YE4C.1 · Activity Page
Proverbs 4:18-20
Proverbs 24:10
Daniel 12:2-3
Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 5:16
1 Corinthians 16:13
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
Philippians 2:13-16
Hebrews 5:7-8
1 John 1:5-7
UNIQUE - one of a kind, no one else like you
OBNOXIOUS - highly objectionable and offensive
Brent looked out the window of his room as he thought about his life. The whole world seemed to be crumbling around him. His seventh grade report card showed two failing grades. Now Brent was grounded for a month. He tried out for the Martin Luther King Middle School basketball team and didn’t make it. The kid next door ran over Brent’s cat with his roller blades and it died.
Brent’s Mom and Dad were rarely home until really late. Because of Grandpa’s terminal cancer, both of his parents were trying to spend as much time with him as they could. Grandma needed a lot of help and support, especially with Grandpa’s illness.
Even the news on TV is all bad – grass fires in California, floods in Texas, droughts in Oklahoma, fighting in the Middle East. Dad said the bottom dropped out of the stock market last week and he lost a bundle of money. Could life be worse?
Brent made his way to a small chapel near his home. He was alone as he began to pray out loud. “God, you created this world. If I may say so, it’s a real mess. What could you have been thinking about to allow grass fires, floods, droughts, fighting, crime, and wars? Oh yes, you even let me fail two classes. Grandpa is in so much pain. Couldn’t you have done a better job? Wouldn’t things be better if you hadn’t started this whole mess? I’m only a teenager, but I could make a better world than this.”
Depressed and sad, Brent sat down on one of the pews and started having a real pity party. As he raised his head in frustration the sun shone through a window. It was almost as though a voice said, “You’ve got it Brent. You can make a better world than this. Now go out and do it.” Brent came to see that day, that a pity party wasn’t the answer to his problems. He came to see what Christ taught us to do in Matthew 5:13- 16. “You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worth- less. You are the world’s light – a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father” (TLB).
Brent saw how easy it is to identify all the problems around him. It’s equally as easy to wonder why God doesn’t say “presto” and make all the problems in the world go away. Why does God allow us to have problems? Why isn’t life just one great blast from the day we’re born until we die? Think about it. What kind of person would you be if everything in life went your way?
Have you ever known a child whose parents gave her everything she wanted and never disciplined her? Do you really want to be like her? Was she spoiled, obnoxious, selfish, demanding, etc.? Is that the kind of person you want to be? Is that the kind of person God wants you to be?
Does being born rich and having a trouble-free life guarantee that your light will burn brightly and you’ll be successful? “Seventy-five percent of the three hundred world-class leaders in 1994 were raised in poverty, had been abused as children, or had some serious physical disability.” (Over the Top, by Zig Ziglar, page 2). Being a bright light and being successful in this life doesn’t depend on everything going right all the time.
What separates the dim bulbs from the bright lights? Everything begins with attitude! It says in Proverbs 24:10 that “If you faint in a time of adversity your strength is small.” You are like a dim bulb if you can’t weather a few trials. Bright lights keep their eyes open for spiritual danger; they stand true to God; they act like a man or woman; they’re strong and do everything with kindness and love (1 Corinthians 16:13).
God has something really great waiting for us. When we react positively to a problem it’s like an athlete lifting weights to build muscle – we become stronger. Jesus was faced with problems just like we are. “And even though Jesus was God’s Son, he had to learn from experience what it was like to obey, when obeying meant suffering” (Hebrews 5:8 TLB).
God placed Brent, and He placed you on this earth to season it, to be a light even in bad times. Neither Brent, nor you, were born to be a dim bulb. You were put on this earth to make your home, school, and town a better place to live. Brent began to see that it comes down to his own attitude. He saw that he couldn’t control many of the circumstances around him, but he had choices. He could control his attitude and the choices he made.
God put you on this earth, at this particular time, to be a bright light – a winner! He has given you gifts, and the power through His Holy Spirit, to make a difference in the world you are in. Then what are you going to do about it? Every day you have a choice. Will you have the right attitude and trust God to see you through good times and bad times? Will you choose to make the world around you a better place? Will your light shine brightly so others can see God’s love in you? You are unique. You have something special to offer the world. And you can make this world a better place. Now go out and do it! Be a bright light!
Great Father in Heaven,
Thank you for showing me how important my attitude is. I don’t want to be a dim bulb. Please be with me daily as I try to let my light shine brightly in my home, school and town. Help me to see things that I can do to brighten my light.
It’s in Jesus’ name I ask these things.
Amen.
Sunday - Proverbs 24:10
Monday - Hebrews 5:7-8
Tuesday - 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
Wednesday - 1 John 1:5-7
Thursday - Philippians 2:13-16
Friday - Proverbs 4:18-20
Saturday - Daniel 12:2-3
Deuteronomy 10:12
Deuteronomy 12:28
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Joshua 24:14-16
Psalm 9:8-10
Proverbs 3:1-4
Proverbs 4:23-26
Matthew 6:31-34
Matthew 7:7-13
Hebrews 11:24-26
COMMITMENT - a pledge, promise or obligation
CURSE - the cause of evil, misfortune or trouble
What if you went to play a softball game and only four on your team showed up? If the other team had all of its players, would you expect to win the game? About 350 years before Christ, something similar happened to one of the greatest generals the world has ever known. He was Alexander the Great.
One day the general, and a small company of soldiers came up to a strongly defended walled city. As Alexander approached, he insisted that he see the king. When the king came out, Alexander demanded that he surrender immediately.
