot of sevens, which is considered a number of holiness or completeness. Seven times, Jesus simply said, “I AM” (or, in the original Greek, "ego eimi"). Whenever Jesus said, “I AM,” He was hinting that He is God. In John’s gospel, the first time Jesus revealed His identity in this way, it was to an outcast—a Samaritan woman living in sexual sin. Jesus overlooked all of the barriers between them and revealed His identity to her (4:26). She welcomed this news with joy, running through the village to spread the good news! Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the response Jesus got when He revealed His identity as I AM. In chapter 8, Jesus had a long conversation with a group of people about who He is. Three times during the conversation, Jesus said, “I AM,” but the people didn’t get it until the last time. And when they finally realized Jesus was proclaiming that He is God, they started picking up rocks to stone Him. Instead of rejoicing, they wanted to kill Him. And, eventually, people did kill Jesus. The last time Jesus said, “I AM” in the book of John was when Jewish Temple guards and Roman soldiers came to arrest Him. But this time, when Jesus said His seventh “I AM,” the soldiers fell to the ground. Jesus’ name holds so much power, they couldn’t even stand! Yet Jesus went willingly to an unjust trial and public execution. It’s fitting that Jesus revealed His identity when laying His life down for His people. He demonstrated that the great I AM is most fully embodied in this act of self-sacrificial love. If you want to know who God is, you have to look at the cross. But that’s not the end. Through His self-sacrificial death, Jesus defeated sin and death. When He rose again, He secured our resurrection for the day He returns. Until then, He’s given us His Holy Spirit so we can know Him and love others self-sacrificially, pointing to the great I AM who loves us immeasurably. • Taylor Eising • Why does it matter that Jesus revealed Himself through an act of self-sacrificial love? But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:31 (NLT)

The Gospel of Luke is actually part of a two-part series by Luke, called Luke-Acts. Together they show Jesus establishing His kingdom here for all of humanity and the early church living out and expanding that kingdom (Acts 1:6-8). Luke emphasizes Jesus came for the lostthe poor, marginalized, oppressed, and hurtingboth Jew and Gentile. Luke focuses on the justice and mercy of the gospel, illustrating that the kingdom of Jesus is upside-down: the oppressed are raised up, and those pridefully at the top of society are humbled. Luke emphasizes this upside-down kingdom in a few ways. In chapter 3, he traces Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam. This isn’t just because Luke felt like doing extra homeworkhe did this on purpose to show Jesus came to save the whole world, not just Israel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the plan God has had since the very beginning of creation, long before Israel existed. Throughout the rest of the book, we hear of Jesus eating with the outcastsprostitutes, corrupt tax collectors, and people with leprosy and other diseasesand He wanted these people to become His kingdom citizens. On the other hand, Jesus consistently criticized the Pharisees (who needed Him too) for failing to extend mercy, grace, and justice to the hurting. Then, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate picture of the upside-down kingdom: He, God in flesh, willingly died on the cross to make a way for ussinners and outcaststo be reconciled with God. He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death on our behalf and promising to return to make all things new, free from sin and death forever. And He sent His Spirit to be in us now. For Luke’s audience, this was exactly what they needed to hear. He wrote to the early church so that they could know with certainty that the gospel is true and be encouraged to spread the good news and pursue mercy for the oppressed. Luke’s accurate account (Luke 1:3) would equip the church to answer the questions inevitably raised by their upside-down lifestyle. Because of Luke’s Gospel, when the early church was asked, Why do you hang out with outcasts? they could smile and say, Let me tell you Taylor Eising In what ways might Jesus’ kingdom seem upside down? How was Jesus’ coming surprising? Jesus came for lost onesfor us. We all need Him. When was a time you felt lost? For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 (NLT) Read Verses: Isaiah 56:1-8; 58:1-14; Luke 1:1-4; 1 Timothy 3:16

