Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: DEUTERONOMY 15:7-11; PROVERBS 14:20-21; MATTHEW 25:31-46 Seni tossed the ragged orange ball and watched it sail through the hoop at the end of the gym, moving a bit more sluggishly than usual. The gravity controls must be on the fritz again, he thought. This court had been built generations ago, when the first settlers came to the newly terraformed planet. Mars was the only home Seni had ever known, but he was glad they played the same sports his ancestors played on Earth. “Nice shot!” his friend Calvus called as he stepped into the gym. “Are you ready to go serve dinner at the homeless shelter?” Every third Tuesday, Calvus and Seni went to the shelter on the fringes of their settlement to help serve a meal. “I decided not to go anymore,” Seni said as he threw the ball again, and missed. “Really?” Calvus looked surprised. “What made you change your mind?” “Well, Tarquin says it’s a waste of time because those people don’t deserve help. He says they wouldn’t be poor and homeless if they worked harder and made better decisions.” “Huh,” muttered Calvus. Then he made a quick motion and stole the ball. “Let’s see who can shoot the most baskets in the next five minutes.” “You’re on!” said Seni. They took turns shooting, and Seni quickly shot more baskets than Calvus. “Wow, you’re way better than you were last year!” Calvus said, giving his friend a high five. “Yeah, Coach has been spending lots of time helping me this year,” said Seni. “I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. Some of the guys even wanted me off the team, but Coach didn’t listen to them.” “So,” said Calvus thoughtfully, “you’re saying that he didn’t let the other guys decide whether or not you deserved help?” “No, otherwise I’d still be—oh.” Seni froze, realizing what his friend was getting at. “You know,” said Calvus, “if help was only given to the people who deserve it, none of us would have received the gift of salvation from Jesus. We were hopeless sinners, but He decided to save us—only He was sinless, so He could die on the cross for our sins, and then be raised from the dead.” He tossed the ball to Seni. “Well, that’s a good point…” Seni trailed off. “Honestly, I’m so thankful He did that for us.” Calvus continued. “That’s actually why I help out at the homeless shelter. It’s not up to me to decide whether or not people deserve help. It’s not like I’m any better than they are. I don’t have to judge how they got there—I just have to love them and share the hope Jesus gave me with others who need it. And I’ve gotten to know some pretty cool people there!” “I guess you’re right. We all need help sometimes,” Seni sighed. “Thanks for reminding me why we do this. Let’s go to the shelter.” Seni took a few steps, then paused, sniffed his shirt, and grimaced. “Can you wait till I change my clothes?” Calvus smiled. “Good idea.” They both laughed as Seni jogged to the locker rooms. • A. W. Smith • Are you ever tempted to think that everyone in a difficult life situation deserves to be there? Remember, not everyone has the same opportunities and support. And it’s not our job to judge people based on their life circumstances, no matter how they got there. If Jesus had decided to only help those who deserve it, none of us would have received His forgiveness and salvation. When we remember that truth, we can be moved to help others in need because Jesus showed us love and mercy when we didn’t deserve it, and because He also loves the people we’re serving. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking Jesus to help you see others through His eyes of compassion and mercy, and asking Him where He might be inviting you to serve others....

READ: PSALM 27; LUKE 2:6-20; REVELATION 21:1-5 I used to love Christmas—the lights, the songs, the joyful feeling in the air. But not this year. Rather than filling me with excitement and delight, everything seemed shallow and empty and selfish. How could we celebrate joy and peace when the world is in chaos and people are hurting? How do you suddenly ignore the fact that people are suffering around the world, and even the families closest to you are bombarded with afflictions of grief and difficulties? How do you spend a Christmas celebrating if you personally feel hurt, lonely, and forgotten? In a world that is so full of hatred, conflicts, pain, and disease, it’s easy to scoff at the idea of there ever being peace on earth. And if all this bad stuff is happening, how could God possibly be showing goodwill toward us? But that’s when I realized my thinking was completely wrong. The very reason we have Christmas is not to make you feel more alone, but to prove how much you are truly loved. God isn’t ignoring the suffering going on around us. Christmas marks the day that God proved His care for us by sending his Son Jesus, not only to be born as a baby, but also to conquer sin and death once and for all by dying on the cross and rising from the grave, so that anyone who believes in Him can experience His peace, forgiveness, and an eternal future where all hurts will be finally and fully healed. Joy isn’t ignoring pain—it’s having hope in spite of it. Jesus can be that hope for you. The story of Christmas is a precious reminder that no matter how bad things get, there is hope for the world, peace for your heart, and the promise of everlasting life to those who put their trust in Jesus—and that is something to celebrate. • Christina Cheng • Have you ever felt like Christmas was just a cruel reminder of something you lost? It’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating, just remember that Christmas isn’t about tradition or faking happiness, but rather a loving act of God bringing hope and salvation to a broken world. So we can acknowledge and grieve the hurts in our lives and in the world around us, while also celebrating the good news that God cares about those hurts, and He’s doing something about them. • Do you ever feel like no one sees your pain, Christmas-related or not? The Bible says Jesus does. He loves you, and He understands what you’re feeling. Consider taking a moment to come to Him in prayer, telling Him about your pain and asking for reminders of His hope and care. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 2:11; JOHN 3:16-17; 4:42 In my beautiful Colombia, and Latin America in general, calling your child Jesus is a sign of consecration to God or giving a respectable name to a child. Jesus, Jesus Maria, Maria de Jesus, Jesus Adrian, Jesus Alberto, Jesus Dario, among others, are common combinations that occur in our countries. However, I have noticed that most Anglo-Saxon parents, especially those from the USA, Australia, and the UK, do not call their children Jesus. And the question that comes to my mind is: Why not call your children Jesus? Think about the meaning of the name Jesus. It’s derived from the Hebrew name Joshua (Yehoshua), which means “God is salvation” or “the LORD saves.” So how did Mary and Joseph choose Jesus’s name? In the book of Matthew, we read that an angel appeared to Joseph and told him not to be afraid to go forward with His marriage to Mary, because it was by the Holy Spirit that she had become pregnant. Then the angel said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). At Christmas, we not only remember the beauty of Jesus’s human nature, but also the glory of His divinity. Jesus healed people, performed miracles, cast out demons, demonstrated His dominion over nature, and ultimately resurrected from the dead. This child born in Bethlehem is the hope of the world. He is God the Son, come to rescue humankind from our worst enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus has overcome. He is the Savior of the world. This is why Acts 4:12 tells us, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” We can then say that Christmas is not primarily about gifts, feasts, or parties. The central point of Christmas is the birth of the Savior, and with Him, the plan of rescue of humankind. Let us remember then, in this season of Advent, that every time we mention the name Jesus, we lift up and emphasize the meaning of that beautiful name: God is salvation! Father, we thank You for the salvation You have given us in Jesus. Thank You that You sent Jesus to save us. Thank You that You conquered sin and death, and today we can celebrate our freedom. Help us to remember with love and fervor that at Christmas we celebrate the work of our Lord. Amen. • Samir Eljagh • Do you know anyone named Jesus? What does this name reveal about God the Son? “You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (CSB) 

READ: JOHN 1:1-14; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-10; 1 JOHN 1:1-10 I wanted to go home. This walk was not such a good idea. Heavy grey skies, colorless bare trees, and even an angry crow glaring down at me quickened my pace. When would I finally see some light? The skies on that December twilight seemed especially dark—almost ominous. I grew weary of the darkness, and my eyes ached for light. Beauty. Color. Finally, I got out of the woods, rounded the corner, and there was my Christmas tree, peeking out the window! It glowed with warmth and cheer. I nearly ran toward it. My eyes were hungry for light, color, brightness. I entered my apartment and shook off the gloom and shadow, leaving them out in the cold where they belonged. When Jesus was born, when His presence arrived in the flesh, our gloomy world was altered forever (Luke 2:8-14). God, arriving as a tiny baby in Bethlehem, blazed into our world with a Light we had never known. He burst into our darkness, His presence lighting up the world. Behold the contrast between the Light of God and the darkness of sin—and the pain and suffering all that sin produces. When He comes shining into our lives with the goodness of His pure love, our lives are changed, lightened, brightened. Because Jesus died and rose again to cleanse us of our sin, we can live in the light of His presence. In times when life feels bleak and hopeless, we can always draw near to Him, hurrying toward His warmth and basking in His glorious presence (James 1:17; 4:8). Even better than a Christmas tree on a grey, dark, December day. Today, in our darkness, Christ still breaks into the gloom of our lives. He comes where He is invited, and He is found by those who seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13). • Kristen Merrill • Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God is always with us. He never leaves us, never abandons us. Though this world may seem pretty dark at times, there is always hope. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He has secured forgiveness for everyone who trusts in Him, and He promises to return one day and make all things new. As we wait for that glorious day, it’s important to remember God’s loving presence with us by spending time in His Word, in prayer, and with fellow Christians. What is one way you could focus on God’s presence today? • If you’ve never put your trust in Jesus, or if you just want to know more about how He rescues us from darkness and brings us into the light (Colossians 1:12-14), check out our "Know Jesus" page. Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (CSB)