The king looked at Alexander’s small company of soldiers and almost laughed. “Why should I surrender to you?” the king asked. “We far outnumber your army. You are no threat to us!” Perhaps one of the reasons Alexander was such a great general was because being outnumbered didn’t stop him. Alexander told the king that he would show him how he would win the battle. He was very aware that they were standing on a very high cliff. Yet he commanded his army to line up in a single file and start marching. The soldiers obeyed the general’s command and started marching. One soldier marched straight over the cliff and fell several hundred feet on the rocks below. And he died instantly. Then another followed. And another. . .
The king and his soldiers could hardly believe their eyes as they watched these soldier obeying the general’s orders even though it meant a certain death. Then Alexander ordered his company of soldiers to halt and return to his side. It became evident to the king that nothing would stop the final victory of an army of men who were willing to give their lives for their general. The king and his men surrendered right there on the top of that high cliff.
Does Christ expect the same kind of obedience and commitment that Alexander’s soldiers gave him? Is loving and believing Christ enough without obedience? Can we live our lives the way we want to and expect to be in God’s Kingdom? Christ said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Christ said that there are two roads. Many people choose the wide gate and broad road and live any way they want. They give no thought to obeying God. They use bad language. They cheat on exams. They go to ball games on Friday night. They are disrespectful to their parents. They skip Sabbath School and church. That road has a lot of freedom and few restraints. Does this sound like the road you want to travel? Wait a minute! Didn’t Christ put a great big CAUTION sign on that road? Where did He say that leads? Is destruction really what you want?
In Deuteronomy 28 God explains what destruction means. He told the Israelites how bad life would be if they did not obey Him. “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking Him. Some of the bad things that will happen as a result of disobedience are: dis- eases, droughts, defeated by your enemies, boils, tumors, and incurable diseases, unsuccessful in everything you do, taken captive by your enemies and destroyed, etc. Are these the things you want to happen in your life?
God reminds us that there are two roads. The broad road has a wide gate. Many will enter and travel on it. On this road one is plagued with consequences for disobedience.
Few people are willing to travel the narrow road with the small gate. But that is where we find Christ’s great love and abundant blessings. On this road there is discipline, obedience and commitment to Him. God promises “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God. . .” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NIV). Some of the many blessings which follow in this chapter are: blessings in the city and country, family blessings, blessings on your animals and your food, in battle, rain in due season, etc. Do these blessings sound better than the consequence on the broad road? Do you like these things better?
Are you willing to give up things that may seem like fun to receive God’s blessings and protection? Are you as dedicated to obeying Christ’s commands as Alexander’s soldiers were to him? Which road will you take? Are you willing to commit to Christ? “Be careful to obey. . ., so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28).
Almighty God and Father,
Thank you for making clear to me the two roads that are set before me. You’ve made it plain that if I go down the broad road I will have many problems. Help me to have the discipline and commitment to follow you down the narrow road which has blessings beyond belief.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Monday - Proverbs 3:1-4
Tuesday - Joshua 24:14-16
Wednesday - Hebrews 11:24-26
Thursday - Psalm 9:8-10
Friday - Matthew 6:31-34
Saturday - Proverbs 4:23-26
Deuteronomy 7:6-8
Isaiah 41:8-10
Matthew 8:1-4
Luke 5:12-15
John 15:16
John 15:18-19
Acts 22:14-15
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Ephesians 1:3-6
1 Peter 2:9
QUARANTINE - a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spreading of a disease
LEPROSY - a chronic infectious disease marked by skin sores and a loss of sensation
POLIO - an infectious disease of the spinal cord and brain stem marked by skeletal deformity and muscular atrophy
Mrs. Perkins, the seventh grade teacher, thought it was time for her class to learn to dance. She instructed all of the girls to go to one side of the room and the boys to line up against the wall on the other side. “Randy,” Mrs. Perkins said, “you’re first in line and I want you to pick one of the girls to be your partner.”All of the boys and even the girls were a little embarrassed with this. The scary thought in each girls mind was “what if no one picks me?”
As the music started, one at a time the boys began to pick their partner. Doubtless, the prettiest, most athletic and most popular girls were chosen first. Every girl was finally picked except Karen. She was left embarrassed sitting at her desk. The bell rang and all of the students headed straight for the door. Karen was relieved that this ordeal was finally over.
As the students rushed out of the classroom, Mrs. Perkins grabbed Nate by the shoulder and said, “I want to see you for a few minutes.” She explained to Nate that she wanted him to choose Karen as his dance partner tomorrow. She told him that it was his Christian duty. He remembered what he had learned in his Sabbath School classes. And he knew this would be the Christian thing to do. But Nate still left the classroom wondering why this was his fate. He had already imagined himself dancing with Terri. Just holding her hand would be a real thrill. “Why me? The guys sure won’t think I look cool dancing with an overweight girl who is handicapped,” Nate thought as he walked down the hall to his next class.
Karen was a little heavy, but that wasn’t all. She’d had polio when she was a little girl, and it left her with a noticeable limp and a withered arm. None of the boys really wanted to dance with a girl who limped and was overweight.
The next dance class period arrived much sooner than Nate wanted. After three couples were on the floor dancing, Mrs. Perkins said, “Nate, it’s your turn to choose your partner.” Nate’s face got as red as a beet. He swallowed twice and in a voice that could hardly be heard, he said, “I choose Karen.” Karen wasn’t even looking his way. She was sure no one would choose her and she’d be left looking like a wallflower while the other students danced.
When Nate called her name, Karen quickly turned her beaming face towards him. Her smile was so pure, so genuine and so delightful as she walked to the front of the room to take Nate’s arm. Bad leg and all, her beaming smile made her look like a princess, Nate thought. As they began to dance, Nate was surprised to learn that Karen was a very good dancer. She had only needed to be given a chance to dance.
