Student Devotional Week 13: Jacob: Dealing With the Past

Key Verse: "So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'it is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Genesis 32:30

Years ago every town had some kind of fix-it shop. But in the twenty-first century, those kinds of stores are about as rare as an eight-track tape. Today most of us simply throw away something broken and buy a new one. But what about a broken relationship? Should we try to fix it or just forget about it and move on?

The second part of Jacob's story is all about dealing with broken relationships. First, he had to deal with his uncle Laban. After years of unfair treatment, Jacob left the land of his uncle under instructions from God. Laban wasn't happy about his daughters leaving, so he followed Jacob. Eventually Jacob and Laban made peace with each other after a face-to-face confrontation. Then Jacob dreaded the next encounter-the time had come to confront his brother, Esau.

By now, God had dealt with Jacob in many ways. Jacob wasn't the same young man who'd stolen his brother's birthright and blessing. A dream about a ladder to heaven, years spent working for his uncle, and a wrestling match with an angel had helped to strengthen both Jacob's character and his faith.

When he met Esau, Jacob bowed in submission. Then Jacob and Esau embraced each other in tears. God had changed the hearts of both men, and they reconciled.

Jacob's life is a testimony to the fact that fractured relationships can be fixed. God is the great healer, and he may be at work healing your broken relationships right now. The first step in the healing process could be letting God change you as he did Jacob.

Student Devotional Week 12: Jacob: Israel's Family Roots

Key Verse:

Galatians 6:7-8 (New International Version)

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

Jacob was on the run from Esau because he'd tricked his brother out of both of his birthrighs and his father's blessing. One night, during his journey to his uncle Laban's house, Jacob had a dream. Of course that meant Jacob would have many descendents, which also meant he'd be looking for a wife.

Later, Jacob was convinced Rachel, the beautiful daughter of his uncle Laban, was definitely the woman for him. For seven years Jacob worked for his uncle so he'd have the opportunity to marry Rachel, when the day of the wedding came, however, Laban didn't put Rachel behind the wedding veil. Instead, it was his older and less attractive daughter, Leah.

After tricking his brother out of their father's blessing, Jacob had been tricked. So he worked seven more years for the right to marry his beloved Rachel. Was God trying to teach Jacob a lesson by allowing the deceiver to be deceived? Probably. But God's perfect plan was the most important piece of this puzzle. The 12 sons of Jacob would eventually become the pillars of the new nation. And the children of Leah, not Rachel, represented the most influential groups.

God's ways and his timing are perfect. The great people of the Old Testament had to learn that lesson and it's a lesson we're still learning today.

Student Devotional Week 11: Isaac: Jacob's Blessing

Key Verse: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Remember how the differences between Cain and Abel led to conflict and eventually Abel's death? The story of Isaac's twin sons, Jacob and Esau, is similar and almost ended the same way.

The struggle between Jacob and Esau began while they were still in their mother's womb. God said this was a sign that the boys' descendants would become rival nations. This rivalry was clear as they grew older, partly because of the differences between the two. Esau was an outdoorsman; Jacob preferred staying inside. Esau's skin was rough; Jacob had smooth skin. Their father favored Esau; Jacob was favored by his mother.

The rivalry between the brothers grew when Jacob coerced Esau into trading his birthright for a bowl of stew. Things got worse when Jacob deceived his father into giving him a blessing meant for Esau. Esau then vowed he'd kill Jacob after Isaac died.

Much later in life, Jacob decided to try to make peace with his brother. They met after years of separation. But rather than try to kill his brother, Esau embraced Jacob and forgave him.

Looking at two brothers, it'd be easy to assume God would use Esau to keep his promise to Abraham, right? Wrong. God honored Isaac's blessing of Jacob and used him to continue his great work of salvation. Even when God's ways don't seem to make sense, remember that his plans are perfect. God always knows what he's doing.

Student Devotion Week 10: Isaac & Rebekah

Key Verse: Genesis 24:26-27
"Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

The great story about the faith of Abraham continues in the life of the son Isaac. After Abraham's wife Sarah died, he was determined to find a good wife for his son. Convinced there was no suitable mates in the land of Canaan, Abraham sent a servant to Abraham's homeland of Haran to find a young woman who'd become Isaac's wife. The search was all about two things-faith and prayer.

Abraham sent his servant on the journey and told him God would send an angel ahead of him to help him. When the servant arrived at his destination, he took time to pray that God would give him success, and he asked for a sign to help him find the right woman. When the servant found Rebekah, he worshiped God and said a prayer of thanksgiving. When Rebekah's family gave her permission to marry Isaac. Abraham's servant again prayed and worshiped God.

