Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Acts 17:11

Posted on April 11, 2024

 

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. – Acts 17:11 (HCSB)

It’s so easy to get distracted by all the things going on. Maybe it’s the sports team at your school, or binge-watching your favorite TV show. Most of the time, there are too many things going on and it keeps us from spending time with God.

I like how today’s Bible verse describes these people. They welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the scriptures. How long has it been since you’ve been eager to read your Bible? When was the last time you examined the scriptures and really let God speak into your life?

If you’re honest, maybe it has been a while. If so, don’t be upset about it. Instead, use it as a motivator to keep your relationship with God fresh. Determine to say no to the things that are keeping you from spending time with God. Ask Him to show you how you can move things around in your life to make more time for reading the Bible.

Maybe you can get up 10 minutes earlier each day. Perhaps you need to say no to going out with friends one night so that you can spend a little more time in the word. Whatever it is, choose to make time with God a priority in your life. Get excited about God’s word and make it a part of your life!

Teen Devotion

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Eph 2:10

Posted on April 10, 2024

You are God's Masterpiece

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Have you ever thought about the fact that you’ve never actually seen yourself? Yes, you’ve seen yourself in a mirror but that was just a reflection. You have to look in the mirror and believe that what you see is the truth. If your hair is in place in the mirror then you have to trust that. In the same way, God has a different image of you than you can see on the outside. His image of you is made up of all the qualities that Jesus exchanged with you when you surrendered your life for His.

The Bible calls this transformation becoming a new creation. This verse in Ephesians describes that transformation. God calls us new in Christ and tells us that He’s planned good things for us.

Today’s Truth: God has good things planned for you.

So regardless of what you’re going through, regardless of who’s put you down, and who’s told you that you’re not qualified, God sees you differently. He sees you through the mirror of Jesus and when He looks at you, He sees greatness.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Luke 6:40

Posted on April 9, 2024

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. – Luke 6:40 (NIV)

I remember I had a friend who always said a certain word. And after hanging around her all the time, I began saying that word. I sounded like the person I spent time with.

That’s a lot like what today’s Bible verse is talking about. It’s saying that the people you choose to spend time with are the people that you’re going to be like. Whether that’s your teachers, your friends, the TV shows you watch, or something else, the influences that you spend the majority of your time with are going to shape what you become.

As you go to school each day, your teachers and textbooks are shaping your thinking. The friends you surround yourself influence you too. So are those influences good ones? Are they ones that are making you more like Christ? If they are, then that’s great. But if not, spend some time thinking about whether you need to make an adjustment.

Realize that who you spend time with matters. Choose to spend time getting closer to God each day. As you spend time in the Bible and prayer, you’ll become more like Jesus, who is the best teacher!

Daily Devotion and Bible Verse – Hebrews 12:23

Posted on April 8, 2024

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect – Hebrews 12:23 (KJV)

You are made up of 3 parts; your body, your soul (mind & emotions) and your spirit. The spirit part of you is the part that gets saved. It’s the part that completely becomes brand new when you get born again.

In this Bible verse, it actually says that your spirit is now perfect. This is not because you live holy enough or are perfect in your actions. It means that Jesus’ spirit and your spirit are now one and your spirit is now made perfect.

It’s mind-boggling think that you can be perfect. However, this is not talking about your body or your soul (mind & emotions). These parts of you are not born again. It’s your spirit that is. All of what the New Testament promises about salvation refers to what happened to your spirit when you were born again.

Knowing that your spirit has been made perfect, gives you boldness and confidence to approach God and to reach out and help others. It’s hard to step out in faith when you think you’re not saved or have been made perfect with God.

Today be bold in loving God and others knowing that the part of you that was born again; your spirit has been made perfect through the blood of Jesus.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Proverbs 12:24

Posted on April 4, 2024

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. – Proverbs 12:24

I remember a time in history class when I got a bad grade. For me, bad grades were really rare, so I was very upset by it. I stayed after class and asked my teacher why I had received such a bad grade on my history project. She told me that she expected more from me, she knew this project wasn’t my best work and so she had given me a lower grade.

When I had been making this project, I had watched other students in my class. They weren’t putting much effort into their projects, which made me think, if they’re being lazy, maybe I should be lazy too. I didn’t give my teacher my best work, and my grade suffered because of it.

I learned the hard way that laziness doesn’t pay off. If you want to get good grades at school you’ve got to put in some extra work and effort. So if you want to be successful and a leader, you’ve got to work hard. You’ve got to put in a little extra effort to get better results in your life.

Today’s Truth: To become successful, you’ve got to work hard.