When Jesus was on this earth, He chose people to heal and people to save. A large crowd of people followed Jesus down the hillside. A very unattractive man came towards Him. This man had a terrible disease called leprosy. His skin had open sores. This disease was highly contagious. Lepers were quarantined and couldn’t go near other people. It was the law. So this man must have felt terribly alone and hopeless. But he came right up to Jesus and knelt before Him. “‘Sir,’ the leper pleaded, ‘if you want to, you can heal me.’ Jesus touched the man. ‘I want to,’ he said. ‘Be healed.’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared” (Matthew 8:1-3 TLB).
Then Jesus told him that he was not to talk with anyone. He instructed him to go to the priest and be examined, and give the offering required in the law for lepers who are healed. This was a public testimony of his healing.
Jesus showed that He cared for this very sick man and chose to heal him. He chose someone who was not good looking. His compassion is not limited to sick people in the Bible. He reaches out every day and chooses people to heal and to save. He chooses sinners who don’t look very good. We are all sinners. When we compare ourselves to Jesus Christ, we don’t look good at all. Jesus never sinned, yet we come to Him loaded down with sin.
The good news is that we have been chosen by God. For some reason, God has looked out in this world and has seen a lot of people, but you are someone special in God’s eyes. He wants you in His Kingdom. He has chosen you. And you can choose to have Jesus heal you of your sins. You have the opportunity to repent of your sins and to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Karen’s beaming face made her look like a princess. Nate was glad that he did the right thing and chose Karen. Your Heavenly Father is glad that He has chosen you. Will you choose to follow Him?
Thank you, Great Father, for choosing to heal the leper. It must have been very hard for him to be quarantined because of his disease. He didn’t look very good to other people with all those open sores. I’m loaded with sin, and I must not look very good to you. In your mercy you have chosen me. Help me to always believe and follow you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Monday - Ephesians 1:3-6
Tuesday - 1 Peter 2:9
Wednesday - Deuteronomy 7:6-8
Thursday - Isaiah 41:8-10
Friday - John 15:18-19
Saturday - Acts 22:14-15
Psalm 46:1-3
Psalm 89:7-9
Psalm 107:28-31
Psalm 135:5-7
Amos 4:13
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:22-33
Mark 4:37-41
Mark 6:45-52
Luke 8:22-25
John 1:1
Hebrews 6:18-19
COURAGEOUS - fearless; brave; full of courage
DISCIPLES - students; learners; followers; believers
PARALYZED - make powerless or helplessly inactive
PREDICAMENT - an unpleasant, difficult, or dangerous situation
Have you ever been caught out in a thunderstorm? What about when you were on a camping trip with your family, or with the scouts, or at a summer camp, or just walking home from school? You probably didn’t mind getting a little wet, unless it was really cold. Sometimes, playing in the rain can be a lot of fun. At other times a violent storm can be very scary! When the wind is blowing violently, and the thunder and lightning are crashing all around, it can be a little scary – even for adults.
Think about the most violent, storm that you have been through. Was it a tornado, a hurricane or just a bad thunderstorm that was really noisy and scary? Imagine yourself out in the middle of a lake in a small fishing boat during that storm. Wouldn’t you have felt safer in your own home? Now imagine waves crashing against the boat and water coming over the sides. Would this paralyze you with fear for your life? Jesus’ disciples found themselves in just such a predicament on at least two occasions.
One day Jesus and His disciples got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee. He suggested that they go to the other side of the lake. On the way across Galilee, Jesus laid down for a nap. While He was sleeping a fierce storm came up and the wind began to blow. It blew so hard that it threatened to swamp their boat. Real fear set in because the disciples knew they were in danger – big time! Frankly, they were scared out of their wits. So they rushed over to Jesus and screamed over the noise of the howling wind, “Master we’re sinking!”
Jesus calmly said to the wind and waves, “Be still.” Immediately the wind and sea became completely calm. Awesome! Surely the disciples thought the sudden silence amazing! Doubtless, they all wondered, “Who is this Man that the wind and waves obey Him?” This was a story they would never forget!
On another occasion, Jesus told the disciples to get in their own boat and go across the lake. It wasn’t long before the wind and waves came up again. They knew they were in big trouble. Rowing the boat became increasingly difficult as they fought against the strong wind and waves. This was an all night fight.
At four in the morning it was still dark. They could see a figure off in the distance. As it drew near it began to take on the shape of a human being. It actually looked like a man was walking on the water. The disciples were scared almost to death. They were sure they saw a ghost and they cried out in fear! Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter had a habit of sticking his neck out more than any of the other disciples. With mixed emotions he tested the voice he had just heard. He yelled back at Jesus, “If it’s you Lord, command me to come to you on the water.” Peter got his wish. Jesus said, “Come on.” And Peter stepped over the side of the boat onto the water. He stood upright and started walking toward Jesus right on the water. Then he noticed how high and fierce the wind and waves were blowing. That was more than just a little scary.
Can you imagine yourself in a strong wind walking on top of the water with waves that could cover your head? Even though Peter had the courage to stick his neck out, this was a bit much for even him. He became afraid and began to sink. Again he cried out in fear. Jesus immediately grabbed his hand and lifted him up. Then they climbed back into the boat and the wind instantly stopped blowing. What a night! Peter would never forget it.
If this had happened to you, this would be a story you would never forget. You’d tell all of your friends about this one. But can you imagine the fear, the awe, and the questions the disciples had at this awesome power. It was power that only the very Son of God had! The disciples had been with Jesus day and night. He was a real person to them, and it was hard for them to fully realize that Jesus was more than a human being. Just like them, He had to eat food and drink water to live. He had to have hair cuts, and trim his fingernails. He bled when He cut His finger just like we do. He wept when His friend died. He was as human as they were!