The success of finding a wife for Isaac started with Abraham's incredible faith that God would Bless him with many offspring. The servant completed his mission by praying over each decision. The final result was a thankful servant who was so overwhelmed by the goodness of God that his only response was worship.

If you choose to follow God, then he'll call you to faith and obedience. When you feel God calling you to a task, you should do as Abraham and his servant did:

1. Begin with a strong faith
2. Pray over each decision
3. Acknowledge that your success comes from God
4. Thank and worship God

Student Devotional Week 9: Abraham: The Extreme Test

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:17 (New International Version)

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son."

When their son was born, Abraham and Sarah were so tickled they named him Isaac, which means "laughter." They were so happy. I remember when our daughter Sophia was born and the joy and laughter that it has brought to us! But, one day, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son on an altar (Do you see any parallels to God sacrificing his only son on the cross?). Abraham's faith was about to be put to the supreme test. Remember, Abraham had doubted God's plan in the past by having a child with on of his servants, Hagar, who bore him a son, Ishmael. Would he follow God this time or do things his own way?
Abraham followed God's plan. He got up early, took Isaac and some servants to the land of Moriah, and prepared to off his son on one of the mountains. An interesting bit of dialogue took place between Abraham and his two servants just before he took Isaac to the mountain, "We will worship and then we will come back to you", Genesis 22:5. Did Abraham say "we" so he wouldn't upset Isaac? Or was Abraham's faith so great that he knew he wouldn't actually have to sacrifice his son? Or even if he did sacrifice Isaac, might Abraham have believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead? Interesting to note that culture of that area where Abraham was living practiced the sacrifice of their firstborn to the god's. We don't know the answer to these questions, but we do know Abraham had the faith to be willing to do whatever God told himn to do without question.
God tests our faith to prepare us for his purposes both now and in the future. God won't test you in the same way he tested Abraham, but he'll test your faith to strengthen it.

Student Devotional Week 8: Abraham: Faith or Consequences?

Key Verse: Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness."

The second part of Abraham's story is about the need for patience. God initiated a covenant with Abraham. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. God promised Abraham many blessings. God blessed Abraham with incredible wealth. The one big question Abraham had, however, was regarding God's promise of many descendants. As Abraham got older, he couldn't see that happening. In fact, Abraham even asked God what good all the blessings would be if he had no son to pass them on to.
Even though God assured Abraham and Sarah they'd have a son, they still took matters into their own hands. Abraham fathered a son with an Egyptian slave girl named Hagar.
Just think of the personal time and the intimate conversations God and Abraham shared. Think about the blessings and the promises God gave him only to have Abraham doubt that God would give him a son by his wife Sarah.
God's promise would eventually be fulfilled in a miraculous way. When Abraham was 100 years old, his son Isaac was born.
Now more than ever, people want things immediately. Our temptation is to rush everything including God. Patiently wait on God and you'll see he always keeps his promises!

Student Devotional Week 7: Abraham: Channel For Blessing

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:10 (New International Version)
"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

You probably learned about Father Abraham as I did singing the silly kids song "Father Abraham" during VBS or Sunday School, but it is true that God chose Abraham to be the Father of a great nation, the nation of Israel. What most of us don't know if we haven't read the story in Genesis 11:26-31, is that Abraham came from a rural area called Ur. God called Abraham's father to move to Haran and at the age of 75, God called Abraham once again to move to a land called Canaan. That's a lot of moving around, but the people of the Bible during this time were considered nomads or herders because they moved around a lot essentially to find the best land to raise cattle and grow crops. They lived in tents to make them more mobile. Abraham traveled with all of his family and even his extended family, traveling with his nephew Lot. When they got to Canaan Abraham and Lot had to divide up the land to settle in and Abraham allowed Lot to choose first and of course he choose the most fertile land, but it also was the land closest to the evil cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. Even though Lot had the better land, Abraham was promised by God to be a channel of Blessing to his descendants. What would you have done if you were Abraham having to choose between seemingly material wealth in a rich fertile land or trust God will provide if you make the tough decision and stay out of trouble by avoiding living in a land of evil? It is difficult to make the better decision even if on the outside appearances would seem otherwise. Abraham was also used by God to Bless others. As Christians we are to be Blessings to the people around us. How do you use your life to Bless others? It takes humility sometimes to live a life of Blessing, giving of yourself, your time, your talents and possessions so others might have. I heard a quote once that I think is very important to keep in mind in being a Blessing to others, "The ones who are hardest to love are usually the ones who need it the most." Don't let the outside tough layer that people show sometimes prevent you from showing them love because they probably are someone who needs to be shown love.

