Archive for category: Teen Devotions

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25

The power of habit: Christ-centered community

These are the days when we are more connected and yet more disconnected at the same time. We are more connected on our phones, more connected through social media. At the very same time, we are also quite disconnected as we live life. We’re connected thumb-to-thumb but not face-to-face and not soul-to-soul.

That can be a dangerous thing. Social media can lead us to be fake with other people. We easily filter the way life is really going. We can easily hide what is really going on with us. We can easily isolate ourselves from the Christ-centered community that we so desperately need. The truth is: The lone wolf gets picked off. That’s who the devil goes after because there is no one around to help when tempted.

God’s people need each other. We need other people in our lives. That is precisely why the writer wrote these words to us. He knew that we needed a Christ-centered community around us.

On the one hand, we need each other to see the blind spots in our faith and the sins that hide in the corners of our lives that we can’t see. We need other Christians to show us our sins. Even more than that, we need them to show us Jesus’ forgiveness. We need a Christ-centered community around us to keep us close to our Savior.

On the other hand, other people need us just as deeply in their lives. They need us to lovingly show them the blind spots of their faith, the sins that hide in the corners of their life. They need us to show them their sins and even more than that to tell them that Jesus has forgiven it all! They need us to spur them on with gospel encouragement!

You, dear Christian, need the family of believers, the community of Christ-followers, around you. In fact, they are God’s gift to you to keep you close to Jesus until he returns. And in the very same way, you are God’s gift to them to keep them close to Jesus.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for blessing me with many wonderful friends. Be with my friends and me. Help us to encourage each other to grow in your Word. Keep Christ as the center of our lives and bring us closer to each other by bringing us closer to you. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14-17

The power of habit: Bible reading

What if I told you that you would die tomorrow unless you took one pill? Would you miss it? Probably not. You would probably set an alarm. You would do something to make sure that you always took that pill every single day, because you know it is a matter of life and death.

There are other things like that in our life, things that aren’t a matter of life and death, but still very important to us. We have daily routines and habits that are really important—brushing your teeth, taking a shower, doing your homework, or eating meals. These things have become part of your regular life, and you wouldn’t really consider cutting them out.

This month we’re going to talk about some disciplines that are important for your spiritual health. These are things that we want to be diligent about practicing. If we don’t practice these things, we put our faith at risk. We risk falling from the faith and losing out on eternity. Jesus himself tells us to “watch and pray” so that we don’t fall into temptation.

The first habit is Bible reading. It’s something that Paul tells Timothy to continue. He urged him, “Continue in what you learned and have become convinced of.” Paul wants to Timothy to make a habit of remembering what he had been taught. He wanted Timothy to keep Scripture on the front of his mind, continuing to remember it.

Then he tells him, and us, why.

The Scriptures make us wise for salvation. There is no better or higher reason than this. God’s Word rebukes us when we are wrong. It teaches us of God’s love for us. It points us to God’s forgiveness of our sins in Christ. It equips us for a life of righteousness. It gives and strengthens our faith in Jesus.

God’s Word is good for everything else in this life too. In short, God’s Word is also a personal trainer for our daily walk as Christians. It equips and trains us to live as God’s people in this world.

Would you ever skip brushing your teeth on purpose? Of course not! It wouldn’t be healthy. The same goes for daily Bible reading. Sustain your spiritual health and grow in it by including God’s Word in your daily life.

Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, we thank you for the many opportunities you give us to make your Word a part of our daily routines. Strengthen our bond with you and help us realize the importance your Word has on our daily lives. In His name we pray, Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-11

Tough conversations about sexuality

“I am straight.” “I am gay.” “I am lesbian.” “I am bi-sexual.” “This is who I am. This is what I do.”

These are the days when people are more proud than ever to say these kinds of things. You’ve likely heard people say these things with pride before; maybe you’ve even said them yourselves.

Paul has something to say, “These people who claim this identity and live this life will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.” Paul actually enlarges this group to those who also say: “I am a thief.” “I am greedy.” “I am a drunk.” “I am a swindler.” “I am a slanderer.” “This is who I am, and this is what I do.”