Now let’s talk about how all of this made you feel. How did you feel about Peter when he became afraid of the high winds and waves and began to sink? Did you wonder why he didn’t have enough faith to walk all the way to Jesus. But remember, Peter was the only disciple who had enough faith to get out of the boat and go toward Jesus. He made a start and Jesus didn’t let him down. What about you? Do you have the faith to walk toward Jesus. He’s waiting for you to believe and obey Him. Are you ready to make your walk on water? Just as Jesus held out His hand to Peter, He’ll hold your hand all the way.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have made it plain in your Word that you have power over the forces of nature. Thank you for your protection from the violence of storms. Thank you for hearing our prayers for deliverance from danger. You always have your hand out to help us. Please give us the courage to keep our eyes focused on you and to trust you always.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Amos 4:13
Monday - Psalm 135:5-7
Tuesday - Mark 4:38-41
Wednesday - Hebrews 6:18-19
Thursday - Psalm 46:1-3
Friday - Psalm 107:28-31
Saturday - Psalm 89:7-9
Deuteronomy 32:3-4, 31
Psalm 18:1-2, 31
Psalm 46:1
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 62:5-7
Proverbs 27:1-3
Matthew 14:13-21
Matthew 16:24-25
John 6:1-14
Romans 14:12-13
1 Corinthians 8:8-9
OBSTACLE - something that obstructs or hinders the process
INSURMOUNTABLE - incapable of being overcome
Before Keith grew up to be such a good looking teenager, he had blond curly hair and loved to play in his sandbox. One day, when he was just five years old he picked up his shiny red plastic shovel, pail, and box of cars, trains and trucks. Then he went outside to engineer a set of roads and tunnels in his sandbox.
As he shoveled dirt to make a tunnel for his train to go through, he hit an obstacle right in the middle of the box. He never expected to encounter such an obstacle. What seemed like massive amounts of dirt were shoveled aside. At last, Keith could see the problem. He had a huge rock in the middle of his sandbox. “This isn’t going to stop me from building roads and a tunnel,” he thought. He pushed, nudged and struggled with all the strength a five-year-old could muster. That rock must be moved if he was ever to have the tunnel he wanted for his train.
Keith gave this everything he had. He pushed with his hands and then with his shoulder. Finally, the rock moved, but quickly rolled back on his hand. All he got from his efforts were smashed fingers as the rock tipped and fell back onto his little hands. Frustrated and hurting, he burst into tears.
All the time Keith’s father was watching him. He rushed to the defeated little boy’s rescue. Keith sobbed as he said, “I used all of the strength that I had, Daddy.” His father hastened to say, “No, Keith, you didn’t use all of the strength that you had. You didn’t ask me.”
Life is full of “rocks” that seem too large to move. It was no different when Jesus walked this earth. A huge crowd of people were on their way to Jerusalem to keep the Passover when Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee. This crowd of people wanted to see Him heal the sick and hear Him teach. So they followed Him up into the hills with His disciples.
Late in the day, the disciples became concerned about what everyone was going to eat out there in the desert. They went to Jesus and asked Him to send the people into the village to get something to eat. Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary, you feed them.” Jesus’ reply created a real problem for the disciples. Philip said that it would take a fortune to feed this crowd of over 5000 people. This seemed like an insurmountable “rock” for the disciples to move. How in the world did Jesus expect them to do this?
A young boy in the crowd happened to have some food with him – five barley loaves and a couple of fish. But this by itself wouldn’t move this “rock.” Everyone knew that small amount of food wouldn’t feed 5000 men plus women and children.
‘“Tell everyone to sit down,’ Jesus ordered” Everyone sat down on the grassy slopes as Jesus commanded. He took the five loaves of bread and two fish, looked up to heaven and asked for God to bless them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to pass out to all of the people. Everyone ate until they were full. But this is only part of the story. After they finished eating, twelve baskets of scraps were gathered up. Jesus had moved a great “rock” with this miracle and no one went hungry. Through this miracle the people realized Jesus was the Prophet they had been looking for and He had the power to move “rocks.”
Keith’s father was watching and stood ready to help move the rock out of the sandbox so that a tunnel could be built. Jesus saw a need much greater than moving a rock so a tunnel for a toy train could be built. People were hungry, and a long way from a village where food could be bought. It was much more important that these people listen to Jesus’ teachings than that they be sent into the village for food. Jesus was there. He was watching. And He moved the “rock.”
Do you have “rocks” in your life that need to be moved? What are the “rocks” in your life that you can’t seem to get out of the way? Do you find peer pressure dogging your steps daily? What about temptations to smoke, drink or use drugs? Are these “rocks” that you don’t seem to have the strength to move by yourself? What are some of the other “rocks” you have discovered that are too large and too heavy for you to move alone?
Just like Keith’s dad was watching all along and was there to help, so is our Heavenly Father. He is called the “Rock” in 1Corinthians 10:4. Jesus our Rock stands willing and ready to move your “rocks.” He knows you can’t do it alone. But He’s waiting for you to ask for His help.