Who is Jesus? This is the question Mark wants his audience to wrestle with. Throughout his account of Jesus’ life, Mark shows different people, including Jesus’ disciples, as they wrestle with the same question: Who is Jesus? Mark illustrates how people didn’t really know who Jesus was. They figured out He was the Messiah, the Son of God who came to rescue them, but they thought that meant He would rescue them from the oppression of their Roman rulers. They expected Him to lead them in a political uprising, taking back their land in glorious victory. They failed to realize that, in the kingdom of God, glorious victory comes only through humble self-sacrifice. Jesus, the promised Messiah, would indeed gain victory over evil, sin, and death, but only by becoming the Suffering Servant the prophet Isaiah predicted in Isaiah 53. Jesus’ followers expected Him to become King, but they didn’t expect His coronation to happen on a cross. This surprising truth was both a comfort and a challenge to Mark’s audience, who were primarily Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians probably experiencing some level of persecution. It’s a challenge because, if we follow a Suffering Servant King, then we can expect to suffer also. If Jesus gave up every part of Himself for us, it’s fitting that we daily give up every part of ourselves for Him. But this challenge comes with a comfort. Throughout the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus extending love to the marginalizedto people who are suffering. Mark shows us Jesus is deeply, personally acquainted with our suffering. He knows our hurts, and He hurts with us. He cares about us so deeply that, in Mark, we see Him take our sin and suffering into Himself on the cross. And we see Him defeat suffering and death by resurrecting from the dead. The Suffering Servant is infinitely stronger than suffering. So, tell me, who is Jesus? Taylor Eising Are you ever surprised by how JesusKing of the universecame, or what He did? When you’re suffering, how could it be comforting to know that Jesus knows your hurts? What does it look like to live, by the Holy Spirit, in the loving humility Jesus demonstrated? For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 (NLT) Read Verses: Isaiah 53; Mark 10:32-45; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 4:15-16

Each of the four Gospels tells the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in a way that will make the most sense to its original audience. Matthew was written to Jewish Christians, so he emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures. In fact, he tells the story of Jesus in a way that intentionally parallels the story of Israel. Jesus is called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23) like God called Israel out of Egyptian slavery (Exodus 13:17-22). Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17) parallels Israel’s journey through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-31). Then, Jesus wanders in the desert for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11), like how the Israelites wandered the desert for forty years (Numbers 32:13). Finally, He climbs up a mountain to teach His followers (Matthew 5:1-2), like Moses who climbed Mount Sinai to receive the law from God (Exodus 19-20). Matthew points back to the Jewish Scriptures again and again. Try flipping through Matthew to see how many times it says this happened to fulfill the Scriptures. Matthew argues that Jesus is the promised Messiahthe One who fulfills the law perfectly and who will bring salvation to Israel. And this promised Messiah is talked about all throughout Scripture. We see hints about what He will be like: He will be a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), born from a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and He will come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), to name a few. And He will come to free His people from bondage, reigning over them as their loving King. Jesus knew all these prophecies. Matthew shows that Jesus taught with authorityeven calling out religious leaders when they weren’t teaching Scripture correctly. Jesus could correct them because He Himself is the fulfillment of the Scriptures they taught (Matthew 16:16)! This is good news, because if God kept His promise to send us the Messiah, we can trust that He will keep His promise to return and destroy suffering, sin, and death so we can live with Him eternally in renewed creation. Taylor Eising The whole Bible anticipates Jesus. How might this affect the way you view the Old Testament? Does knowing that God keeps His promises give you comfort? Why or why not? The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, This man truly was the Son of God! Matthew 27:54 (NLT) Read Verses: Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Isaiah 7:13-14; Matthew 1:18-22

