To Those Affected by Abuse
February 22, 2020 • Taylor Eising • Psalm 9:7–10, Jeremiah 17:14, Romans 8:37–39, Psalm 103:6
Editor’s Note: Today’s devotional reading discusses abuse. . In this sinful, fallen world, abuse happens everywhere; we see it on the news, at our schools, and even in our churches. When we hear about it or experience it, it leaves us reeling, grasping for answers. . Abuse whispers in its victims’ ears, saying, “You’re worthless. You’re broken. Nobody could ever love you. You are never safe.” Dear friends, these are lies. . Abuse is never your fault. It is the result of sin—which affects us all—taking hold in someone’s heart and making them forget that both they and their victim are made in God’s image and are therefore worthy of love and full of inherent dignity. . Abuse isolates people and tries to convince them that Jesus is not with them. But that is a lie straight from the pit of hell. . Jesus is with you in the midst of your pain. His heart breaks for you. He cries with you. He is holding your hand, walking with you through the muck and bringing you safely to the other side. . If you or someone you know is being abused, report it immediately to somebody you can trust. One way Jesus reaches into the worst of situations is by putting people around you who can help—whether they are friends, police officers, counselors, social workers, teachers, or other trustworthy people (Romans 13:3-4). Pray for God’s guidance and His restoration. . By the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can have secure hope that, someday, Jesus will come back to fully defeat all evil, sin, and death and restore all of creation to Himself. Until that day, if we know Him, He lives inside us through His Holy Spirit, experiencing our hurts with us and encouraging us. . Bring your pain to Him and rest in His secure love and in the promise of His justice. • Taylor Eising . • God is just, so no wrongdoing will go unpunished (Psalm 103:6; Revelation 20:11-15 and 21:1-8). Why is this so important? . • How is abuse a violation of the fact that we are made in God’s image? . • Who is a trusted person in your life you can talk to about abuse—whether the abuse is happening to you or you suspect it is happening to someone else? . • What are some ways you can pray for abusers and the abused? . • If you are in danger, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area). . • If you need someone to talk to about your current situation or past abuse, 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. . The Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalm 103:6 (CSB)
Falsehood and Deceit
February 20, 2020 • Susan Sundwall • Proverbs 12:22, Jeremiah 8:8–13, John 5:20
Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that falsehood and deceit are serious problems. Jesus, who is God, is the very definition of truth, so it makes sense that He takes lies so seriously, even including a command against falsehood in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16; John 14:6). . And that’s not the only place God speaks against the sin of deceit. The prophet Jeremiah wasn’t fooling around when he slammed “the lying pen of the scribes” (Jeremiah 8:8). The greedy scribes, prophets, and priests were deceiving the people for personal gain, and God was not pleased (Jeremiah 8:10). These religious leaders cared nothing for the people. We’re even told that these leaders had forgotten “how to blush” (Jeremiah 8:12). In other words, they felt they’d done no wrong. . Even from the beginning, the serpent, Satan, deceived Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-4). He lied about God’s instruction that they avoid eating from a certain tree. But they fell for the lie, plunging humankind into sin and destruction. Satan has been lying to us ever since (John 8:44). . We see lies all around us today. We—whether we’re leaders in power or normal, everyday citizens—often lie about questionable decisions we’ve made that hurt others. . However, our good God not only warns but also comforts us when it comes to falsehood and deceit. While lies bring death, the truth of who Jesus is brings us life. As Christians, even though lies surround us, we have a champion in Jesus and can find comfort knowing that the One “who is true” will win out in the end (1 John 5:20; 2 John 2). • Susan Sundwall . • The truth of the gospel can set us free from the lies that surround us (John 8:31-36). False teachers tell lies about who Jesus is and who we are in relationship to Him, which is why false teaching is such a big deal (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-6). As Christians, how does this affect the way we talk about Jesus with others (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)? . • How does the Holy Spirit help Christians share truth in hard situations (Luke 12:11-12)? . We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (NIV)
Right Here, Right Now
February 12, 2020 • Taylor Eising • Jeremiah 29:1–14
Today’s Bible passage is one of my favorite parts of Scripture, and, if I’m being honest, one that I struggle with the most. In this passage, most of Israel had just been taken captive by the Babylonians, who were pagans and had been enemies of Israel for a very long time. After the Israelites were taken captive, some prophets started saying God would come to their rescue quickly, defeating Babylon and restoring the Israelites’ freedom. . But God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to say that these were lies, and the people saying them were false prophets. Instead, God told His people to get comfy because they were going to be in captivity for a while. He had work for them to do, and He would be with them while they were doing it. He told them to build houses, plant gardens for food, and marry off their children so they could have grandchildren. Even more surprising, He told them to pray for Babylon and “work for the peace and prosperity of the city” of their enemies (Jeremiah 29:7)! . Sometimes, I feel like the Israelites—stuck in a situation I hate, just looking for a way out. I spend so much time looking for future rescue that I don’t see what Jesus is doing right here, right now, in the middle of my “exile.” I forget He is here with me. Instead of asking Jesus what He wants me to do, I look for ways to take control and even to withdraw into myself—to isolate myself from God and others. . When we find ourselves in situations we hate, as Christians, we can take comfort knowing Jesus is right there with us. If we rely on Him to help us resist the temptation to rush through the present, He will show us all the richness He has for us right here, right now. • Taylor Eising . • How does knowing Jesus is with you in your times of “exile” bring you comfort and purpose? . • Read 1 Peter 5:7. When we’re hurting, God doesn’t tell us to ignore our pain, stuff it down, and just get to work. Instead, He invites us to bring our pain to Him with honesty while serving and trusting Him in the present. What would this look like in your life? . • Read Romans 5:8. How does Jesus embody our call to serve wherever God has placed us, even when we consider the people around us to be our “enemies”? . And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT)
How Can I Serve in God's Kingdom?