There is a price to be paid to have your “rocks” moved. Jesus reminds us that “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whosoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24- 25). To accomplish great things in our lives for Christ, we must overcome the “rocks.” He will be there ready and willing to help. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
Loving Father,
You’re always there to help me with the “rocks” in my life. Temptations such as smoking, drinking, using drugs, and sex are “rocks” teenagers are faced with. Please always be there to help me push these things out of the way. The price I have to pay is to follow you. That is so easy compared with the reward you have for me. Help me to keep my eyes focused on obeying you.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Romans 14:12-13
Monday - Psalm 55:22
Tuesday - Psalm 62:5-7
Wednesday - 1 Corinthians 8:8-9
Thursday - Proverbs 27:1-3
Friday - Deuteronomy 32:3-4, 31
Saturday - Psalm 18:1-2, 31
Exodus 21:22-23
Psalm 127:3-5
Psalm 139:13-14
Psalm 139:15-17
Isaiah 49:1, 5
Jeremiah 1:4-5
Matthew 10:30-31
Matthew 14:1-13
Luke 1:40-44
Luke 3:3-7
IMMORTAL - not liable or subject to death
FETUS - offspring, young still in the womb
Have you ever attended a school where there was a shooting? Was anyone killed? If you haven’t attended a school where there was a shooting, remember, everyone has not been so lucky. Josh wasn’t. He was a sophomore at Columbine High School when twelve people were killed. He heard the murderer ask Cassie Bernall if she believed in God. And he heard her say “yes.” Then he heard the shot that killed her. This is what Josh had to say about how this horrible event changed his life:
“Until the day (at Columbine), I just took everything for granted. I pitch for the baseball team at school, and I took playing for granted . . . I guess I looked at being a teenager as being immortal. As never being able to get hurt that bad, and definitely never dying, at least not for many more years. Now I can’t think of it that way. I have to live today to its fullest, because I realize you can leave this earth at any given point in your life. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are.” (from She Said Yes).
The Columbine killing of innocent people was a horrible tragedy and this incident changed many lives. Down through the ages, evil people have killed innocent people. Sometimes these victims were even friends or relatives.
John the Baptist was a friend, a cousin, the man who baptized Jesus, and the one the Father sent as a forerunner to the Messiah. He ate locusts like parched grain. Locust were usually roasted, or sun-dried. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair. He shouted from the barren wilderness, “Prepare a road for the Lord to travel on!” John was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus to come.
He was a very straight forward guy who spoke bluntly, “You brood of snakes! You are trying to escape hell without truly turning to God!” Do you think John was a little strange? King Herod’s wife, Herodias, thought John to be more than strange. She didn’t like him a little bit, because he told King Herod that it was wrong for him to marry his brother Philip’s ex-wife. These words made Herodias so angry that she demanded that the king arrest him and put him in chains. The only reason the king hadn’t killed John was because he feared the people would riot.
Herod’s daughter was a wonderful dancer and wanted to perform at the king’s birthday party. She danced so beautifully that Herod vowed to give her anything she wanted. Yes, anything! Herodias had an enormous influence on the girl. She told her daughter to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a tray. This wasn’t exactly what the king had anticipated or even wanted. How- ever, guests were present and even the king wasn’t exempt from peer pressure. He gave the order that John be decapitated and his head be brought to his daughter on a tray. How could the king ever do such a thing to another human being? Could it be that he and his wife had come to look upon John as less than human because of his clothing and diet?
Jesus didn’t look on John as less than human. He must have been terribly grieved over the murder of his cousin. Immediately upon hearing of John’s murder, He went to a remote place to be alone.
The two boys who killed twelve people at the Columbine High School didn’t value life any more than King Herod. Did they somehow come to look upon their classmates as less than human? Human life is precious to God. He made humans in His own image. And that gives Him the right to decide if a person should live or die. Job said “The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away”( Job 1:21 TLB). This included his very life.
Our society is rapidly devaluing life. Why do you as a teenager need to know this? Because of how it can impact your life and your loved ones. Josh’s life was changed after the Columbine shooting. He never anticipated hearing Cassie Bernall’s last word before the gunman shot her.
One of the first steps to devaluing human life in this country was making abortion legal. To think that an unborn baby was less than a real human being made it easier to legalize abortion. At abortion clinics the unborn baby is called a “fetus,” “tissue,” and even a “blob.” It makes it easier for the mother if she thinks they are destroying “tissue,” a “fetus” or a “blob” than if she hears them say they are killing her baby.
As of June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade which federally legalized abortion. This ruling does not make abortion illegal; it merely returns the power to each state to determine legality. Partial birth abortion is still legal in some states. This procedure is used to kill real live babies with fingers and toes and hair on their heads as they are being born. To perform this abortion, the doctor turns the baby as it is being born. He stabs the baby in the back of its head with sterile scissors and sucks out its brains. In most cases the baby could live outside the womb. All of these tiny little innocent babies never get a chance to live and enjoy the things you do because they are killed with this horrible procedure. Is this any less murder than what happened to the students at Columbine High School or to John the Baptist?
Abortion is not a good solution to a problem – it only compounds it. A girl who has an abortion takes a terrible risk of physical and emotional damage. Aren’t you glad that your mother didn’t abort you? If she had, you would not be going to Sabbath School, summer camp or to the Senior Prom. You simply would not be! You are made in God’s image and He values your life! You are not less than human. Neither is a baby in a mother’s womb.
Almighty Creator God,
You are the one who created me. You gave me life. Thank you that my mother did not abort me. Every human being is precious in your sight. We were formed in your image and you created us for a purpose. Help me each day to value human life in every way, and never take it into my hands to cancel your creation.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Jeremiah 1:4-5
Monday - Luke 1:40-44
Tuesday - Psalm 139:15-17
Wednesday - Isaiah 49:1, 5
Thursday - Psalm 127:3-5
Friday - Matthew 10:30-31
Saturday - Exodus 21:22-23
Leviticus 20:10, 13
Proverbs 5:1-14
Proverbs 5:7-10
Proverbs 6:32-35
Matthew 5:27-28
John 8:1-11
1 Corinthians 6:15-20
Colossians 3:5-6
1 Thessalonians 4:2-5
ACCELERATE - to increase in speed; to go faster
PHARISEE - a member of a Jewish sect who strictly followed the oral law
ADULTERY - voluntary sexual intercourse with a person other than the one to whom he or she is legally married
Think ahead to the time when you are old enough to get you driver’s license. Nothing will be quite as exciting as taking the car out for a spin. Your friends will admire how cool you look behind the wheel. You can almost feel the power as you accelerate onto the street. Watch it, not too fast!