Student Devotional Week 6: Job: God's Proven Control

Key Verse: Job 1:21 (New International Version)

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Have you ever heard the phrase the patience of Job? Well as it turns out Job wasn't very patient and even cursed God for having ever been born. Job was miserable with the situation he found himself in: livestock, family and most of his workers all dead and now he was covered in boils or soars all over his body. He lost his health, wealth and pretty much his possessions in life, but Job was quickly put in his place when God reminded him that it was He who created the earth, set the stars in their orbit and who could control the rain. Job remembered it would be alright because God was in control. Our key verse is a reminder that we will take nothing with us from this life except our eternal connection with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Like Job, we will find troubles and difficulties in life, but we have a savior that has overcome the world and a God that loves His children and wants us to know he knows and is concerned about everything that happens in the lives of His children. Are you making the most of your time on earth? We are not promised a single day longer than today, yet most of us live as though we have eternity to live. Don't put off till tomorrow what can be accomplished today for Christ's Sake!

Student Devotional Week 5: The Flood

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:7 (New International Version)

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

Noah was a righteous man living in a time when the entire world was evil, not only their actions but their very thoughts were evil. Noah was an old man when the Lord came to him to build the Ark, 500 years old to be exact and it took Noah 120 years to finish the Ark. Think about all of the ridicule that Noah must have bore all of those years building an Ark the size of a football field in the middle of all of the evil and wickedness going on around him. It would have been easy for Noah to say I can't do it, it is too hard and I am too old. Excuses don't get a whole lot accomplished, and Noah was faithful to build the Ark and to take his entire family and the animals with him on the Ark. The water came and wiped out every living creature on the earth at the time and God basically started over with Noah and his family and of course the creatures he had collected. God made a covenant or promise to never flood the earth again and sealed it with a sign, the rainbow, a visual reminder of God's promise to us. Maybe nothing a major as what happened to Noah has ever happened to you, but you may feel persecuted at school for your beliefs and people laugh at you for believing in God. Not only do we have a great example in Noah of perseverance through difficult times, but we have a savior that was persecuted and tested just like Noah and was found faithful. How about you, are you faithful to do as God has commanded you even in the midst of everyone else doing the wrong thing? The Hollywood version of the Flood set to modern times is "Evan Almighty." It is a good example of how evil and corruption exist in the world today, not just politics, but look around and you will see evil just about everywhere you look, but there are those Evans that no matter how hard they may try to run from what God is calling them to do, they can't deny God's call on their life to make a difference in the world. I pray you listen to God's call on your life to take a stand for what is right and just despite what others may say or do to you!

Student Devotional Week 4: Cain & Abel: Unacceptable Sacrifice

Key Verse: Genesis 4:7 (New International Version)

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Do you have siblings? If so, you know that siblings fight over the dumbest stuff. I once got into an argument with my sister over the televison set, which broke out into an all out brawl that left our living room lamps broken on the floor. Now these were no ordinary lamps, these were first generation touch lamps that my parents bought to match the living room furniture. The good news was they still worked, the bad news was the touch mechanism did not. So you can imagine the punishment we received for not only fighting but for presenting broken lamps to my parents when they got home. I would imagine God's rejection of Cain's offering would have been like if my sister got praised for confessing the wrong doing and I got grounded. Cain was furious and like all siblings he blamed his brother Abel and took his anger out on him and killed him. Now, I don't think most of us would ever do such a thing, but I would assume we all have blamed others for our own shortcomings and laziness. It was Cain's fault that the offering was not accepted, because he had not given his very best. How about you, do you make excuses by blaming others for your faults? Maybe you need to ask forgiveness from someone you have unappropriately blamed.

Student Devotional Week 3: Adam & Eve's Deadly Decision

Key Verse:
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20

Last Sunday we discussed this passages from Genesis that talk about God as the creator of everything and from the beginning of John. Let's review them for a minute.

John 1:1-5, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

Now skip down to verses 10-14. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed His name, He gave the right to become children of God-- Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

What an amazing passage! Where did all this begin? Well, now we can turn to the other book that starts with "In the beginning..." Genesis 1.

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

This God of creation is the same Word of Creation spoken of in John. This is the same God that became flesh and dwelt with us. So this text could say In the beginning, Jesus created the heavens and the earth. So why did this almighty and powerful God become weak and powerless flesh? The answer is in Genesis 3. Here we have the story of the first human sin. The story of how Satan, using the guise of a serpent, tempted Eve, and she fell , then Adam fell and they blamed each other and they blamed the serpent. How does this story come to an end? God has to sort it out. In Genesis 3:14 and 15 we have the conclusion of this story and the beginning of the salvation saga. Here we find the first prophecy.