If you—or if anyone else—want to claim an identity and live a life that God calls sin, then you are asking God to leave you out of heaven. Paul is clear. “These people will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.”

But that’s not the only answer here. He is talking to you, dear Christian, who is struggling with what to think about your sexuality. For you who refuse to be identified by your sexuality but instead by your repentance, something else is true. For you, who struggle daily with what God says is sin, who grieve because you know the good you ought to do but don’t do it, Paul says something else to you. “That is what some of you were.”

You were identified by sin, but now you’re not. Now you are identified by your Savior Jesus. You are cleansed by his blood. You are justified and not guilty in his sight. You are washed. You are not who you used to be. You are forgiven.

If you’re struggling with your sexuality, reach out to a Christian friend and lean on God’s Word and Jesus’ blood for salvation for help. If you’re struggling with the sexuality of your family or friends, seek God’s wisdom in his Word and some counsel from your pastor. Tough conversations about sexuality do not have easy answers.

But there is always this: Jesus takes us as we are and makes us someone new. He always forgives. He always helps us in our struggle with sin, whatever that sin happens to be, even in our sexuality.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me your words and your wisdom as I talk to people in my life about their sexuality. Give me a broken heart when I see how I have sinned against you in my own sexuality. Lead me to find my identity and my salvation in what you have done. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
Psalm 146:3-5

Tough conversations about politics

Over the next month we are going to talk about things that are deeply personal. We’re going to look at things that are highly controversial. Just a single post about any of the topics this month sets off a firestorm of comments on both sides of the conversation.

These are topics about which it would often be easier to be silent. But God is not silent on them. So, we won’t be silent either. This week, the topic is politics.

As we tackle it, let me ask a question: Why are we often troubled by what our leaders do? Why do we often get so upset and sometimes even rebellious when we talk about our leaders? The answer is simple: We’re not in control, and we want something else to happen. We don’t trust these leaders to do what is good for us. Sometimes we actually think our leaders are out to harm us.

The psalmist puts his finger on the problem. We are looking to human beings to do for us what only God can do. We’re looking to our human leaders to take care of our bodily needs, to give us a blessed life, to protect us, and keep us safe. But that’s a job that only God can do.

Only God can save. Only God can provide. Only God can give the blessed life. Only God protects. God is the only one who can do these things. And he does do these things. He does them through the leaders he has put in authority.

So, trust your God. He is your help and hope. Even when our earthly leaders and rulers don’t seem to be doing good for us, God is always doing good for us. Our God gives the blessed life.

Pray for your leaders. Pray that God would give them wisdom and lead them to do what is good for us. Pray for their health and wellness. Pray for their families. Most of all, pray that they would turn to the Lord and be Christian, godly rulers as they rule over us.

Prayer: Lord God, be with our leaders, our president, our representatives, and all who lead our country. Give them health, wellness, and most of all wisdom. Lead them to rule over our country so that we may live peaceful lives and so that more people might know you. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James‬ ‭1:2-4

The Bible doesn’t say: “Suffering always comes because of sin.”

What goes around, comes ______________. You reap what you _________________. You can probably finish those sentences without too much thinking because they are so deeply embedded in our American culture and even more embedded in our human nature. We naturally think that if I do bad to someone else, something bad will happen to me. On the flip side, we also naturally think that if I do good to someone—if I pay it forward, good will come back around to me. What goes around, comes around. You reap what you sow.

Then when something painful enters our life we think, “What did we do to deserve this?” Even people in the Bible thought this. When painful things happened to Joseph’s brothers they immediately thought, “This is happening to us because of what we did to Joseph” (Genesis 42:21).

Nothing could be further away from the way that God deals with us and rules over our lives.

There is no more punishment for our sins. All our sins have been already punished and paid for in the wounds of Jesus. God is not out to get his pound of flesh from us. When suffering comes, God is not punishing us.