Somehow, this big step will be awesome! It will say that you’re grown up and you’ve gained some real freedom. But what happens every time you gain new freedoms? You get loaded with a heap of responsibility!
Mistakes behind the wheel of a car can be costly and even deadly! And you will be held accountable for what you do. Sometimes we don’t like to blame ourselves for the mistakes we make. It’s sooooo easy to blame someone else. Take a look at some real samples of insurance accident forms published in The Toronto Sun newspaper:
“Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.”
“My car was legally parked as it backed into the other vehicle.”
“The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.”
It’s easy to mess up, especially when you first start driving. It’s also easy to mess up from time to time in life in general.
It was dawn. An unexpected event happened when Jesus was getting ready to teach a crowd of people gathered around Him in the Temple. In walked the teachers of the law and the Pharisees with a very scared woman. They placed her right in front of this crowd of people so everyone could stare at her. She had really messed up!
“‘Teacher,’ they said to Jesus, ‘this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?’” This woman couldn’t come up with any excuse that would save her life. She didn’t even try to be creative, as the people who put those statements we just read on their insurance accident forms. You might say she was caught red-handed and red-faced. As the men who brought her in pointed out, being caught in the act of adultery was a death sentence – it meant that she could be stoned to death.
Often people don’t admit to the real problem that is bothering them. As awful as this woman’s sin was, it wasn’t what was really bothering the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. If this act of adultery had really made them mad, why didn’t they bring in the man as well? He was equally as guilty of this sin, and the death penalty applied to him just like it did to the woman. These men were using this incident as an excuse to trap Jesus. They wanted to find something to use against Him.
Jesus was far too wise for them to trap Him. He stooped down and wrote something in the dirt. What do you think He wrote? Could He have listed all of their sins – the time that some of them may have committed adultery? They kept demanding an answer as He wrote. Jesus stood up and looked them in the eyes. “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”
Jesus stooped down again and began to write in the dirt. Maybe this time He included the name of the person with whom they may have committed adultery. While He was writing the Pharisees and teachers of the law silently slipped away one by one. The oldest person left first and they followed in the order of their ages.
Jesus was now alone with this woman. As He stood up He asked, “’Where are those men who accused you? Didn’t anyone condemn you?’ ‘No sir,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more.’” What a beautiful ending to this story. What the woman did was wrong! But Jesus is so merciful that He did not condemn her. Even though He did not condemn her, there were still consequences. The removal of the death penalty doesn’t mean that a person will pay no consequences.
“LISTEN TO ME, my son! I know what I am saying; listen! Watch yourself, lest you be indiscreet and betray some vital information. For the lips of a prostitute are as sweet as honey, and smooth flattery is her stock in trade. But afterwards only a bitter conscience is left to you, sharp as a double edged sword. She leads you down to death and hell. . . Run from her! Don’t go near her house, lest you fall to her temptation and lose your honor, and give your life to the cruel and merciless; lest strangers obtain your wealth. . . Lest afterwards you groan in anguish and in shame, when syphilis consumes your body, and you say, ‘Oh, if only I had listened! If only I had not demanded my own way! Oh, why wouldn’t I take advice? Why was I so stupid? For now I must face public disgrace’” (Proverbs 5:1-14 TLB). Do you think this woman may have lived with public disgrace for the rest of her life? Sexual sins have so many bad consequences without Jesus condemning her. Only sex in marriage is safe and has God’s blessings.
In different ways, we all mess up from time to time. When you’re in trouble, go to Jesus Christ. He is merciful and forgiving. If you will confess your sins He will forgive you.
Loving and Merciful Father,
Thank you for not condemning the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. Thank you for your limitless mercy. Grant me the power to always keep your commandments and to stay out of trouble. When I do mess up, help me to be quick to confess my sins and receive your forgiveness and mercy.
It’s in Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Leviticus 20:10, 13
Monday - Proverbs 6:32-35
Tuesday - Matthew 5:27-28
Wednesday - 1 Corinthians 6:15-17
Thursday - 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Friday - Colossians 3:5-6
Saturday - 1 Thessalonians 4:2-5
Psalm 19:7-10
Isaiah 42:6-8
Isaiah 64:4-5
Ezekiel 12:1-2
John 9:1-40
1 Corinthians 2:9-11
2 Corinthians 4:3-5
Galatians 2:17-19
Ephesians 4:17-18
PYRE - a pile for burning used in funeral rites
COMMOTION - furor, uproar, excitement, disturbance
INDIGNANT - to take offense at
DELUSION - a false belief that is resistant to reason
Have you ever had a friendship break up? What if the person who was your friend could only see your bad traits? In the eyes of that person your good points withered away like a funeral pyre. It was as though all your good- ness burned in a giant bonfire. No longer could he see your good looks, kindness, great intellect, thoughtfulness and patience. Your friend allowed his anger toward you to blind him. He could not see! His blindness hurt you. But was he also suffering from his blindness as well? He allowed his blindness to separate a valued friendship.
When Jesus was on this earth, there were people like the friend you may have lost – they were blinded from seeing Jesus’ goodness. There were also people who were physically blind and couldn’t see a thing with their eyes. They couldn’t see their friends’ face to know what they looked like and where they were standing.
One Sabbath a beggar, who was blind from birth, was there with Jesus and His disciples. He had never seen his mother’s face, a sunrise or sunset. If he had a girl friend, he didn’t have a clue if she had blue eyes or brown eyes. Makeup wouldn’t have made her more beautiful in his eyes.
Jesus’ disciples wanted to blame this man’s blindness on sin. They asked Jesus if this man was blind as a result of his own sins or his parents sins. Jesus quickly explained that sin was not the reason for the man being blind. The man’s blindness provided an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated. At this point, Jesus reached down to the ground and got a handful of dirt. He spit on it and made some mud. Then He put the mud on the blind man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. The blind man believed and obeyed Christ and washed in the Pool of Siloam. Guess what? He could see. That’s awesome!