Genesis 3:14,15. "So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life."

"And I will put enmity.." I looked that up in the dictionary. Enmity: severe hatred. I will put severe hatred "between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel."

I like how Dr. Jack Blanco puts it in his Clear Word paraphrase that he has done. Genesis 3:14,15 Then God said to the serpent, because you were used as a tool of Satan, I cannot continue to let you be the most beautiful creature in the garden. You will now be lower than any of the animals and will crawl on the ground eating its dust. Also, I will place a hatred of sin in the heart of the woman and her descendants, and this hatred of sin will find its ultimate expression in One of her offspring. Satan, like a striking serpent, will try to kill Him, but as a man crushes the head of a poisonous snake with his bare heel to save his children knowing he will die, so the Savior will sacrifice His own life to save those who love Him, and He will utterly crush the serpent s head."

It's amazing grace. God's grace devised a means, way back in the beginning, whereby His banished children need not be expelled from Him but only from the garden. Adam and Eve were saved from the eternal consequences of their sin. Adam trusted in the promise of a coming Savior, the Seed of the woman. He was clothed in skins at the expense of an innocent victim a clear fore-view of Calvary. He confessed his faith by calling his wife's name Eve, which means Mother of all living , in the face of the death sentence recently pronounced.

Have you ever made a deadly decision? Maybe you haven't made a decision that has doomed all humanity, but we all like Adam and Eve has a choice to make to either cave-in and let temptations to sin win or put our foot down and take a stand against evil and against our human nature to sin against God. To sin is literal us telling God we know better and that our ways are better than his. Sin is a serious offense, but "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

Student Devotional Week 2: "God, the Perfect Creator."

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

Have you ever wondered where it all began, life on earth as we know it didn't always exist, but God the creator of the Heavens and the earth has. There are many scientific theories used to explain how it all began, 2 of the most popular are "The Big Bang Theory" & "Evolution". The Big Bang Theory says that a explosion of molecules started it all and Evolution says that all life forms evolved from lower life forms. Both of these theories have left out an important detail, where did that single cell or life form come from? There has to be a creator that set this universe in motion, it is too complex to say it happened by accident. God knew what he was doing when he created you and I, we were not created by accident, in fact God was very pleased with his creation, especially man and woman. So what is our response to creation? Do you do your part in preserving God's creation, taking time to care for the world around us?

Character Student Devotional Week 1: "Jesus & The Old Testament"

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17)

Jesus came in the tradition of the Prophet, God's mouthpiece for His people. The Old Testament Prophets were constantly trying to bring God's People, the Israelites or Hebrews as they were known in the Old Testament or Jews as they were known in Jesus' time, back to God through repentance. Remember Jeremiah calling God's people a stiff-necked people and John the Baptist calling for God's people to repent and be baptized! Jesus, like the prophets of Old and New came to bring a very important message that God is still calling His people to repent of their evil and wicked ways and come back to Him. I like to think of Jesus as a wake-up call to the Jews that they had turned the faith of their forefathers into a bunch of rules and rituals to keep. So, does this mean all the Old Testament laws still apply to us today? In the OT there were three categories of law: ceremonial, civil & moral laws. A quick run down of each: Ceremonial- Laws relating to the worship of God (Lev. 1:2,3). Even though we are not bound by these worship rituals, the principle behind them still applies to worship and love God. Civil- Laws applied to daily living (Deut. 24:10,11). Even though times have changed, the principles of respecting your neighbors property and so forth still appply today and Jesus lived them out by example. Moral- Laws directly commanded by God to obey such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13). These laws reveal the nature and will of God.

Student Devotional Week 38: "You Gotta Love, Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet"

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:15)

When's the last time you washed your feet before coming into the house? Probably never, but in Jesus' day it was the job of the servant (slave) to was people's feet before entering a household. Think about how sweaty, dirty and just plain funky your feet get and you get the picture of what Jesus is doing here as he proceeds to wash the disciples feet. Peter had the reaction that most of us would have had, "no way you are washing my feet!" But Jesus insisted and even went as far as to say you need a total body cleansing, don't we all. Serving is about humbling yourself to put others needs first. I know this is hard for you to understand because you are a American, living in a society and culture that says those who have the most wins and do whatever it takes to get to the top and don't worry about anyone else but yourself. Now self love isn't a bad thing, God wants us to like ourselves, but we need to have a healthy attitude about how much we truly spend on taking care of our own needs at the expense of others. I don't need to quote the statics, but American consumes more than its fair share of the world's resources at the expense of others. What is it going to take for you to pick up the towel and water basin and start scrubbing some feet? How can you serve God with your gifts and talents? Now what is keeping you from serving?