Have you ever wondered why the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all so different? If they all tell the same story, why aren’t they all the same? To answer those questions, we need to understand what genre these four books are written in. The Gospels are ancient biographies about Jesus. If you’ve ever read a modern biography, you probably know they are pretty different from the Gospels. Modern biographies attempt to cover all the facts of a person’s life, from birth to death, in chronological order. Ancient biographies, however, only cover certain events in a person’s life, and they aren’t necessarily in chronological order. Instead, the author chooses different events and facts about the person and arranges them in a certain order to make a point. For example, Matthew arranges Jesus’ sermons into five long segments (chapters 5-7; 10; 13; 18-20; 23-25), perhaps to parallel the five books of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). He makes the point that Jesus fulfilled not just the Torah but the entire Old Testament. Each of the four Gospels is written to a different audience, so they are arranged in different ways to persuade those particular audiences about the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. They emphasize different facets of who Jesus is based on what would be most convincing to their audiences. That doesn’t mean the Gospels are untrue. They are designed to make an argument, and the strongest tools in any argument are facts and tRuth If the Gospels were full of myths and legends, they would not be very convincing! Looking at the four Gospels together gives us a more complete view of Jesus and the gospel (good news), which is an incredible gift! Jesus invites us to get to know Him in the way that is most meaningful to us, leading us to the truth and joy of His resurrection. Taylor Eising Hearing the truth of the gospel in different ways can click better with different people. What are some ways you have heard the truth of the gospel presented? Which way clicked best with you? How can reading four people’s accounts of Jesus help us understand Him better? So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14 (NLT) Read Verses: Isaiah 52:7-10; John 20:30-31; 21:25; 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Dear Jason, I was encouraged to hear about the success of the control mission and how you’re doing in Sector 2 in your most recent transmission! Here in Sector 8, things have been continuing on with the mission. We’re gathering good data on chemical components and viability for transporting the material back to base. Hopefully that’s something we can do soonI really miss seeing you! I was talking with one of my coworkers here the other day about the future and how much things have changed. He mentioned something in Isaiah 40:8 (which reminded me a lot of Earth!) that I’d never thought of before: even with our technological advances, God’s Word is as true now as it was 3,000 years ago, and beyond. True, we have faster travel (10 percent speed of light after all!), we’re mining asteroids in interstellar space, and we’re measuring distances in astronomical units, but people still have the same sin nature they did back then, thousands of years ago and they still need a Savior. And it’s still true that Jesus became humanbecame one of usto dwell with us and die for us for you, and me, and our colleagues, and even the folks we sent all the way out to Sector 12 recently, just as He did for the people in 2000AD and BC! He came to Earth and died so that anyone who trusts in Him can live with God forever. Somehow, I found that to be really interesting to consider. Even with our mind-boggling advances in tech compared to our ancestors, God’s Word, written on parchment with quill pens, still holds the truth of how Jesus came to be with us and forgive us, no matter where we are in space or time. Of course, that begs the question: What do we do about it? Obviously we have to believe it’s true, but we also have to study it (and there’s not much excuse for that since it takes up so little storage on your communicator!). And keep searching for wisdomin the Bible, in prayer, and in conversation. And keep sharing what you’re learning about Jesus with others. And, above all, keep following God, who never changes! Your friend, Capt. Riley Andrew Stevens Many of the events recorded in the Bible took place on Earth, yet God’s Word is not limited to a place or time. How might this affect your life and what you’re facing today? The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever. Isaiah 40:8 (CSB) Read Verses: Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; Hebrews 13:7-8; Revelation 1:8

Church has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m used to sitting through sermons and standing for worship sets. But there are some Sundays when I don’t want to sing. I move my lips with the words, but nothing comes out. These songs are meant to glorify God, but my flesh is weak. My selfish nature resists doing things I don’t feel like doing. In Zephaniah 3:17, God turns the tables on our worship services. He tells us that He rejoices over us with singing. And I bet He’s not just lip-syncing the words to these songs of delight. God loves us with a love so powerful and consuming that even in our brokenness, He rejoices over our very existence. The only and perfect God delights in us, even as we sometimes fail to glorify Him. Like other Old Testament prophets, Zephaniah wrote this book as a word of warning to God’s people as judgment approached because of their corruption and violence. God hates oppression, and Zephaniah calls for humility and a return to the Lord. God’s justice is good, and what stands out to me most in Zephaniah is the hope at the end of the book. God longs for restoration. He wants to purify us and take away our punishment. Many years after the book of Zephaniah was written, God sent His son, Jesus, down to this broken earth. Jesus took on the punishment we deserved. He died and rose again so that whoever trusts in Him could live. This is God’s ultimate gift and His greatest song for us. May we accept that gift and hear His song over our lives, as we sing our own praises back to the One who deserves all the rejoicing in the world. Becca Wierwille Can you imagine what it would be like to hear the Creator of the world erupt in song? How would you feel to know that His songs are for you? How might knowing God delights over us change the way we praise Him? Want to know more about what it means that Jesus took the punishment we deserved, and He purified us? Check out our “Know Jesus” page. The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 18:16-19; Zephaniah 3:9-20; Romans 8:31-39

