Transformed – teen devotion – May 14, 2023

One truth shared: You have been given confidence to stand before others.

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.
Acts 17:31

Confidence to Stand

It has been said that the two things people fear most are death and public speaking. And for many people, public speaking is the more frightening of the two.

Just imagine standing in front of a crowd with all their attention undeniably focused on you. Being in a situation like that can make you hyper-focused on yourself. You wonder how you come across to people. You worry about what people might be thinking about you.

You might be able to go through life avoiding the big stages. But the scripture points out that there’s one stage that nobody can avoid. One day we will all stand before God in judgment.

As you stand in front of your all-knowing Creator, how easy it might be to feel as if a million eyes are on you. He will see you as you are, as you were, and as you could have been. He will see beyond your behavior and discern your hidden intentions. Did you lust in your heart or coat the truth in your head? No sin will be able to hide in the light of his perfect judgement.

Despite how frightful that may sound, scripture also adds a beautiful truth. The one who will judge you is the one who already absolved you.

While the day of judgment has not come yet, the verdict for you has already been determined. The justice for your sins was already served on Jesus. The holiness God expects from you was wrapped around you like a robe. So when you stand before God in judgment, his eyes will be on Jesus instead of you.

When you find yourself worrying what other people might be thinking about you, that’s a cue to find your identity in what God has already declared about you. It does not really matter how people might judge you in their minds. When God sees you, he sees his Son whom he loves. Imagine a life where your confidence was not dependent on what people might think about you. Jesus’ empty tomb means you have been given the confidence to stand before God himself.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I often lack confidence because I am too concerned by what other people might think about me. Help me live in the confidence that Jesus alone can provide. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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.
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