Student Devotional Week 34: "Shallow Worship"

John 4:24 (New International Version) "²⁴God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

What does worship mean to you? For most it is what you do on Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11:00am. But, authentic worship the Bible says is when we are connecting with God spiritually. Think about worship as a lifestyle that lasts a lifetime. In the Hebrew is means to bow down or to serve and the Greek we find much the same thing to bow down, to revere or to serve. Out of our bowing down or revering God comes our ability to serve. We must have our connection with God right first before we are able to serve. Paul says the way we live our lives is our spiritual act of worship. Now for the big question is who do you worship and how do you do it? Most would say God or a supreme being or power, but people can find themselves worship other people, sports teams, material possessions, etc. Make sure you are honest with yourself when it comes to worship and you are seeking after spiritual things and not temporary worldly idols that will fade away. Our God is a jealous God when it comes to worship, we are to worship Him and Him alone, it is the first commandment he gave Israel. So don't play around with your worship or turn it on when it is popular to do it and dismiss it when it is convenient, we are to worship God even in the tough times of life (David worshiped God after his first born son with Bathsheba died). How is your worship?

Student Devotional Week 31: "Not What You Expect: Parable of The Vineyard Workers"

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Romans 2:11: "Romans 2:11 (New International Version)
"For God does not show favoritism."

Does God show favortism? In the old testament God's chosen people were the Hebrew people, which we find became a huge stumbling block for early Christians in accepting non-jewish or gentile people into the faith. Peter and the Apostle Paul were huge proponents of accepting gentiles into the faith and for that stand they received a lot of flack from early Christian leaders.
In the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16, we find the parable of the vineyard workers. The short summary of the parable goes that as the labor hands continued to get hired the day grew later and later and at the end of the day they were all paid the same. I would tell you that it is the same with those who labor for the faith all of their lives and those who accept Christ at the last possible moment like the thief on the cross, we are all treated the same when it comes to our eternal reward. The same could be said of those of different race, sex, culture, etc. we are all given the same treatment from our heavenly father and thank the Lord we are not judged by our own merits because the Bible says the wages of sin is death, eternal serparation from God.
How about you, do you show favoritism towards different types of people? How do you think God would have us look at others different than us?

Student Devotional Week 30: Lost & Found

Luke 19:10 (New International Version)
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

The parable of the prodigal or lost son is one of the most familiar stories of all time. It shows how unconditional God's love is for us, no strings attached! Think about the worst thing you have done and then think about a heavenly father that simply doesn't care about what we have done or where we have been, He simply rejoices when we finally come home and accept Christ into our hearts. The interesting character in this parable is the good son. Maybe you are one of two or more siblings and you know what it feels like to do all the right things and never get rewarded for your good behavior. God is already pleased by your good practices, but he rejoices in the lost son because he too has now been brought back home and in good favor with God the father in this parable. It is hard not be jealous of those who seem to get all the breaks in life while you do all the hard work being the good faithful servant. God wants our hearts to break for the lost, not to be jealous of their freedom to do as they please. The Apostle Paul puts it this one, "Everything is permissable, but not everything is benificial to you." In other words we are free to make choices, but they all have consequences both good and bad. Be thankful you haven't had to face as many hardships as others and if you are one that is facing hardships know that you are not that far away from home!

Student Devotional Week 29: "You're Invited, But Dress Appropriately: Parbable of The Wedding Banquet"

Matthew 22:9 (New International Version)
"Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find."

It seems a bit old fashion, but dress does matter in the Kingdom of God. If I haven't already turned you off at this point, what I mean is described in the parable of the Wedding Banquet. As the story goes, nobody answers the master's wedding banquet invite and so he invites street people basically to come to his banquet, but there is at least one of them who doesn't take into consideration where he is going and dresses in his street clothes. The master insulted and infuriated throws him onto the street. What you might not know about this parable is that clothes would have been given to anyone who attended in preparation for the banquet. This person obviously refused to wear the proper attire and was therefore unprepared and not suited for the banquet. There are preparations we must make in order to attend the big party in heaven and if we fail to "cloth" ourselves in the righteous of Christ, we will find ourselves kicked out just like the one in this parable, but we will spend eternity separated from God in Hell! The parable also gives us a picture of what heaven will be like; people from all walks of life will be present, not just the few privileged ones, but all that accept Jesus as their Lord & Savior. How are you dressed? Are you "clothed" in the righteousness of Christ? How does it make you feel to know their will be different types of people in heaven that might not look anything like you do?