The way that God deals with us in our lives is purely and completely out of his grace. When good things enter our lives, it isn’t because we deserved it or because we did good. This isn’t some law of “sowing” and “reaping,” where one good turn deserves another. No, God pours out grace upon us purely because of his grace and goodness, purely out of his love for us.

That’s what happening when we suffer too. James tells us to consider it pure joy when we suffer and face trials. He wants us to find joy in our suffering, because God is graciously at work in our trials too. He is at work drawing us closer. He is at work purifying us. He is at work chiseling us to make us mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Suffering doesn’t come because of sin, as though God were out to get us. No, even in suffering, God is acting as our dear Father who loves us most and desires us to live and walk with him eternally.

Prayer: Dear Father, help me to see my suffering as it really is. It isn’t punishment for sin—you already forgave all of mine and the world’s. Rather, help me to see that in my suffering you are making me mature and complete in faith and for life. Help me to see it and rejoice in it, dear Father. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

The Bible doesn’t say: “Obedience always leads to blessing.”

This week we’re looking at another statement that people claim comes from the Bible: ‘Obedience always leads to blessing.’ Like the saying from last week, it sounds good and can even be understood in a true, biblical sense. “Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and obey it,” Jesus said (Luke 11:28). God gives us his commands because he wants to bless us. He wants us to live his way in this world. That is the best way to live. It is a blessing to live God’s way in this world.

But what if I do obey God, and it doesn’t turn out well? What if I obey God and honor his will, but I lose my job because of it? What if I’m living a life of obedience and get made fun of? Or I get cancer? What if I’m doing all the right things, but my life is one hardship after another?

This saying falls apart when obedience doesn’t lead to blessing, but instead leads to hardship.

The apostle Paul grappled with this in his life. After his conversion to Christianity, Paul devoted himself to doing God’s will. Even then, he had to admit, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). Sometimes his life went well. He was well fed and had plenty of God’s gifts to enjoy. But there were other times when his life did not work out so well. He was hungry. In fact, Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians from a table in his jail cell. Things didn’t turn out well at all.

But Paul gives us the secret to a blessed life. He tells us how to be contented and happy whether the circumstances of life are good or not, whether they are pleasant or unpleasant. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul knew that the secret to a blessed life was found in the gifts that Jesus gives, in the rule that Jesus exerts, in the protection that Jesus offers.

This is where we find contentment and blessing. Jesus gives us gifts every day, exactly what he wants us to have. He never shorts us (even if we think sometimes that he does). Jesus always gives us the right gifts and the right amount of them because he is good. Jesus rules over our lives. Yes, he rules over the good times and the hard times. He rules over them for our eternal good, because he wants us to spend an eternity with him. He protects us from danger, especially danger to our souls.

Sometimes there are good times. Other times there are hard times. But our Father rules over both the happy and the sad times. He rules over our lives for our good and promises to give good and perfect gifts to us. He does it all, not because we obeyed, but simply because he is our good and gracious Father in heaven.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for ruling over my life for my eternal good and not for my harm. Help me to understand that you always bless me and do good for me, even if it means that hard things enter my life. You are good at all times, O God. Your will is always good for me. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Oprah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
Judges 8:27

Fear<less: Don’t leave God behind.

Imagine you are on a basketball team. All season your team worked hard. It paid off! You won many of your games and even made it to the state championship. Before you head out onto the court to play your final game of the season, you ask God for his help and strength to play the game to the best of your abilities. Then you head out to the court and leave all that you have out there until that final buzzer rings. Your team wins! The crowd is cheering; as you walk up to get the trophy everyone around congratulates you. They’re cheering for you and patting you on the back. They all are asking how you did it.

This is where Gideon found himself. He had done what God asked him to do. He had set his people free from the hand of Midian. He won a great victory even though he was a huge underdog. The people were happy with him and even asked him to be the new ruler over them. At first, his response seemed good. He acted humble, and even rejected the offer to be ruler.

