Royals

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Everyone makes mistakes! There’s not a day that goes by when we don’t mess up somehow. Sometimes our mistakes are just accidents we quickly forget about, but other times our mistakes are choices we wish, more than anything, we could take back. They’re the kind of choices that come with big consequences for ourselves and for others. There’s this guy David in the Bible who can relate. 

God chose him to be king of an entire nation because of his good heart, but all that power went to David’s head. He used his position to do horrible things, and those choices had devastating consequences. You may not be a king, and you may not have messed up as much as David did, but you probably know what it’s like to feel guilty and ashamed of things you’ve done. But there’s good news: just like David eventually discovered, when you make mistakes, God can help make things right.

After we’ve made big mistakes, how do we come back from that?

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

There are few things scarier than getting caught. I mean, we know there are limits to what we’re allowed to do, but let’s be honest, sometimes the intrigue and excitement of breaking the rules get the best of us. Before you know it, we’re way over our heads and have taken things way too far. It’s usually at this point when we get caught. Now it’s in this moment where we can either come clean and “face the music,” or we can attempt to lie, deny, and deflect our way out of the situation. 

Even though we know the truth will likely catch up with us, we tend to take the harder path and talk ourselves out of the situation. Typically, the second approach doesn’t always work out as planned. Our spiritual lives are very similar. We know we’ve messed up. We’ve sinned. But, instead of owning up to it and talking to God about it, we try to avoid it or lie our way out of it. Yet, the Bible reminds us if we confess it, He’ll forgive it.

As you read today’s passage, ask yourself this: is there anything I need to confess right now?

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:9

We’re so accustomed to earning recognition, praise, love, and loyalty in our everyday lives. Some of us live in homes where praise and love is held back and later rewarded for good behavior. That type of environment can be complex because we never know what it means to be loved simply for being ourselves. Others of us play sports or are involved in some sort of team where recognition is given based on our level of success. These conditional examples of loyalty can make God’s love seem conditional. 

We tend to look at God through the lens of our world and lives, then judge God’s actions accordingly. We assume we have to think special thoughts, speak special words, and do special things for God to love us. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. God chooses to love us, redeem us, and forgive us for no other reason than because that is God’s nature. When we focus on what we can do to earn love, we forget how inclusive the character of God is. It is without condition, without requirements. 

What are some truths about God’s character you can hold on to today?

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Have you ever been overwhelmed by someone’s kindness? For no reason, they decided to show you a level of love and care you weren’t expecting, and now you don’t know how to respond? Do we thank them? Do we cry? Do we try to pay them back by doing something nice for them in return? The act of kindness didn’t have to be necessarily huge, but it was huge at the moment. Often, these moments stick with us as special memories that can always bring a smile to our face.

Paul, a follower of Jesus, gives us the most overwhelming news we’ll ever receive. He reminds readers God loves us, and always has. God chose to love us when we were unlovable. God chose to love us when we didn’t love back. God chose to love us even though we have a hard time accepting and responding to this love. The greatest truth we can ever understand is God is love. When we live with an awareness of this truth, we can see the moments of love God extends to us each day, big or seemingly small. 

What are some examples of God’s love that you have experienced this week?

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18

“That’s it! I really blew it this time. Not surprised!” Sometimes we feel we’ve gone too far, said too much, or failed to follow through with another promise to God. We swore next time would be different, and we wouldn’t make the same mistake again. We made commitments we couldn’t keep (because we’re human and humans mess up), and now we feel like we’re a complete failure. And why do we make promises to God? As if we could ever satisfy our Creator with something so very human? Most times, it is more for us, something that will help us feel better about ourselves. 

But when we can’t follow through, we convince ourselves God has to be so frustrated, so hurt by us, and so done with us that our only option is to run and hide. However, Isaiah, an old prophet or preacher from the Old Testament, paints for us a much different picture of the situation. Actually, Isaiah is speaking on God’s behalf in this verse. He invites us to sit and talk with God.

Regardless of how frustrated, embarrassed, or hurt you are today, how can you practice receiving God’s promises rather than making new ones?

