Transformed – teen devotion – November 10, 2024

Jesus sees the sinfulness we try to hide and loved us anyways. 

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:38-44

Real Life

Every time an election season rolls around, it serves as a good reminder of how many things in the world are fake. Photos taken and retaken and then photoshopped and airbrushed. Promises made and then restated, perhaps with good intentions, but all too often some are unlikely to be kept. Stories told and retold and embellished and modified. All this for the sake of building a candidate or political party’s image!

The teachers of the law in Jesus’ day were also important and influential people in society, but Jesus points out that they too were “fake.” They were all about image and outward appearance, but underneath the show their hearts were filled with self-centered attitudes and self-serving motivations. Have you ever felt like that describes you too? Things look OK on the outside, maybe even pretty good a lot of the time, but it’s a good thing people don’t know what’s underneath because they’d see what a sham that outward appearance is! Most of us would probably do almost anything to make sure people don’t find out about the deepest secrets of our hearts.

Jesus knows all those secrets. But Jesus doesn’t respond like a sinful person. He doesn’t spread gossip in the rumor mill or look down his nose at you. Instead, he takes up your burden. He knows about your most shameful secrets, and he choose to love you anyway, so much so that he laid down his life for you! And now he invites you to spend your life with him. With Jesus, you can live secure in the knowledge your sins are forgiven and don’t need to bother you any longer. With Jesus, you can put aside your sinful habits and work and study and speak and play to his glory, every day of your life! Amen.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I have sinned more than I care to remember, and I have made so many efforts to hide my sins. Today I confess to you that I have failed in every way. Thank you for making me your child anyway. Thank you for loving me despite my flaws. Teach me to put aside my sinfulness and live my life for your glory. Amen