But he had one request. He wanted the Israelites to bring their enemies’ golden earrings. When they had done this, he made an ephod with the gold (An ephod was a highly ornamented robe that the Israelites used in worship.). Then Gideon placed it in his city. The people gawked over it. Actually, it was worse than that. The writer says, “They prostituted themselves to it.” In other words, they worshipped the golden ephod instead of the true and only God. Gideon and his family did the same thing.

After the great victory God had given him, Gideon forgot who truly gave him the victory. He used this victory as an opportunity to get glory for himself and even ignored God’s powerful hand which brought him to that point.

It is so easy for the thrill and pride of victorious circumstances to make us forget about the real reason for our successes.

God is the one who has given us everything to be able to achieve our goals. God is the one who has given us the victory. It’s good for us to remember that. We owe not only our achievements but our very lives to God. So when things go well in your lives, take a moment to give thanks to God for all that he’s done for you and in your life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I come to you to thank you for all the accomplishments I have achieved in my life, no matter how big or small. You had a part in each one. You helped me and gave me success. I owe all of my success to you. Please help me to remember this in the victorious moments of life. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.
Judges 6:14-16

Fear<less: Who am I?

Who am I?

I have to admit; this question runs through my head quite often. Whenever I come to a point where I think I know who I am and understand myself, my situation changes, and I feel completely lost. It often feels like I am riding a rollercoaster. One day I feel confident in who I am and and what I’m taking on. The next day I am second guessing myself and am not sure I can handle it.

Maybe you’ve been through this too. One day you feel 100% confident in who you are and you think you can take on the world. But the next day everything looks different. The next day you’re not confident in who you are or how you are going to take on the task in front of you.

That’s how Gideon felt. Gideon was struggling with the uncertainty of who he was. He was scared and threatened by the Midianite armies. Now God was calling him to rescue Israel? He was just a nobody from a nobody family. He was the least in that family too! Who was he to save Israel?

But look what God did. He called Gideon to be the rescuer for the people of Israel and then promised to be with him. Gideon was worried that he could not do it, but God told him that he would not be alone. God would be with him at all times. Gideon found his identity, his power, and his purpose in God.

Who am I? Who am I to take on this day, this task, and this world?

I am God’s child. I am saved by Jesus. I am just who God designed me to be. When God leads you by his Word, your identity will not be altered by the world, defined by its standards, or determined by the current situation or how I feel. When God fills you with his power and his Spirit by his Word, your fear will disappear even as you consider what looms in front of you. In God, you can have everlasting confidence in who you are because of who he is. He is the one who sent his Son who made himself a nobody on earth so I may be one of his own in heaven. He gave me a new identity in my baptism as his child. That will never change! Trusting in God’s promises, you can take on whatever lies in front of you with absolute confidence. So, take heart in these words which God spoke to Gideon: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

These words are as true for you today as they were for Gideon. Be a warrior! God is with us and will be with us as we take on whatever God gives us to do today and every day.

Prayer: Dear God, when I face the ongoing battle of being uncertain of who I am and what my life purpose is, give me the courage you know I so desperately need. Continue to remind me that my only confidence can be found in you. Lead me, keep me, and sustain me through Jesus Christ, my Lord, and Savior. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts‬ ‭1:8

Who is the witness?

When I was in high school, I had to give speeches. Everybody did. Some speeches were better than others. You could always tell who had taken a speech class, because their speeches were just better. I was never that good, because I had never learned the art of delivering a speech.

That’s what it is. Delivering a speech is an art form that takes years of experience and training. A good speech is one that draws the audience in so they are interested in the topic. It must be ordered properly. It must be logical and interesting. The speaker should be prepared, confident, and even convincing. These things make giving a good speech so difficult. It’s what makes public speaking difficult and fear inducing for so many people.

And now Jesus wants us to talk about our faith? That’s what he says here. He told his disciples (and us too!) that this is who we are. We are witnesses of who he is and what he has done. We are his witnesses here, there, and everywhere. We’re supposed to talk about Jesus and share our faith?