Scripture: Matthew 23:12

Picture this: your friend shows up at school wearing a crown. They demand to be called “Your Highness.” They start giving you orders, like, “Bring me snacks.” Um . . . no. I mean, it’s cool to be confident, but that’s a little arrogant. Actually, it’s really arrogant. But thousands of years ago, this happened! Sort of. A young guy named Absalom tried to overthrow his father David, king of Israel. 

But here’s the problem: David was chosen by God to be king, and — well, it’s maybe not a great idea to try to overthrow God’s plans. Things did not end well for Absalom. Now, you’ve probably never tried to overthrow a kingdom, but be honest. Like Absalom, have you ever been a little blinded by your own confidence? Or say, “arrogance?” So here’s some advice for next time: when you think you know best, be humble instead.

When you’ve realized you’ve been over-confident, what do you do to humble yourself? Does it usually take someone else for you to notice?

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-6

Have you ever seen someone drive for the very first time? It’s an absolute mess . . . literally! They try to play it off so cool even though their armpits and hands are soaked with sweat. They get behind the wheel, determined not to puke, and try to remember everything the driving instructor taught them. Then, it happens. They’re pressing the gas pedal, and the car isn’t going anywhere. Embarrassed, they calmly shift the car into reverse. The vehicle bounces and lunges as the new driver tries to get things under control while trying to avoid the family of ducks trying to cross the road! 

Learning what it means to become a Christian takes a lot of humility. Humility means we realize we don’t always know what to do, and we will need some instruction along the way. Peter, who used to be an excellent fisherman, struggled a lot with humility. He thought he was always right, and everyone else was always wrong. 

God had to walk Peter through the process of unlearning the ways of pride in order to create a new spirit of humility. What is one thing you are unlearning right now? 

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2

Have you ever seen one of those baby dolls that are practically lifelike? I’m talking about the creepy dolls with the moving eyes and ear-piercing screams the school loans you in health class. Not only does the doll sound like a real baby or get hungry and tired like a real baby, but it also tracks how it’s being treated. It knows if it’s being handled gently or not. It knows if it’s being cared for and held. To top it all off, your grade is based on the data the doll collects. 

Well, all of those creepy settings on the artificial baby are modeled after signals real babies give to their parents. It is a great example of how we get signals from those around us when we are learning how to treat one another. Paul, who used to attack Christians and punish them, tells us to be gentle and patient with one another. This is something he realized later in his life, of course. He definitely was not gently attacking Christians! 

He had to unlearn his abrasive ways in order to practice the act of gentleness and patience. What does it take to be gentle and patient?

Scripture: Philippians 2:3

There’s nothing like the feeling we get when we just got a great deal on something. We’ve been to the mall, scoped something out online, constantly checking for price updates, and BOOM . . . magic! We meticulously track our packages over a series of days or weeks. And just like that, the item we’ve dreamed of having is now ours, in our hands for our enjoyment. We feel such satisfaction in having this long-awaited item. That is until we find something else we want.

That sense of importance is similar to the type of value we’re supposed to place on each other as we go through life. Yes, there will be times when we don’t have that same sense of urgency and excitement with others. But still, Paul tells us to value other people more than we value ourselves. He writes about focusing less on getting what we want in life, and more focused on how we can support those around us.

Let’s be honest. Most of us value ourselves a lot! But, what would our world look like if we started to value each other more than we value ourselves?

Scripture: James 4:10

Remember wanting to be the line leader . . . at all costs? It’s not natural for us to go to the back of the line, to not rush to be noticed. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about loving and honoring each other. We’ve spoken about humbling ourselves and putting other people first. If we’re honest, living out these types of actions is incredibly hard. We’re not hardwired to put the needs of others before our own needs. However, this is what it looks like to grow spiritually. 

But, why? Why are we to live this way? Because it’s the fun thing to do? Um, no. Because it’s easy? Definitely not! James, the half-brother of Jesus, gives us the “why” that’s behind the “what.” Humility is the result of our hearts becoming more like Christ. Spiritual growth isn’t always fun, and sometimes it’s challenging, but it’s always the result of receiving God’s embrace. When we encounter the love of God, we seek to know more, to love more, and ultimately trust more. 