Student Devotion Week 28: Is That Your Final Answer? Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler

Matthew 6:33 (New International Version)
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

In the movie "Slum Dog Millionaire" we have a picture of a young man not seeking after fame, but enters the show only to find his "true love", a girl he had lost contact we years ago that was now taken hostage by a drug lord. The story has a lot of themes that could be drawn out, but I want to focus on this pursuit of love or favor found in the story of Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler and this movie. The Rich Young Ruler had done everything he thought possible to attain God's Love and Favor in order to attain eternal life, but the only thing holding him back in the end was his wealth. In the movie the main character had done everything in his power to try to win this ladies love and just to be with her, but whenever he got close she would be snatched away. In the end through a series of events out of his hands, they are re-united. The movie has a happy ending and unfortunately the Rich Young Ruler does not. What is holding you back from truly having an intimate relationship with God? What is it going to take to give those things, people, possessions away so you might be able to connect or re-connect to God?

Student Devotion Week 27: Small Beginnings, Huge Results: Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

Matthew 13:31-37
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast 31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."

Jesus often spoke about the Kingdom of God and like many times before he spoke in the form of a parable to try to relay to the crowd of people what God's Kingdom was like. First thing you notice is that God's Kingdom starts with small beginnings: 12 disciples turned into crowds of people following after Christ. The mustard seed is very small and if you were to take a grain of yeast you would have a hard time seeing it, but when they are worked into the batch of flour and when planted in a garden, the yeast and the mustard seed are very powerful with their ability to spread and grow very rapidly. The funny thing about Jesus talking about the yeast and mustard seeds is that for the common Jew these were not good images: Mustard Seeds were forbidden to be grown around other crops because they ruined the other crops and would overrun them. Remember Moses and the Israelites preparing to leave Egypt didn't have time to use yeast, instead they baked unleaven bread, which is also what is used in the passover meal and our communion today to represent the broken body of Christ and for the Jew God's deliverance from the hands of the Egyptians.
So what was Jesus talking about and what does all of this mean? God's Kingdom isn't about who is the best or biggest Christian, but about potential and God sees potential in the smallest of things, even a sinner like ourselves, that is why He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins, because He loves us and believes in us! Never under estimate the power that God has given you through the Holy Spirit to "Move Mountains" as Jesus in another passage refered to the mustard seed and Kingdom of God. God can take something very small and insignificant and use it to affect the whole world! Are you using the potential that God has given you to grow His Kingdom?

Student Devotional Week 26: The Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13 (New International Version)
9"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' "

When is the last time you talked or texted your best friend? How about God, when is the last time you talked to God? Prayer has been described as "talking to God", but how do you start a conversation with the almighty? Jesus' disciples asked the same question and this is the prayer he taught them to pray. There are many parts to the prayer: adoration of God, humility before God, seeking God's will, forgiveness & confession, guidance or delivery, etc. Basically, we need to talk to God as we do our closest friends and family; let Him know what you are thinking and what you desire. God wants to hear from you and the greatest part about prayer is that God is always online and you don't have to wait to get a clear signal.

Student Devotional Week 25: I Gotta Do What? Jesus, The Lawyer, and The Story of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:27 (New International Version)
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

The story of the good samaritan is probably one of the most recognizable stories that Jesus told. Luke 10:25-37 is where it is found in scripture. Sounds easy enough, but we are called to love our neighbors, not the people living beside you necessarily, but the people that sometimes we would rather not even be in the same room with. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers and his theme song was don't you want to be my neighbor. Interestingly enough whoever Mr. Rogers came across became his neighbor; he was always meeting new people that were different than him! Jesus uses the Jew vs. Samaritan relationship because they despised each other. The Samaritans were looked down by the Jews because they were not pure, they inter-married with gentiles. Jesus describes how we are to care for all people, not just people that we like and people that like us! How about you, who is your neighbor and who is it hard to be neighborly to?

Student Devotional Week 24: Why Forgive? Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13)

Jesus tells this parbable in Matthew 18:21-35 about a servant that owed his master more than he could pay and the master forgives the debt. Well, the servant has a hired hand that owes him a very small amount of money, much less than his debt to the master, and the servant has the hired hand thrown into debtors prison. The master gets wind of what his servant had done and not only wants the original debt paid back, but had him tortured in prison until the original amount was paid.
This parable Jesus said is about the Kingdom of God and how serious God takes the act of forgiveness. Jesus said if you don't forgive you brother or sister, then how do you expect your heavenly father to forgive you? It's double-minded to ask for forgiveness from God for your sins and then refuse to forgive someone who has wronged you. Sometimes we take ourselves to seriously and think we are more important to God than others. God doesn't owe us anything, but He freely gives us grace not because we deserve it, but because there is no other way and He loves us.
How hard is it to forgive those who wrong you? Jesus says vengence is the Lords, have you ever paid back those who have wronged you? How did it make you feel? The Bible talks about showing kindness to our enemies is like throwing hot coals on their laps, in other words they are shocked and don't know how to respond to kindness. So, kill them with kindness, not revenge!