But what will we say?
How will we say it?
How will we know what to say?
Will people listen?
Will they agree with what we’ve got to say?

Jesus doesn’t ask us to figure that out. Being a witness is not at all like delivering a speech.

Did you notice what he says? First, there is this amazing promise that we’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes. Jesus is promising here, and in other places, that he’ll give us the Holy Spirit so that we’re confident, so that we have words.

Then, he says, “You will be witnesses.” Jesus isn’t asking us to say it just right or to win the argument. Jesus isn’t asking us to put together a “good speech.” Jesus isn’t even asking to convince anybody about anything. He’s asking us to be witnesses. A witness doesn’t have to convince. A witness has to tell the story. It is the job of the attorney to do the convincing. Jesus is asking us to tell the world about the good things that he’s done. His Holy Spirit will do the rest.

You are the witness. Witnessing is not like giving a speech. It’s simply telling the story of Jesus. This is who you are. The Holy Spirit will be with you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit. Remind me that I am your witnesses and all you ask me to do is share the message. You will give me the words. You will give me the confidence. And you will do good things through the Word I share; you promise it. Make me your witness in all that I do and say today. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:22-23

Who is the Son?

For twenty minutes, 149 passengers were absolutely out of control. A fan blade broke off, causing one of the engines of their plane to explode. For those twenty minutes, they didn’t know whether they would live or die, and they couldn’t do anything about it except sit and wait. They were absolutely helpless and couldn’t do anything except pray.

We can relate when we hit that patch of black ice on the road in the middle of the winter. We can relate when the other driver rear-ends us or crosses the middle of the road into our lane. We can relate when sickness or cancer comes without any cause at all. We can relate when someone suddenly loses a job through no fault of their own.

We couldn’t stop our tire from going flat or our car battery from dying over night. We couldn’t stop the other driver from falling asleep at the wheel or rear-ending us. There is so much in our lives over which we have no control at all. It’s such a helpless feeling, because there is nothing we can do about it.

That’s why these words from Paul are so important to remember, especially when life seems out of control. Do you see what Paul says about Jesus? Do you see what God did? He put all things under the feet of Jesus. All things. Things like the exploding engine in that Southwest plane. He ruled over those moments when the engine exploded and the plane suddenly lurched toward the ground. He ruled over those moments when your car skidded out of control on black ice. He ruled over those moments when you or someone you love suddenly got sick or lost a job.

He is Lord and ruler over all things “for the church.” That’s Paul’s way of saying that Jesus is Lord for the people who believe in him. He is Lord over all things for you, for your good, for your benefit.

Things may be out of your control, but they are never outside of his control. He sits as King over all.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, when my life seems out of control, remind me that you are Lord and ruler over all things. Remind me that things are never outside of your control. Calm my heart with the truth that things are never outside of your rule. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

“They [the Sanhedrin] had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Ruler and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:7-12

Standing tall

Peter and John, apostles of Jesus, had just done something miraculous: they healed a 40-year-old crippled man in front of numerous witnesses. But not everyone was happy with the miracle. Instead of giving thanks to God for this act of mercy, the local religious leaders threw Peter and John into jail. The next day, they were questioned by the Sanhedrin—the highest authority of Jewish law and culture.

The members of the Sanhedrin felt threatened by the apostles. They wanted to stop them from spreading this message of Jesus around the people. So they ordered Peter and John to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, but the apostles would not bow to such a command.

The apostles of the early church didn’t have it easy. They were put in prison multiple times, flogged, stoned, mocked, kicked out of different regions, and killed. What would cause them to be willing to suffer all of this?

Jesus.

Peter, John, and the rest of the early church believed that Jesus is the only way to heaven. His death and resurrection meant that they would live forever someday. His name is the only name that saves. You can see why they wanted to spread this good news to everyone.

What do you say when someone asks about your faith? What do you do when someone confronts you about your Christian convictions? What do you do when someone attacks you? It’s easy to shrink back and avoid giving a real answer. It’s intimidating to stand up for what you believe, especially with close friends.