So today, if you’ve become lazy at school or in some other area, choose to make some adjustments. Choose to put in a little extra effort and work just a little bit harder. Simple things like showing up a few minutes early or doing an extra homework problem each night make a big difference. To become successful, you’ve got to work hard.

 

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 1 Corinthians 13:4

Posted on April 3, 2024

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs – 1 Cor 13:4-5 (NIV)

Have you ever wondered how to know if the person you want to date is dateable?

One easy way to judge this is by looking at that person’s love life. That’s doesn’t mean looking at social media to find out the people they’ve already dated. Instead, it requires looking at how they love others. How do they treat their mom and dad? How do they treat their teachers, friends, and the workers at the restaurant? If they treat them with love, like today’s Bible verse describes, then you know you’ve got someone who is worth dating.

So in your dating relationships, choose to protect your heart. Wait for a person who will treat you with Godly love and respect. This type of a person is someone you will want to date.

Read: 7 Strategies to Help You Stay Sexually Pure

Choose to say no to relationships that push you away from God and wait for ones that are exhibiting Godly love. In the end, you’ll be thankful that you said no to them and chose to protect your heart.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Romans 5:1

Posted on April 2, 2024

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. – Romans 5:1 (NLT)

When we realize our value to God it is freeing. We don’t have to be slaves to our fears. Rather we can walk in the peace Jesus provided to us. We can live lives free from shame, fear and condemnation. Instead we can walk around with our head held up high because we know we are children of the king.

So today, it doesn’t matter if someone has trashed you on social media. It doesn’t matter if you parents haven’t always treated you correctly. What matters is what Jesus has done for us. Because He says we have value, it means we do.

This means we can walk around the halls of our school with our head held up high, because we know that we have worth. We don’t have to let the things others have said and done hold us back any longer. We can choose to see ourselves like Jesus sees us. We can choose to believe the worth God placed on us when He sent Jesus to make us right in God’s sight.

So today, choose to see yourself like God sees you. Choose to see your worth and how important you are to God’s plan on the earth. Realize that you have purpose and God loves you.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Genesis 2:18

Posted on April 1, 2024

What are your personal thoughts regarding marriage? Maybe you’ve seen a good example of marriage in your parents, so you desire one day to be married yourself. Or perhaps, you’ve seen some examples in your life that weren’t so good, and so you begin to wonder if it’s something that is good.

Marriage began with God in the garden of Eden. God created Adam and said this:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. – Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

God was the one who created the idea of marriage. He saw that Adam needed a helper and so He made one for Adam. From the beginning, marriage was the plan of God.

In our world today, the idea of marriage is not often celebrated. Yes, people have weddings and ceremonies, but often the idea of marriage comes after a couple has lived together for several years. Or sometimes, people even decide never to get married, but to have kids with a partner. These ideas are not the way God intended marriage to work.

If we’re going to be followers of God, we have to look to His example. And we see the first example of this in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. God intended marriage to be one man and one woman, coming together for life. Anything else falls short of God’s intention.

So we should challenge our thinking to line up to what God’s example for us is. That means that even if we’ve seen bad examples of marriage in people we know, or on TV, we should still look to God’s word as to what marriage means. So today, if you haven’t think about what marriage looks like in God’s original design. And decide that even if no one else is, decide that you will stand up, and have a marriage that looks like God’s example in your life.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 3:16

Posted on March 29, 2024

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16 (NIV)

As we get ready for Easter this year, it’s good to remember what Jesus has done for us. We are made righteous and have eternal life because of Him.

So as you go about your day today, take some time to thank Jesus for His great love for you. Thank Him for His mercy and His love. Realize that without Him, we’d be lost in the world and alone. But because of his death and resurrection, we have newness of life.

Instead of a long devotion today, simply take some time and think about this familiar scripture. Then take a moment to pray to Jesus and thank Him for all He has done.

We pray that you all have a great Easter!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 8:5

Posted on March 28, 2024

Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. – Psalm 8:5 (NLT)

You were created for great things. Don’t let yourself settle for anything less than God’s best. It can be easy to let what others have done to you or said about you influence how you see yourself. When you focus on those things, you can become down on yourself. However, the truth is, God doesn’t see you negatively.

God sees you as someone of great value. He sees who you are in Christ and because of that, you’re important to Him. However, it’s up to you to walk in that truth. You’ve got to put aside thoughts of fear and shame and choose to see yourself the way God does.

You weren’t created to be enslaved to fear or shame. You were created for a purpose. God has a plan for your life. So today, if you’ve listened to the lie that you are worthless, decide to see yourself differently. Choose to no longer look at your shortcomings, faults, and fears. Instead, choose to look to Jesus for your value. See yourself through God’s eyes. He has crowned you with glory and honor. You are important to God’s plan.