Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: PSALM 115:1-13; MATTHEW 6:7-8, 19-34; 1 CORINTHIANS 8:4-6

There is no one like God. There is nothing that could replace Him. Yet, all throughout history, people have been trying to make other gods. Even the Israelites, God’s chosen people, made idols for themselves to worship. We have tried to replace God. But nothing we make could ever compare to Him. In Psalm 115, we read that idols can’t talk or hear or see. Other gods are fake and worthless. They don’t offer any help or guidance. They are not worthy of worship.

Many of us already know that about false gods. And we tend to think we could never get tricked into worshipping one, that we know who God is and would never abandon Him. Yet, it’s easy to forget that idols come in many forms. Yes, some idols are statues made of wood or metal. But in Matthew 6, Jesus warns us about having money as our god. He says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be...No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money” (verse 21, 24).

As we go through life, there are times we might feel dependent on money. We might fall in love with it because of all it can do for us. How easy it is to make money our god.

But there is no one like the one true God. In Matthew 6, Jesus says that He takes care of us. He loves us. He guides us. He is there all the time. He hears every prayer and listens to every thought. He knows us better than anyone and can anticipate what we need before we even ask.

There are countless false gods we could fall for, but there is only one real God. There is only one worthy of our love. • Bethany Acker

• Whenever we find ourselves chasing after an idol—whether it be money or any other created thing “instead of the Creator himself” (Romans 1:25)—God calls us to repent. We can confess our idolatry to Him, and we can rest in His sure forgiveness, because Jesus already took all our sins upon Himself on the cross, and His Spirit empowers us to turn away from sin. Because of His great love for us, we can love Him instead of loving money (1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 4:19).

• In our broken world, dealing with money is not easy. How does God call us to view money? How does His love free us from the love of money? (1 Timothy 6:5-19; Hebrews 13:5)

There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6b (NLT)

READ: ROMANS 5; PHILIPPIANS 2:3-11; HEBREWS 13:8

Princess Gayle examined a few documents on her desk as General Blackgrove delivered his opinion. She attempted to appear disinterested. They weren’t exactly allies. “Between you and me, I believe there is sufficient evidence that you are ready to become queen,” the general said in an undertone. “Unfortunately, I don’t think Runyan agrees...”

“Really?” Gayle said dryly.

“If you promise me a position in the Mountain Army, I will support you. And,” General Blackgrove added, measuring his words carefully, “if I were to learn more about the future of your father’s reign, I may be able to convince others to support you as well.”

Gayle understood his meaning. She didn’t particularly like him, but he had power. So she said, “I will tell you this: my father’s health is indeed waning. Soon he will be incapable of carrying out his duties.” General Blackgrove seemed pleased, and after he left her study Gayle smiled to herself—what a cunning politician she was becoming!

A knock sounded and Runyan entered, his eyes shining. Gayle beamed. “I have General Blackgrove on my side. He wants a position in the mountains.”

The old council member smiled softly. “Excellent!”

“But he said he didn’t think you would recommend me.” She laughed.

Runyan shook his head. “He thinks everyone is a snake like him. What did you tell him in exchange for his support?”

Gayle looked away. “I confirmed the rumors about Father.”

Runyan raised his brows. “I thought no one was supposed to know.”

Pushing back her rising guilt, Gayle said, “I needed to build trust.”

At the next council meeting, Princess Gayle was able to convince her father to move General Blackgrove to the Mountain Army. And then her father stood. “I would like to propose that my daughter be my successor.” She sat up straighter, expecting Runyan, General Blackgrove, and others to stand in support of her. But her smile faded as every one of her contacts remained silent. Runyan even made a statement that he didn’t trust the king’s judgement on account of his health. Gayle’s stomach dropped.

After the council disbanded, she paced furiously in her chambers. “After all I did for them! Is no one true?” She paused, catching a glimpse of her harried appearance in the mirror. “Am I true?” she wondered aloud. “What... what am I becoming? Betraying people for my own gain?” Wait, my child. Do not despair, a voice whispered.

“Lord, is that you?”

I am unchanging. I will not lie to you. I will not trick you. Though others might deceive you, and you might deceive others, I am true. I always have your best interests at heart. Relief flooded over Gayle like a bucket of water. Cool and refreshing. Will you trust me?