During times of questioning, look to the example of Peter and John: Stand tall. Don’t be ashamed of the name of Jesus. He gave you everything: the forgiveness of all your sins, new life, and a home in heaven. Like Peter and John, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” in Jesus’ name (Acts 4:20).

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me stand tall and be a bold witness for you when I’m asked about my faith. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Every day [all the believers] continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
Acts 2:46

Don’t forget your team

It’s game day. You know what you have to do, so you get out on the court or field to face your opponents. Then you realize something’s wrong. You’re all by yourself. The other team is there, looming over you like a dark storm cloud from the other end of the field. However, not one of your teammates can be seen. Not on the court. Not on the bench. Nowhere. You have no one on your side.

Do you ever feel like that is your spiritual situation? Maybe you feel like the only Christian at your school facing the whole science department that teaches evolution as truth. Maybe you’re the only one at your job who doesn’t want to take a longer break than allowed. Maybe you’re the only one at a party who doesn’t want to drink because you’re underage.

In those situations, you may feel alone and unable to handle the pressure. You know his promise to always be with you, yet the present situation makes you question God’s presence.

That’s one of the reasons God surrounds us with the church and puts other Christians in our lives. God does not want us to be alone. He wants us to be together.

God equips your Christian friends to help you through all kinds of life’s problems, earthly or spiritual. Whether you have questions about the Bible or about your homework, whether you’re trying to pick a college or what to wear to school tomorrow, Christian friends can help because they (like you) know where to find answers to life’s critical questions. Christian brothers and sisters can remind you of God’s promises and give encouragement, comfort, or even correction from God’s Word. And not only do you get to enjoy these benefits, but to share them! God calls you to be that encouraging, supportive Christian friend to others too.

Most importantly, when you do crack under the pressure and give in to sin, your Christian friends are there to point you to Jesus. Your Christian friends are there to show and give you Jesus’s forgiveness. His perfect life and innocent death paid the penalty for all your sins. That’s the message you need to hear most of all. That’s also the message your friends need to hear from you most of all.

Do you have Christian friends? Thank God for them! Surround yourself with them. Then be one for them!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you so much for blessing me with Christian friends so we can encourage each other to stay close to you. Forgive me for the times I haven’t been the friend you want me to be. Thank you for being the perfect friend. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see it…I will not believe.” …Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Select verses from John 20:24-29

The Resurrection Scars

“You wouldn’t believe the game of putt-putt golf I had today. I got a hole-in-one on every hole!”

Is it hard to convince a friend of yours that someone has done the impossible? No matter how many times you tell them, they will probably ask you to prove it; sometimes seeing is believing. No matter how hard they want to believe you, they have to see it with their own eyes and touch it with their own hands.

This is how it was for Thomas. Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples. But Thomas wasn’t with them. The disciples told Thomas what they had seen and touched, but it was too much for Thomas. He said that he wouldn’t believe them unless he put his hands in the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and feet and felt his side. A week later Jesus again appeared to his disciples. This time Thomas was with them. This time Thomas got to see and touch. Finally, he believed.

But why did it take so long? Thomas was there when Jesus had told his disciples that he would be raised from the dead. Jesus told them more than once. Why would he need so much convincing?

There are times in our lives when we too need a lot of convincing, but why? Why do we doubt? The truth is, some things are heard to believe when we can’t see and touch them. At times it feels like we have a blind faith.

But our faith is hardly blind. Jesus reminds us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Our faith stands on the sure words of Jesus. These words are even more sure now that he has kept his promise by rising from the dead. He truly has overcome the world.

Thomas wanted a “scar story,” something he could see and believe. And in great love for Thomas, Jesus came to him in his weakness to show him his scars, to even let him touch those scars.

In your times of doubting and wanting to see, look at the scars that Jesus showed Thomas. Look at the scars that Thomas touched. Know that all your doubts are forgiven. Jesus really has conquered sin and death for the world. Jesus really has risen from the dead, just as he said. His Word is true! His promises are sure. You can count on it. His scars are the proof.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for bearing those scars and showing them to us. In times of doubt remind us of your words “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Remind us of the sure things that Thomas got to see and touch. Then, give us faith to believe it. Amen.