All the people in that area knew this man had been blind from birth. Seeing him walk around town like he could now see where he was going surprised everyone. They asked, “Is this the same fellow – the beggar?” Some said it looks like him, but it can’t possibly be. The beggar said, “Oh yes, it’s me. I’m the same fellow that couldn’t see.”
“How in the world can you see?” they asked. He explained that a man named Jesus made mud and put it on his eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. “I did, and I can see!” That man really knew that his eyes were opened because he believed Jesus and obeyed Him.
The people wanted to know where they could find Jesus. The man who was healed had no idea. So they took him to the Pharisees and they asked him to tell them what had happen. Again, he told his story. The Pharisees became very indignant, because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Some of them even said, “Then this fellow Jesus is not from God, be- cause he is working on the Sabbath.” Not everyone believed that theory. Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miracles?” This caused a real commotion among the Pharisees, and they turned on the man who had been blind. They demanded that the man who could now see tell them who he would say Jesus was.
“I think he must be a prophet sent from God,” the man said. Well, they didn’t buy that story either. They even began to doubt that the man had ever been blind. So they called in the man’s parents to verify that it was their son, and that he had been blind. His parents didn’t have a clue why their son could now see. So they called their son in again and told him to give the glory to God and not to Jesus, “for we know Jesus is an evil person.” The blind man said, “I don’t know whether he is good, or bad, but I know this: I was blind, and now I see!”
Jesus heard what had happened and He went to find the man He had healed of blind- ness. He asked, “Do you believe in the Messiah?” The man asked “Who is He, I want to.” Jesus said, “You’ve not only seen Him, you are speaking with Him.” The man said that He did believe in Jesus and he worshiped Him.
The Pharisees were standing there and asked Jesus “Are you saying we are blind?” Jesus said “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Are you blinded to seeing that Jesus is your Savior? If not, your guilt remains until you repent of your sins and believe on Him. Jesus can open your eyes and heal you of your sins the same as He healed the beggar of his blindness? Jesus wants you to believe and worship Him as the blind man did. He will open your eyes to wondrous things!
Great Heavenly Father,
Thank you for healing the man of his blindness. Help me to never become blinded to your truth, love and mercy. It is sin and unbelief that blinds us. I need your help to always believe you and to turn to you for forgiveness. You are such a merciful God. Help my unbelief!
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Psalm 19:7-10
Monday - Isaiah 42:6-8
Tuesday - Isaiah 64:4-5
Wednesday - Ezekiel 12:1-2
Thursday - 1 Corinthians 2:9-11
Friday - Galatians 2:17-19
Saturday - 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
Luke 8:40-45
John 3:14-16
John 5:24-25
John 11:1-44
Romans 6:8-9
Romans 6:20-23
Romans 8:1-2
1 Corinthians 15:26
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
2 Timothy 1:9-10
KENNEL - a house or shelter for dogs or cats.
MOURNING - an act of grieving for a person’s death
HUMANE - tenderness, compassion or sympathy for another being
As Nancy walked one morning, her neighbors stopped to say hello. Nancy had missed seeing Chelsea, their Collie dog, so she asked, “How is Chelsea?” With tears in her eye, Mrs. Davis ex- plained that they put Chelsea to sleep in September. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Mrs. Davis explained. “When Chelsea returned from the kennel the last time, she was totally disoriented. That night she dug a fox hole in the flower bed and couldn’t get out. Mr. Davis heard her crying in the middle of the night, got out of bed and helped the suffering Collie out of the hole she had dug.”
As much as they hated to do it, they knew the humane thing was to put her to sleep and end her suffering. Unlike humans, dogs don’t learn lessons and build character when they suffer. They simply don’t understand suffering. God has a wonderful plan for humans that He doesn’t have for animals.
We don’t like to talk about death. It seems so final and unpleasant. But death is as sure as life. Jesus had to deal with death time and again. You’ve heard it said that we should turn lemons into lemonade. Jesus did exactly that. Death is an enemy to be conquered, and He conquered it time and again. And He will conquer it yet again.
Jesus was on a tour of the cities and villages around Galilee with His disciples. Jairus, a leader of a Jewish synagogue approached Him. When he got to Jesus he fell at His feet. “Come home with me quickly, my only child – my twelve year old daughter – is very sick and is dying,” Jairus said. The two of them quickly pushed their way through the crowds to get to his daughter.
A woman drew near who had been bleeding for twelve years! She spent everything she had on doctor’s bills. Stories of Jesus’ miracles were well known, and this woman must have heard them. Pushing her way through the crowds, she got close enough to touch Jesus. She knew in her heart that Jesus could heal her – if she could only touch Him. Jesus didn’t see the woman, but instantly knew that healing power had gone out from Him. He asked who had touched Him.
While Jesus was still talking with the healed woman, news came that Jairus’ daughter had died. The messenger said, “She’s gone, there’s no use troubling Jesus now.” Just because the girl had died didn’t mean that was the end for Jesus. Death is an enemy that is meant to be conquered.
When Jesus and the girl’s father arrived at Jairus’ home the house was filled with mourning people. Jesus told them to stop their mourning, that the girl was only asleep. They made fun of Him for saying that, because they knew the girl was dead. Jesus, along with the girl’s parents and Peter, James, and John went into the room where the girl’s body was. Jesus took the girl by the hand and said, “Get up, little girl!” At that very moment life returned to the girl and she jumped up. Jesus told them to feed the girl and not tell anyone what He had done.