What is one way you can seek God this week? Which act of love from God has led you to seek God more?

Scripture: James 1:5

Do you ever feel like life is just a little too noisy? Like you’re sometimes so distracted you can barely think? We’re constantly bombarded by information, notifications, reminders, and responsibilities — it’s a lot to deal with on a normal day, but it’s even worse when we’re trying to make a big decision or get some guidance. Between the advice of our friends or family, the stuff we find on the internet, and whatever our gut is telling us to do, it’s not easy to know whose advice to listen to. 

Thousands of years ago, a king named Solomon had a conversation with God because Solomon had a lot of important decisions to make. God told Solomon he could have anything he wanted. So Solomon asked God for the same thing I’d encourage you to ask God for — because, when we’re not sure who to listen to, we can ask God for wisdom.

What does it look like to ask God for wisdom?

Scripture: Proverbs 16:16

Growing up, many of us dreamed of taking a wild adventure to a faraway land to find hidden treasure. We’d play for hours pretending to be an explorer, a pirate, or an archaeologist who was terrified of snakes but could outrun any bone-crushing boulder! We look on our imaginary map while hunting for clues and avoiding danger to find where “X marks the spot.” As we get a little older, we learn to seek out other types of treasure: popularity, good grades, nice clothes, and the list goes on. 

But what if we pursued something deeper than all of that combined? Solomon, former king of Israel, encouraged us to get wisdom above anything else . . . even above wealth. This was a man who became king, yet we have records of him asking God for more wisdom, not more power. This set him on the best adventure, learning to be a humble and wise king. The greatest adventure we could ever embark on is the journey to discover biblical truth. 

What is one verse you’ve discovered this week that you want to commit to memory? Think of a new way to help you memorize it!

Scripture: 1 John 5:15

The pressure is on. Your birthday is coming up, and everyone starts to ask what you want to do for your birthday. At first, it was fun, but now the pressure is getting intense. The big day is just weeks away, and you’ve run out of ideas. In fact, not only have you run out of ideas, but you’re starting to wonder if people are going to do something off the list you provided them or if they’re going to plan their own thing. The excitement you once felt transitioned to pressure, and now even that has turned into a slight tinge of regret. You’re not even sure if you want to share what’s really on your heart. 

Sometimes, prayer can feel like it takes a similar path. We get excited when we start to talk with God. We look forward to it, but then things don’t work out exactly how we want them to, and we start to get a little nervous like maybe we’re not praying “right.” Then, we start to give up a little along the way. 

In our moments of doubt and frustration, what can you do to remind yourself God hears you?

Scripture: Psalms 111:10

Take a moment and think of someone you really respect and trust. What jumps out to you about them? Are they honest? Do they give great advice? Have they helped you become a better person? Do they invest in you spiritually? When we process our relationship with God, it all boils down to how much we trust God. The Bible calls that “the fear of the Lord.” When we see “fear,” we think “be afraid” from a scene from a jump scare movie. 

Instilling fear is not at all what God wants in a relationship with us. Or maybe you’ve heard that it means to “respect” God. Not always! Yes, we have a reverence for our Creator, but often “fear of God” points us back to how much we trust God. Do we trust God enough to surrender our plans and a false sense of control? Over time, we learn to trust and put our guard down. We learn to humble ourselves and lean into all that is being said to us. And that is the beginning of wisdom.

What is one area (or plans) in your life you now recognize has not been surrendered to God?

Scripture: Matthew 7:24

Jenga has to be one of the most common, yet phenomenal, games in the world. There’s nothing like the pressure you can put on your opponent as you strategically slide a small block of wood out of the middle of a tower and make the entire structure wobble like Aunt Bessie on the dance floor. Before you know it . . . BOOM! It falls, and you win. Something so simple, essentially playing with blocks, can have an entire room engaged. That’s because we are all fixated on the intricate balance of the tower’s foundation. 

As Jesus teaches us the parable of the housebuilders, He’s reminding us it is important to take root in Christ. After all, a strong tree is only as good as its deep roots to keep it grounded. If we don’t, He’s letting us know our spiritual houses (our spiritual lives) won’t be able to stand when it really counts. We can, at times, be shaken. What counts is that we do not fall. Homes and buildings in earthquake-prone areas are built on rollers so that the building won’t crumble but roll with the quakes. 