Student Devotional Week 23: At Your Service: Greatest in The Kingdom

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.'" (Mark 9:35)

What does it mean to be great? Success, prestige, power, money; these are some of the ways we measure how one becomes great. Jesus told the Disciples that in order to be the greatest you most become a servant, not great at all by the world's standards. The first will be last, and we must loose our life in order to gain it in God's Kingdom. The Apostle Paul said he was the worst or greatest of all sinners! To be a servant it takes humility. Jesus told us that he came not to be served, but to serve others. What would stop you from following God's call to serve others? What are some things you really enjoy doing? How could God use your passions to meet others needs? Go meet those needs!

Student Devotional Week 22: Rooted or Rootless? Parable of the Sower

"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:20).
Jesus spoke in parables so that everyone would understand, right? Then why did they have to ask for an explanation everytime he spoke? Did you catch what is going on when Jesus delivers this parable? There were crowds gathered around Jesus, so much that he got into a boat and tried to get away from them for a while, but they would not go until Jesus gave them a message or word. So he tells the parable from the middle of the lake about the parable of the sower and the seeds. There are 4 types of people you basically says:
1)The Path- Those who hear the word but it passes between their ears, it doesn't sink in at all. 2)The Rocky Path- Those who hear the word but it doesn't take root and the first hardship (the blazing sun) they die away.
3)The Thorns-Those who hear the word but they are unfruitful listening to the world rather than God.
4)The Good Soil-Those who hear the word and it takes root and they produce fruit multiplying the sower (God's) investment (30X, 60X, 100X).
So, the question is what type of person are you: Path, Rocky, Thorny, Good Soil? I would guess the majority of that crowd was like the path, going from one ear out the next. Why? Because only the 12 disciples came to Jesus later to ask what the parable actually meant. That means the rest of the crowd had no clue what he was talking about. I know this because in verses 10-12 Jesus explains why he taught in parables, not so everyone would understand him, but to confuse them. What? This is not what I have been taught my entire life about parables, but read it for yourself, the point of teaching parables is so that those who really want to know what Jesus is saying and meant would ask Him, those who were not truthfully seeking Him would go about their business. Do you seek what Jesus is trying to teach us in scripture or do you hear the words and they pass through you? Jesus wants us to be good soil, but we have to let the words take root first in order to be useful and produce good fruit.

Student Devotional Week 21: Bad News/Good News-Jesus Predicts His Death

"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
It is pretty deep to think a persons purpose in life was to die, but the reality that we face as Christians is the Jesus came with that ultimate purpose and that was to die for all of us! Jesus tried to tell the disciples over and over again that he was going to die soon, that it was God's plan for His life that he would die for our sins. Why didn't they hear what He was trying to tell them? Maybe they wanted Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth like other kings had done, maybe that thought it would go away if they ignored what He was saying, or maybe they simply could not comprehend why anyone would give their lives for people that don't even know Him and don't even deserve it! The reality is none of us deserve eternal life, but that is the point of why He had to do what He did. Jesus exemplifies this type of servant leadership throughout His life; always thinking of others needs above His needs. Matthew 20:28 puts it this way, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." His ultimate purpose was to die for all of our sins as a ransom or payment for all the bad we have done and will continue to do. But, until that time of death Jesus served as many people as He could. How about you, do you put others needs above your own? Would you sacrifice your life for someone who you didn't know or who you knew as enemy? Will you choose to serve Christ?

Devotional Week 20: See God For Who He Is-The Transfiguration

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5

Have you ever been out in God's creation and thought wow, God has created some awesome things. Three of the disciples: James, John, Peter experienced what we might call a God moment as they saw the Glory of God shine upon Jesus and actually heard the voice of God speak to them. The word Glory in Greek dokeo means "to reflect." Take a few moments this week to reflect on the Glory of God around you. You might want to take a walk outside and ponder the amazing things God has created!