“How do I know I can trust you? I can’t even trust myself!”

I know you. I made you. I love you. I knew all your failures before you were born, and I purchased your forgiveness. I have all the power in the world, and yet I took the position of a servant and died a criminal’s death—for you. Come and walk with me. Let me teach you the good way. You don’t need to grasp for power. I am working, even in the midst of this corruption, for the good of my people. • Natty Maelle

• The world has been broken by sin, so it’s easy to compromise and give in to the broken systems and greed around us. We all sin, and we all need forgiveness. That’s why Jesus came. He loves us so much, and He hates to see us hurting and deceiving each other. Through His death and resurrection, He made the way for us to be forgiven. And when Jesus returns, He will restore all things. As we wait for this glorious day, we may feel disoriented and unsteady because of the sin and brokenness around us and inside us. But we can always trust Jesus to be steady, honest, and loving. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you look to Jesus and follow Him when you’re tempted to participate in corruption?

• Jesus didn’t connive or deceive to grab power; He laid down His life for us, and now He rules with self-sacrificial love and gentleness (Philippians 2:3-11). How does Jesus’s leadership contrast with the characters in today’s story? What might it look like to follow Jesus in self-sacrificial love and gentleness? (To dig deeper, read James 1–5.)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. James 1:17 (WEB)

READ: MATTHEW 5:43-47; JOHN 16:29-33

My brother was selected to participate in his middle school’s play, so my family gladly showed up to watch the performance. While we sat in the audience, some unknown person crept into the parking lot and broke into our minivan. Although the would-be thief found nothing to steal, this individual did leave a mound of broken glass and a shattered window in our vehicle.

I felt violated. More so, I felt angry. This person had no right to do this! I also felt annoyed that this meant I couldn’t drive our van to my own school while we waited to have it repaired. Instead, my parents taped plastic over the busted-out window and dropped me off on campus. Because my mom needed to drive to work afterward, I arrived so early that the school hadn’t opened its doors yet. As I sat waiting to enter, I fumed about the inconvenience a stranger had caused because they wanted what wasn’t theirs. The person who damaged our van didn’t have any right to harm our family’s property. Feeling anger about this situation was natural. Over time, though, I realized I believed I had a right to avoid the problems other people face in this broken, sinful world. I assumed I deserved exemption from troubles because I trusted God.

Scripture tells us something different, though. Those who put their trust in Jesus still experience pain. Entering a relationship with God through His Son doesn’t promise a blissful life. After all, Jesus Himself experienced rejection and injustice. And that means He understands our struggles. He also says we can expect to face trouble. But, when we have Him in our lives, we can be encouraged knowing He loves us, and He has overcome the brokenness of this world. • Allison Wilson Lee

• When we’re afraid we’re unsafe, anger is a natural response, because as humans we are worthy of safety. Can you think of a time you experienced trouble that wasn’t your fault, that may even have been caused by someone else? Since the world has been broken by sin, we all experience injustice. And, in fact, we all cause injustice. That’s why Jesus came to save us. He took all the sin and injustice of the world on Himself and defeated it through His own death on the cross. Then He resurrected from the dead, defeating death itself. One day He will return to resurrect His people and flood the world with His perfect justice. In the meantime, He invites us to participate in His kingdom of love and justice, resisting the temptation to take revenge and instead relying on His Holy Spirit within us to provide guidance and wisdom in how to love others, even our enemies. When we face injustice and trouble, how can we respond according to these truths?

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 34:18; ISAIAH 41:10; MATTHEW 5:4; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4

Editor’s note: Today’s devotional reading discusses sexual abuse.

As an eleven-year-old, I was shy and awkward. My father moved out that year. Everything felt embarrassing. One day, my father came to school unannounced. He took me on a weekend trip and molested me. Then he told me it was my fault. I felt damaged, dirty, and destroyed. I was brokenhearted and crushed.

Has something horribly unfair or evil happened to you? It seems like life should be fair. When it isn’t, we can feel devastated. The sorrow can be crushing when another person harms part of our life.