What has shaken you lately, and what truths are grounding you?

Scripture: John 6:50-66

Do you ever not follow directions? Like deciding not to use the Maps app because, of course, we know the way. Or when you know the right thing to do, but don’t do it because it just seems too hard or not worth the effort. There’s this story in the Bible where some people reacted to Jesus that way. Jesus said something that really scared and confused a lot of His followers. 

But instead of listening, asking more questions, or trusting Jesus, they just . . . gave up and stopped following Him. Now, let’s be honest. If you’re following Jesus, it’s not always going to be easy. But it will be worth it. So when following God’s directions is difficult, or scary, or confusing, don’t give up. Stay close to Jesus.

What is it about following God’s direction that is typically most challenging for you? Why do you think that is?

Scripture: John 14:23

How do you know when someone loves you? Like, how do you know they genuinely care, that you matter to them? What are some indicators you look for in others? Do you know they care about you when they want to spend time with you? That makes sense. How about if they say nice things to you? Sure! What if they bring you an extra-large chili fry at lunch? Yes, please! 

Each one of us looks for different signs in our relationships. But, what does God look for? What is the key indicator that shows the love we have for God? Well, it comes down to this question, “How much are we obeying what God teaches us in the Bible?” Whew, that’s a tough question to answer! Literally, God tells us the secret sauce in our relationship is our obedience. It comes from a place of trust and believing that God has our best interest at heart.

What is a piece of advice given in the Bible that is hard for you to trust and follow? How do you feel when you think about it and what is your biggest hesitation?

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:33

There’s nothing as peaceful as taking a walk in the park. An actual, legit park with birds, bushes, and benches. It’s so refreshing to take a stroll, feel like you’re in a movie, and enjoy the peaceful nature that surrounds you. So likewise, the Christian life can be best understood as just taking a walk in the park of life with God. In fact, we see this many times in the Bible . . . that God walked with someone. It’s a beautiful picture of our relationship with God. 

We are led along the path, talking with and listening to God. We share our worries and talk about all the things that excite us. We pause and listen to the things God wants us to pay attention to. Throughout this process, we are discovering that God is guiding us, and in order to be guided, we have to be able to follow and obey the One guiding us. We walk with and learn more from God because of our love for God. 

What is one thing you love about God? Does this inspire you to trust God?

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Let’s be honest for a second. You good with that? There are a ton of words in the Bible we don’t recognize or understand when we first look at them. It can feel a little overwhelming and slightly frustrating. “Perseverance” is one of those words we live out every day but don’t always refer to it by name. To persevere means to keep going even when we don’t want to. Perseverance is digging down deep inside and pushing a little harder, studying a little more, staying focused on a task when we want to walk away and give up. It pushes us to go the extra mile, run the extra lap, and move forward when we just want to quit. 

To be honest, sometimes living for God is hard; it’s challenging, but perseverance helps us push through, and that’s when the relationship gets even better. Again, it’s easy to ask for clarification on this word on paper. But trying to relate it to our day to day can be tricky. To help, think of something challenging you are currently facing. 

What does it look like to rely on the perseverance God extends to us in this area?

Scripture: John 8:12

Picture this. You’re on a camping trip having a great time with family and friends. You’ve spent the day hiking, exploring, swimming, and now it’s time for bed. You pass out from the sheer exhaustion from the day. It’s late at night, and it happens . . . you have to go to the bathroom. But here’s the thing . . . you’re terrified to walk to the campsite restroom alone. You try to wake someone up, but everyone is knocked out. You drank so much water, so you know you can’t hold it until morning. You walk outside and begin to imagine the worst-case scenario, tripping in the dark. Just like that, you remember to grab a flashlight. 

Whew! Accident avoided! The flashlight helps us see not only the danger that’s right in front of us, but it also brightens our path so we can see where we’re going. Jesus identifies himself as the ultimate Light. The darkness in the world is overcast with the illuminating presence of Jesus. If we follow his path, he’ll keep us from harm and get us to where we need to go! 

How do you know Jesus is guiding you?