When we first arrived in this valley, the lush landscape rose around us. Now it is a desert floor. The wind blows the sand, and it whistles as it hits usthe remains of a people that used to be a vast army, but we waged a battle against the Lord. Then we craved to return to the Lord, but it was too late for me and the vast army of bones around me. We laid here for years with the hot sun bleaching our bones, taking every ounce of water out of us. We had given up the identity God had given us by forsaking His Word and turning from Him. Now, no hope existed for us. We were forgotten, left to our own destruction for forsaking our God. Or so I thought. One day a man walked into the valley where we lay. He kicked and scattered bits of me and many others as he waded back and forth, knee-deep in our bones. Anticipation filled the air: the man was conversing with GodGod asked if it were possible for us to live again. Could it be? Had God remembered us? Suddenly, the man began to prophesy that the Lord would cause us to live again. Our scattered bones rattled around, pouring off the desert sand we had been buried in, coming together to form perfect skeletons on the valley floor. Then, muscles and ligaments formed tightly onto our frames. Organs suspended in their rightful places. Skin enveloped each of us, completing our forms. I sat there fully made, but not yet alive. I waited. The Lord was not done yet. The prophet spoke again, prophesying that the Lord would now give us breath. And with that, I took my first breath. I looked at those around me, who had once fought against the Lord but whose faces now had my same awe and joy. The Messiah has come. Fully God and fully human, Jesus came to dwell among His people. He did what none of us could do; He paid for our sin with His own death, and He conquered death when He rose again. His Spirit brings us from death to life. Kyleah Brower Because of Israel’s rebellion against God, He let them go their own way to destruction. But He didn’t leave them there. He came to dwell among us. How does this story give you hope? How is it possible for us to be made alive (Romans 8:10-11; 10:9-11)? Check out our “Know Jesus” page for more. Then he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? I replied, Lord God, only you know. Ezekiel 37:3 (CSB) Read Verses: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:10-11

Fear shows its face in a lot of ugly ways. It distorts the way we view the future and the past. It creates worst-case scenarios in our minds and builds walls around our hearts. Fear is a tool of the enemy. But God reminds us again and again that we have no reason to buy into fear’s lies. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet warns Israel that their rebellion has consequences. Yet, hope is woven through this book: hope for Jerusalem, hope for the nations, hope in God’s promises, and hope in the coming King. This hope is the reason that, as God’s children, we do not have to be afraid. Sure, the world gives us reasons to fear. A glimpse at our world right now reveals an abundance of division, pain, and injustice. But to cower in fear is to ignore the hope Jesus brought us when He died on the cross and rose again. Jesus defeated death. If the One who conquered the grave is on our side, what do we have to fear? The book of Isaiah contains scathing words about God’s judgment, but the contrasting words of hope and mercy are an inseparable piece of the story. In Isaiah 43, God tells the people of Israel that He has redeemed them and called them by name and will be with them always. He tells them not to fear when they pass through rivers or walk through fire, because He loves them. These same words apply to us today, if we have put our trust in Jesus. We do not have to be afraid. No matter what happens, God is with us. He has restored us and adopted us into His family. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. And with the Savior of the world on our side, and the power of His Holy Spirit inside us, we can replace the fear in our lives with hope in His promises. Becca Wierwille In what parts of your life do you experience the most fear? Write down things you are afraid of, and then compare them to what God says in His word. What steps can you take to begin to replace those fears with hope in God’s promises? But now, this is what the Lord sayshe who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NIV) Read Verses: Isaiah 43:1-13; Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:4-9

“Go inside the art gallery.” The thought arises from nowhere. My body resists at the suggestion. It’s been months since I sketched and studied the great artists. “Go inside.” No one’s there. The watercolors and the oil paintings on the wall are breathtaking: scenes of waterfalls that I expect to hear water gushing from. There are portraits from long ago, people dressed in their finest clothes, and then there are vivid countryside scenes. Beautiful, I whisper. The lights flicker. Suddenly brushstrokes of color from nowhere begin striking the beauty out of the paintings. No! I scream, my throat drying up, gasping in horror. No. What’s happening? Still the brushstrokes carry on until all the paintings are devoid of beauty. Seeing their destruction, scalding tears fall down. A hand touches my shoulder. I shiver. Looking up, a man, he smiles, his clothes radiating light. His voice like gentle waves, soothing says, I can see how distraught you are. Beautiful paintings ruined in seconds. Does it remind you of anything? I shake my head, speechless. I can see the hurt and the longing in your heart, precious one. I feel that longing too. All creation longs to be restored to the vibrant, beautiful, alive, holy state the Creator made you in. On the day Adam and Eve first went their own way, the fullness of beauty and goodness was stolen. God aches for all to be restored, for you to be restored, for you to be near, for you. He looks into my eyes, and I don’t want to look away. That’s why God did something wonderful. Through His Son, He made a way for every brokenness to be made whole. His words start to give me hope. But my stomach plummets as I hear the familiar words in my head. You’re no good. You can’t succeed. Why are you drawing? Hideous. Then the man speaks. Dear one, you are God’s masterpiece. His gentle hands formed your inmost being. And since you’ve put your trust in His Son, you are recreated in Christ Jesus. Years and ages ago, good things were planned for you to do. Your art matters. Help me, God, I pray. The man holds out his hands, and their light restores the paintings to their original glory. Absorbed in the paintings, I glance back, but the man has gone. Yet I feel a peace beginning to grow inside me. I am forgiven. Renewed. Cindy Lee Thoughts? Thank you for making me so wonderfully Psalm 139:14a (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 8:19-21; Ephesians 2:10; 5:25b-27