February 10, 2020 • Samuel Miano • Jeremiah 1:1–8, 1 Timothy 4:12, Philippians 4:13
How can I serve in God’s kingdom? . Often, we as teenagers shy away from this question. We say things like, “Well, I’m too young” or “I’m just not strong enough.” . But do these excuses hold up? After all, David was young when God used him to kill Goliath. Gideon was the least in his family, but God used him to defeat the Midianites. Esther was a young woman when she went before the king to save her people. Jeremiah was young when God called him to be a prophet to the people of Judah. I could go on and on about how God used normal people—like you and me—in extraordinary ways in His kingdom. . You don’t even have to do anything big for God to serve in His kingdom. Try serving in a Sunday school class, sharing the gospel with a friend, or helping set up the church before the service starts. You might think these small tasks are minuscule and unimportant to God, but they’re not. God delights even in the little things you do for Him and uses them in His kingdom. . So, the next time someone asks you, “What can you do to serve in God’s kingdom?” and you feel too young or too weak for the task, remember this: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). • Samuel Miano . • In the past, how has God used you or someone you know in His kingdom? . • What are some ideas you have for how you might want to serve in God’s kingdom? . • Pray about the ideas you listed, asking God to show you how He would like to use you in His kingdom. . I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Heart Transplants
November 19, 2019 • Rosemarie Pagano • Jeremiah 17:9–10, Ezekiel 11:19–20, Matthew 15:19
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Just follow your heart!” or “Listen to your heart!” These seem like cheerful, loving sentiments, don’t they? The only problem is, apart from Jesus, our hearts are sinful, and they are definitely not worth following or listening to. . In Jeremiah 17:9, the human heart is described as “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Later, Jesus said that it isn’t what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of a man (Matthew 15:11). And these are not the only verses in the Bible that refer to the heart! Ultimately, some of the meanest and most evil things in the world come out of the human heart. That means we all have a kind of heart trouble because our personalities come from the heart, the center of our being. . Similar to how cardiac surgeons can remove a failing physical heart and replace it with a healthier donor heart, our Lord can give us new hearts through the Holy Spirit. When we come to Him through faith, He gives us new life. We are born again and given a new nature—a heart transplant (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Great Physician replaces our sinful and stony heart with a heart of flesh. He has been performing spiritual heart transplants for a long time, so no case is too complicated for Him! What good news! • Rosemarie Pagano . • What surprised you in today’s reading? . • If you have questions about what it means to have a new heart through Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19 (NKJV)
The Valley of Silence
November 8, 2019 • Sarah Rexford • Jeremiah 17:7–8, Psalm 136:16
Sometimes it’s easier to ask where God is than to consider what the silence really means. . There are so many stories in the Bible of God using people in major ways. Moses led thousands of people from slavery, Joseph saved his known world from starvation, not to mention Jesus Himself making a way to save the world—past, present, and future—from sin and death. . What we often ignore are the stories before the story. God took Moses to an actual wilderness before taking him before Pharaoh. Joseph went to the wilderness of slavery before leading Egypt from starvation. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days before starting His ministry, one that would make a way for salvation for humankind. . Often, Jesus takes us through a wilderness before using us. The key word there is through. He doesn’t just take us to the wilderness and leave us there. No, the wilderness is a training ground. And training grounds are meant for us to pass through, not to stay in. In His faithful timing, God will lead us not just to the wilderness but through it. . Wildernesses can feel like valleys of isolation and silence. But remember that even in the valley, the Holy Spirit is growing our roots into Christ (Romans 5:1-5; Colossians 2:6-7). . So, if God seems silent, draw in close to Him. Closeness with God requires dropping our walls and getting silent sometimes. It’s often in the silence that we hear God’s truth—the good news of Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Philippians 1:6). When we hear truth, we are trained in truth. And it’s only after we’ve been trained in truth that we can go out from the valley and onto the battlefield in confidence. . Psalm 32:7 says God surrounds us with “shouts of deliverance.” So, embrace the valley for the training ground it is, then go out and conquer as a member of Christ’s kingdom—God’s shouts of deliverance leading the way! • Sarah Rexford . • How has Jesus used valleys in your life to deepen your relationship with Him? . • We talked about how intimacy requires dropping our walls. What walls make it difficult for you personally to hear Jesus in your everyday life? . He led his people in the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:16 (CSB)