"Like A Rock" The Church - Devotional Week 19

Jesus declared to Simon that "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18) The Catholic Church uses this as a proof text of Apostolic Lineage began with Peter as the first Head or Pope of the Church. Anyway, the significance in this verse is not so much the establishment of leadership, but the establishment of the church as an important part of God's plan. God never intended us to go about our lives alone, but for us to be actively working together in a community of believers called the church. Catholic means universal, so the catholic church is representative of all Christians all over the world not just the Catholic church in Rome. All of this points to unity and working together for one common goal in mind which is to further God's Kingdom here on earth and in heaven as new believer's come to faith in Christ. Are you actively involved in church? Do you think church is an important part of being a Christian?

Hungry? Student Devotional Week 18

Can Jesus really meet all my needs? Ever wondered why some people have a lot and some have very little? The Bible teaches us that God will provide all of our needs. Did you pick-up on the word "need." Needs are not I-pods and x-box 360 or whether or not you have a date for Friday night. But, there are Christians that do not have enough food to eat or clothes to wear or shelter to protect them from the harsh elements of the world; what about them? In "Jesus for President", Shane Clayborne says that God didn't make a mistake and create too many people, but rather we have plenty if we are willing to share. In the Gospel of Luke 9:10-17, you read about Jesus feeding the 5,000. After sending out His disciples on their first preaching and healing mission, Jesus took the Twelve to a remote place so they could be alone. A crowd followed them, however, and Jesus spent time teaching and healing them. Late in the day, when the people were hungry, Jesus miraculously used five loaves of bread and two fish to feed the crowd of over 5,000, and 12 baskets of food were collected after the meal. So, there is enough for everyone if we use the resources as God intended them to be used, shared equally. How about you, do you have what you need? Can you do a better job of sharing the resources God has provided?

Difficulties & Doubts, Week 17

How many of you have ever doubted God? It's alright we all have done it at some point in our faith journey. Many things happen to us that cause us to question our faith such as illness, death, war, relationship struggles, but the one constant is that no matter what happens in life God never changes, He is the one and only consistent thing in our lives we can always count on. Does this mean we won't struggle with the things of life, by no means, but God will be there to see us through it all! Jesus on the cross uttered this phrase on the cross, "My God, My God, why have you foresaken me?" Many of us have felt as Jesus did on the cross, that God has foresaken us. David in the Psalms expresses the same feelings that God was "hidden" from him. I have just read the book "The Shack" and among many other theological themes it challenges the idea that on the cross Jesus was foresaken. The author describes each member of the Trinity suffering along with Jesus on the cross. The traditional understanding is that God has turned away from Jesus on the cross because He has taken on the sins of the world. However, just becasue we feel something doesn't mean that it is actually happening. Just like David felt foresaken by God in the midst of his sin with Bathsheba, when in actuality God was still there and it was his sin that caused him to feel and think that way. In other words, how cold and unloving of a God would He be if during the most difficult of times He turns His back on us. I think there is something to that idea and it is alright if you don't want to go there, but at least know this that God is always there even if you doubt that He is and question Him for a season of your life; He is there and will be waiting for you to call upon His name. You are going to read about John the Baptist and the doubts he had about God during a time of heavy persecution and struggles in his life. How about you, do you ever doubt God? How does faith in Jesus help you in your times of doubt? Do difficulties in your life ultimately make you stronger and closer to the Lord? Have you shared your faith story and struggles with others opening and honestly?Memory Verse: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk,those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." Matthew 11:5

Sight Unseen: The Centurion's Faith, Devotional Week 16

Sometimes seeing is believing, many want to see proof that Faith in a Living God is Real. Some will look to science for answers, still others are skeptical about the whole thing, but Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Faith is a very complex topic to cover, but at it's core is believing that no matter what God is ultimately in control. Our key memory verse comes from Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." What do you hope for? What are your dreams? Does Faith play a part in your decision making?

Don't Worry About It! Devotional Week 15

Jesus gave the most famous sermon in history on the mountain top. The best-known portions of the open-air sermon comprise the Beatitudes, found at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel. The sermon also contains the Lord's Prayer and the injunctions to "resist not evil" and "turn the other cheek." Also, there is Jesus' version of the Golden Rule. Other lines often quoted are the references to "salt of the Earth," "light of the world," and "judge not, lest ye be judged." It concludes with an admonition not only to hear Jesus' words, but to do them.
Jesus poses a intriguing question concerning worrying, "Who of you by worrying can add a single moment to his life?" Most of us worry from time to time about everything from who we are going to go out with on Friday night to what clothes you wear. Worrying can become very dangerous and trapping if you let it rule your life.
What do you worry about? Why is it hard or is it hard to believe that God is in control? How can you apply the saying "Don't Worry About It" to your life?