Have you ever thought, I just want to be free? What are you struggling to free yourself from? Maybe it’s guilt, shame, fear, hatred, or addiction. Are you struggling to be free from the negative thoughts about yourself? How about struggling to be free from the worries that mess with your mind? Did you know God offers you freedom through Jesus? If you put your trust in Jesus You are free from sin (Romans 6:6, 8:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 1:7). God’s forgiveness is more powerful than any guilt you might be experiencing (Psalm 103:12; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 8:12). God offers relief from fear (Joshua 1:9; Psalm 34:4; Proverbs 1:33). God offers you peace in Him (Psalm 29:11; John 14:27; 2 Thessalonians 3:16). The Holy Spirit empowers you to get rid of any bitterness, anger, and hatred (John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:31). As a Christian, you have the choice and the ability to resist temptations of every sort (1 Corinthians 10:13-14; Titus 2:11-12; James 4:7). The Holy Spirit reminds you who you are in Christ. You are precious to Him; He made you on purpose. And through Jesus’ sacrifice, you are made totally clean and new (Psalm 139:14; Isaiah 43:4; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; 5:25b-27). You don’t need to worry about your life because God will take care of you (Mathew 6:25-34). No matter how you may be feeling or what you might be struggling with, the only key to freedom is knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He wants to free you from anything that holds you captive in your life. Alexis Wohler What would you like to be free from? Which of the above verses is your favorite? Consider writing it down and/or memorizing it. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NIV) Read Verses: John 8:36; John 14:27; James 1:2-3

During some periods of time when the world seems particularly chaotic, I make myself turn off the news. Spring 2020 is a great example. I deleted social media from my phone and stopped scrolling through article after article of politically polarized perspectives of world events. The natural disasters, the pandemic, the divisiveness it was just too much. Our world is broken. But God is sovereign. He is the orchestrator of our lives, and He continues to orchestrate the redemption of His people. And He has put each of us here, in this unique time in history, for a purpose. Think of Esther, the Jewish woman who became queen of Persia. Not long after the king chose her to be his queen, the king’s official, Haman, plotted to kill all the Jews (not knowing Esther was one). In one of my favorite Bible verses, Esther’s cousin Mordecai told her, Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14). After asking God’s people to pray, Esther risked a lot by going before the king to ask him to reverse Haman’s terrible decree. Although God’s name isn’t in this story, we see Him working through Esther. With His strength, Esther courageously talked to the king, saving her people. Sometimes we can feel like God is absent. When we turn on the news and see nothing but tragedy, it’s easy to feel discouraged. But God has not forgotten His promises. He is committed to redeeming our world, no matter how bad it gets. And God is never absent from usHe sent His Son, Emmanuel (God with us), to go to the cross for our sins and defeat death. God is present among us in His Word and His people (through the Holy Spirit, who lives inside Christians). God has brought us to our individual communities and schools and workplaces for such a time as this. And God is here with us now, calling us to trust His guidance as we serve the way Jesus served us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Becca Wierwille How have you seen God work in your life in ways specific to this unique time and place in history? Ask God to show you how you can join in what He is doing in a time like this. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (NIV) Read Verses: Esther 4:13-17; Proverbs 19:21; Romans 8:26-30