Jesus came to earth for our good. Yet He was crucified by the very people He came to save. Jesus understands unfairness. He was bullied and tortured. He wept and bled for us so we could have friendship with God. When He rose from the dead, He promised that He would bring an end to sin, death, and suffering permanently on the day He returns. And until that day, He is able to comfort us through our troubles.

The Lord is the only way I survived my pain. He was near to me and consoled me. When I remembered that He is close to us in all our troubles, I could feel Him next to me, leading me, guiding me, and holding me beside Him when I was afraid.

At the right time, God provided a Christian counselor to help me grow past the pain. I learned that it was not my fault and that I was valued by God. I learned that although someone sinned against me, I could find comfort in Jesus. Holding onto hurt ultimately hurts us more. Leaning into the love and hope of Christ brings peace. • Mary Schilling

• Has something shattered your life? Jesus can relate to your suffering. He cares about your every hurt, and He weeps with you (John 11:33-36; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 5:7). You can talk to Him about your hurts anytime.

• As you process your hurts with Jesus, who are trusted people in your life you can reach out to? Remember, we need community. We are made to walk alongside other people, especially as Christians (Genesis 2:18; Galatians 6:1-10).

• We live in a world that has been broken by sin. But Jesus came into our broken world to save and restore. He was willing to endure the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be brought near to God (Isaiah 53; Hebrews 12:2). Then He rose from the dead, defeating sin and all the brokenness sin causes, including terrible things like abuse. He promises to return one day, righting every wrong and making all things new. On that glorious day, He will raise His people to new life. “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). And even now, He is present with us, helping us escape harmful situations and bringing healing through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). As Christians, we have this unshakeable hope through all the suffering and sorrow we experience. We can rest in the truth that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). In light of these wonderful truths, what are some ways we can pray for people who have been abused and also for people who have abused others?

• If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, and especially if your 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 help doing this, who is a trusted person you can reach out to?

• If you are not in immediate danger but need someone to talk to about hurts you have experienced or are currently experiencing, 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.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

READ: ISAIAH 58:6-12; JOHN 4:14; 7:38-39; GALATIANS 5:13-23

"Look over there, Jett—under those tall weeds!” Kyra jumped over a stream as she and her brother explored the area behind their new home. When they had lived by the sea, their family made their living as fishermen, but when the dragon wars encroached on their tiny coastal town, they had to flee inland. They hoped to make a fresh start in this new village in the Amplio valley. Kyra pushed aside some of the rough grass to get a better look. “Are those trata fruit?”

“Looks like trata fruit to me,” confirmed Jett. “Let’s pull up these weeds so we can see the plants better.” They began pulling the grass and thistles that had grown more than waist-high. Sure enough, they found other fruits and vegetables too. Kyra said, “Somebody must’ve planted this garden long ago. I’m surprised the trata plants survived in the middle of all these weeds.”

“Let’s work this garden instead of planting a new one,” Jett said, remembering their old garden back home. Its produce had helped them through many a tough time. “We’ll need to bring water from the stream—and the weeds will come back if we let them.”

Kyra paused thoughtfully. “You know something? I came across a verse in Isaiah this morning—‘You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.’ I’ve heard it said that Isaiah points to our need for Jesus. Remember how everyone who believes in Jesus has living water flowing inside us, and how He produces good fruit in our lives? As His people, I guess we’re His garden. I like thinking about how He’s the One watering that garden.”

Jett rubbed a trata leaf. “I want to be like that—producing fruit instead of thistles. I don’t want to cause harm, like the wars do. I want to bring good into the world. But every day, I keep finding more sin in my life—like how we’ll keep finding weeds in this garden. I know Jesus has already made us holy through His death and resurrection, but I can’t wait till He comes back and we won’t struggle with sin anymore.”

Kyra nodded. “Me too, but I’m also thankful the Spirit tends our hearts every day, rooting out the thorns of violence and greed so we can be people of mercy and kindness.” • A. W. Smith

• When we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us and works to produce good fruit in our hearts. What does this fruit look like? (Hint: read Galatians 5:22-23.)

• The Holy Spirit also makes us more aware of the sin in our lives. Consider taking some time in prayer, confessing any sin that comes to mind and resting in Jesus’s sure forgiveness.

“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)