This Lenten series we’re taking a look at the scars we all have from our sin and from the sin of others. Ultimately it’s not about our scars, but rather the scars of Christ which he took for us on the cross.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
Luke 18:31-33

Successfully healed

Have you ever witnessed a “scar battle”? It’s when a few people whip out their slowly fading lighter patches of skin and start comparing tall tales of old accidents. Sometimes people seem quite proud, or at least able to laugh about their klutzy moments. However, they probably were not laughing when the accident first happened.

Scars often prompt painful memories even if they now make interesting stories. As a rule, we try to avoid those moments of pain. Yet, much as scars are viewed as past injuries, they actually show the place where your skin was successfully healed.

Some scars go further than just skin-deep. The pains of being betrayed emotionally, of guilt, or of the struggle to see ourselves as God’s loved creation can cut deeply into our soul. As with any physical scar, the impression can last even after the wound is healed.

We are not alone in that battle: Jesus also felt our scars. He felt the whip and the nails. But he also carried the sins of the whole world. He did not avoid the scars of our sins but bore them for us. He has given us the eternal hope of heaven and has promised us ultimate healing. He also promises to be with us and be our strength in every moment of pain while we are here on this earth. We are being healed spiritually through Christ’s forgiveness each day. He is growing and shaping us in his love so that one day we may have a perfect home with him where all those scars will finally fade away.

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us for the times we have been the cause of scars found on others. In your love, you allowed your only Son to be scarred for us all. Those scars have given us forgiveness and salvation. Help us find peace in you while we are still on earth because we know that all our scars and difficulties are part of your plan to bring us home to heaven. Amen.

This Lenten series we’re taking a look at the scars we all have from our sin and from the sin of others. Ultimately it’s not about our scars, but rather the scars of Christ which he took for us on the cross.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23

Wounded by words

Words are powerful. I think we can all look back and pinpoint something someone said that was so deeply painful that you remember it years later. Between your ears, you hear echoes of someone telling you that you’re stupid, you’re fat, that you’ll never amount to anything. You see memories playing in your mind, mocking and ridiculing you.

The things that people say to us and about us wound us more deeply than we can imagine. As a parent I’m beginning to realize that I have to be far more careful with my words. Even things I say to my children in an off-handed, joking way, often hit home in their hearts and wound them deeply.

Peter has some advice when words wound and scar us deeply. He shows us what Jesus did: nothing. He took it! He let them say whatever they wanted. He remained silent.

I sometimes wonder why Jesus didn’t respond, especially when their words were flat out lies. Sometimes people say things I don’t like, but if it’s the truth I can’t say much to them. If those awful things are lies, I can hardly stand by and let them ruin my reputation. There are times when I feel like I can’t stay silent. But Jesus did!

Did you catch why?

He entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He put himself into the hands of his Father who had said, “This is my Son. I love him! Listen to him.” He put himself into the hands of his Father, who would get justice for all their lies through his submissive son. He put himself into the hands of his Father who loved him dearly.

That’s where we’ll find healing and hope for the wounds that words bring. We’ll put ourselves into the hands of our Father who says of us, “You are my child. I love you.” We’ll put ourselves into the hands of our Father in heaven who says that he will defend us from every evil attack and bring us into our homes in heaven. We’ll put ourselves into the hands of our Father. There we’ll find peace, joy, and healing even when hateful words fly.

Prayer: Dear Father, the hurtful things that people say hurt me deeply. When their words wound me, remind me that I am yours and that you love me just as I am. Remind me that I am pleasing in your sight. Remind me that I am in your hands. Heal the scars in my heart from their words with healing of your Word. Amen.

This Lenten series we’re taking a look at the scars we all have from our sin and from the sin of others. Ultimately it’s not about our scars, but rather the scars of Christ which he took for us on the cross.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.