One spring night I woke up very early4:00 a.m. to be exactto booming thunder, flashes of lightning, and a downpour of rain. It was completely dark outside in the raging storm, but I heard something strange: the sound of a bird, a robin, singing. “How can that crazy robin be singing at four in the morning in the middle of a thunderstorm?” I wondered, wide awake in the dark. “Is the robin not worried or scared? Why does it want to sing when the winds and rain could destroy its nest and endanger its babies?” But then I realized, we as Christians should be like that robin. Even in the storms of life where we’re at our lowest point, God is there, and He promises to protect us and meet all of our needs. He has a plan for us through the storm, and He loves us. No matter what the day brings, and even though we might not have what we want in the morning, there is something far more important we can be thankful for: we have eternal hope and a joy that no storm can destroy. When we were far away from God, Jesus came to be God with us. After Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to be with everyone who trusts in Him and one day Jesus will return, and we will be with Him forever. Now that’s good news worth singing about! Abby Ciona Do you find it difficult to rejoice at all times? Why or why not? How can you share the hope and joy you have in Jesus with others? Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 91; Matthew 6:26; Acts 16:22-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

When Habakkuk observed what was going on around him in Israel, he saw a lot of people taking advantage of others and getting away with it. He wondered why God didn’t seem to take notice of this or do anything to stop it. God replied to Habakkuk’s prayer with the assurance that He had seen and would send the Chaldeans (also called Babylonians), a mighty enemy nation that worshipped other gods, to defeat Israel as a result of their sin. Habakkuk then asked how God, who is holy and righteous, could permit a country that was even more wicked to defeat them. God answered that the Chaldeans’ actions would catch up to them. The things they had plundered would be plundered from them. Those who had taken advantage of others would be taken advantage of. Those who had been violent would suffer violence. After hearing God’s answer, Habakkuk trembled and asked God to also show mercy (Habakkuk 3:2). Habakkuk wrote a song about God’s power, as well as the coming salvation God would offer through Jesus many years later. Jesus, the Son of God, came to break the cycle of sin and death. When He gave Himself over to be killed on a cross, He took the punishment for all the sins of the world, even though He Himself never sinned. When He rose from the dead, He defeated sin and death once and for all. And He made a way for everyone who trusts in Him to be forgiven by God. Now, we as Christians have the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in a way that is just and merciful, as God is just and merciful. Today, in the news and in daily life, there is so much injustice and violence. Remember that God is in control, and God also has a body: Jesus is fully man and fully God. God grieves with us hurts with us is with us in the midst of violence. He is with us in His life-giving Word that gives us strength and hope, and He is with us through His Spirit. We can trust Him to uphold righteousness in the end, and we can thank Him for showing mercy. Karen Niewoehner Have you seen or experienced an unjust situation recently? Why do you think God sometimes allows injustice for a while? Take a moment to pray about an injustice that stirs your heart, knowing God cares and He and wants to answer our prayers for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! Violence is everywhere! I cry, but you do not come to save. Habakkuk 1:2 (NLT) Read Verses: Habakkuk 1:2-11

The unexpectedly cool summer weather was perfect for an evening bike ride. But, only one block from home, things became not so perfect. A lady on the sidewalk was yelling at her Chihuahua to come out of the street just as I passed by. Instead of obeying, the little dog ran after me, barking ferociously. I panicked and began pedaling as fast as I could to get away from the tiny white menace, drifting to the wrong side of the road and across an intersection without much time to think about where I was going. The dog followed me to the end of the block, until I rode off the street and up onto the sidewalk, where I narrowly missed hitting a startled elderly lady who was tending to her flowers. Two blocks later, with my heart pounding in my chest, I thought I could still hear the Chihuahua barking angrily. We have an enemy who chases us relentlessly. The Bible says that the devil is like a lion looking for someone to devour. He is always after us, like a growling dog snapping at our heels. If we don’t resist him, the consequences will bite. I wonder what would have happened if I would have stood my ground and not pedaled away in fear from the Chihuahua. Would it have turned to flee from me instead? After all, I’m so much bigger. And our God is so much bigger than anything that Satan can put in our path. When we submit ourselves to God through faith in the Lord Jesus, who paid the price for our sins, He gives us strength to stand against the devil’s schemes. Satan may act like a lion, but he’s really a puny Chihuahua compared to God’s mighty power! Marie Cleveland When faced with temptation, you have three options: give in to it, flee from it (1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22), or fight against it. Which do you most often do? Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Think about the last time you were tempted to sin. How did God provide a way out for you? Did you take it? Why or why not? How can you be strong enough to stand firm and resist the devil’s plans for you (Ephesians 6:10-18)? Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (CSB) Read Verses: 2 Timothy 2:22-26; 1 Peter 5:8-9