Mary, the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus and wiped His feet with her long hair, had a brother named Lazarus. He was very ill. So Mary went to Jesus and asked Him to come heal her brother. Even though Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha and Mary very much He didn’t go to Lazarus for two days. He told His disciples that His friend Lazarus had died and He was going to wake him up. The disciples thought that Jesus meant that Lazarus was asleep. But Jesus explained that He was really dead. Why do you think that Jesus waited to go until Lazarus had died?
By the time Jesus made it to Lazarus’ home, he had been buried for four days! Many people were there with Mary and Martha to comfort them. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him.
“‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’” Jesus told her that Lazarus would rise again. Martha admitted that was true, but said that it would be in the resurrection at the last day.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” Mary confessed to believing that Jesus was the Son of God. Mary, Martha and their friends made their way to Lazarus’ tomb weeping. Jesus also wept.
He told them to roll back the stone that covered the cave where Lazarus was buried. Martha thought that was a bad idea. After four days of being dead the odor would be very bad. They went ahead and took the stone away. Jesus prayed to His Father and then shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” He came out with his hands and feet still wrapped. That’s awesome! Again, Jesus conquered death!
Why did Jesus allow the twelve year old girl and Lazarus to die? These miracles show that He has power over death. The miracles gave the people another opportunity to believe on Him. Jesus has so much love and compassion for us. He wanted the best for that twelve year old girl and for Lazarus. He wants the best for you too.
Death is an enemy that God will conquer. “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 TLB). Life is a gift that is easy to take for granted. God put you on this earth to serve others and be all that you can be. He will help you to be a loving, dedicated Christian. He’ll make your life better. All you have to do is to believe Him and obediently follow Him each step of the way. He’ll see you through this life and make you a child of the King!
Dear Father in Heaven,
We all love life and fear death. You are the resurrection and the life. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have eternal life and live forever. Help me to believe you and to follow you each step of the way. I want to be a child of the King.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - John 5:24-25
Monday - Romans 6:20-23
Tuesday - Romans 6:8-9
Wednesday - Romans 8:1-2
Thursday - 2 Timothy 1:9-10
Friday - 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
Saturday - John 3:14-16
Exodus 15:26
Psalm 81:11-13
Isaiah 55:1-3
Jeremiah 6:16-19
Zechariah 7:9-13
Matthew 24:43
Matthew 24:42-51
John 8:42-44
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
1 Peter 3:14-15
TANTRUM - a violent demonstration of anger or rage
ACCUSTOMED - customary, usual or habitual
The checker at a convenience store hated it when parents came in with out-of-control kids. Sometimes they knocked over cans, bottles or other items during a temper tantrum. These rug rats could make so much noise and be so destructive. Then it was the checker’s job to put everything back all neat and tidy on the shelves.
The store was crowded with people when a mother came in with a screaming kid. Nothing would stop him from crying. You would have thought he had a bee in his diaper from the way that kid screamed.
Eventually that mother made her way to the check-out-stand. As the child continued to exercise its lungs, a man’s voice was heard to say, “Get Down.” But Bob, the checker didn’t hear it. He continued to add up the items in the lady’s basket. As he looked up from the cash register and said, “Ma’am, that will be $32.95,” he saw a gunman leaving the store with the money from all the other cash registers. Bob was shocked to see everyone else face down on the floor.
Looking up from the floor the lady said, “The second time the gunman said ‘Get Down,’ his gun was pointed at your head.” Because of all of the noise, Bob never even heard the gunman say a thing. And because of the noise, he didn’t know his life was in danger.
We become accustomed to noise. Birds sing, frogs crock, and dogs bark with hardly a notice. When you settle back in your seat for a cross country airplane trip, you soon don’t notice the hum of the engines. It’s easy to become accustomed to the noise in our world and the news of the day. Noise blocks out important messages just as it did with Bob.
Jesus gave us an important message. He warned us that we should pay attention, and not allow any noise to block out His message. This important message is, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. . . . Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. . . So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matthew 24:36,42, 44).
There is so much noise in the world that clamors for our attention. This noise isn’t just boom boxes, CD players, or your favorite TV program. Noise can come from the phone you’ve at last got in your room. It can come from a friend who is trying to convince you that you’re old enough to wear make-up. It can come from a schoolmate who tries to convince you to be sexually active. It can come from someone who wants you to try drugs. Yep, a lot of noise can come from well meaning friends – especially the wrong kind. When someone tries to get you to do things that you know you shouldn’t do, watch out! This is noise that needs to be stopped right now!
Christ knew people would think that they have all the time in the world and it doesn’t matter what they do. He told us this story: “But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:48-51 TLB). It’s so easy to not obey God and forget to live the Christian life when you don’t remember that Jesus is coming back. But the consequences of forgetting this can be very severe.
Bob’s life was in danger and he didn’t even know it. He never knew it because of the noise. Could your eternal life be in danger and you not know it? Have you allowed the noise in this world to block out the message that Christ will return? Staying focused on Jesus’ return will help you keep the big picture in mind. When friends or peers try to get you to do things you know you shouldn’t do, stop the noise and remember Christ will return with an awesome reward for you.
What’s in it for you if you use this noise stopper? “Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own!” (verse 46). That’s awesome! And that sounds like a pretty important job.
You’re very important to God. He loves you, and wants you in His Kingdom. He’ll be with you every day as you use the noise stopper and live your life to please Him. Will you be glad to see Him when He returns to this earth?
Holy Father,
Thank you for showing me how important it is that I always remember that your Son will come again. Help me to stay focused on this. And help this focus to change my life to please you.
In Jesus’s name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - John 8:42-44
Monday - Exodus 15:26
Tuesday - Psalm 81:11-13
Wednesday - Isaiah 55:1-3
Thursday - Jeremiah 6:16-19
Friday - Zechariah 7:9-13
Saturday - 1 Peter 3:14-15
