SUM21 Velocity Mag

Volume 17 Issue 4 | Jun • Jul • Aug 2021

Featured Articles: Choosing to Lead | The Most Powerful Muscle in Your Body | The Tabernacle | Get Off the Couch

Devotional Magazine

Jun • Jul • Aug 2021

Volume 17 Issue 4

ISSN 2168-4677

RANDALL HOUSE

CURRICULUM DIRECTOR

Katie Greenwood

VELOCITY EDITORS

David Jones, M.O.L.

Carol Reid

THEOLOGICAL EDITOR

Danny Conn

A list of devotional writers contributing

to D6 EveryDay Currculum is available at

D6Curriculum.com/teacher.

DESIGN MANAGER

Andrea Young

DESIGN

Nic Dennis

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO

Ron Hunter Jr., Ph.D.

BOARD MEMBERS

Mike Trimble, M.R.E., M.Div., Chairman

Paul Bryant, M.Div., Vice Chairman

Kendall Ross, M.A., Clerk

Jay Baines, M.A.R., M.Div.; Darin Gibbs;

Ryan Giles, M.A.R.; Mike Mounts;

Rick Taylor, M.A.; Tim York, M.A.R., M.R.E.

Send your correspondence to:

Randall House, 114 Bush Road, Nashville,

TN 37217, 1-800-877-7030

Notice: By submitting letters and other materials

to Randall House you agree all submissions are

the property of Randall House, and you agree that

Randall House has been granted the non-exclusive

right to use and/or reproduce any submissions in any

manner and for any purpose.

Copyright © 2021, Randall House, 114 Bush Road,

Nashville, Tennessee 37217. All rights reserved.

Published quarterly by Randall House. No

reproduction of materials permitted without

permission under penalty of law.

Bible in a Year Chronological Bible Reading Schedule

We continue our quest to read through the Bible in a year, using a

chronological approach to the time Scripture was written. Jump in

anytime to read the entire book in 365 days!

❏ 6/1 Luke 1;

John 1:1-18

❏ 6/2 Mat 1; Luke 2

❏ 6/3 Mat 2-3

❏ 6/4 Mark 1; Luke 3

❏ 6/5 Mat 4; Luke 4-5;

John 1:19-51

❏ 6/6 John 2-4

❏ 6/7 Mat 9; Mark 2

❏ 6/8 John 5

❏ 6/9 Mat 12:1-21;

Mark 3; Luke 6

❏ 6/10 Mat 5-7

❏ 6/11 Mat 8:1-13; Luke 7

❏ 6/12 Mat 10-11; Luke 10

❏ 6/13 Mat 12:22-50;

Luke 11

❏ 6/14 Mat 13; Luke 8

❏ 6/15 Mat 8:14-34;

Mark 4-5

❏ 6/16 Mat 14; Mark 6;

Luke 9:1-17

❏ 6/17 John 6

❏ 6/18 Mat 15; Mark 7

❏ 6/19 Mat 16; Mark 8;

Luke 9:18-27

❏ 6/20 Mat 17; Mark 9;

Luke 9:28-62

❏ 6/21 Mat 18

❏ 6/22 John 7-8

❏ 6/23 John 9-10

❏ 6/24 Luke 12-13

❏ 6/25 Luke 14-15

❏ 6/26 Luke 16—17:10

❏ 6/27 John 11

❏ 6/28 Luke 17:11—18:43

❏ 6/29 Mat 19; Mark 10

❏ 6/30 Mat 20-21

❏ 7/1 Luke 18:15—

19:48

❏ 7/2 Mark 11; John 12

❏ 7/3 Mat 22; Mark 12

❏ 7/4 Mat 23;

Luke 20-21

❏ 7/5 Mat 24; Mark 13

❏ 7/6 Mat 25-26

❏ 7/7 Mark 14

❏ 7/8 Luke 22; John 13

❏ 7/9 John 14-17

❏ 7/10 Mat 27; Mark 15

❏ 7/11 Luke 23; John 18

❏ 7/12 John 19; Mat 28;

Mark 16

❏ 7/13 Luke 24;

John 20-21

❏ 7/14 Acts 1-3

❏ 7/15 Acts 4-6

❏ 7/16 Acts 7-8

❏ 7/17 Acts 9-10

❏ 7/18 Acts 11-12

❏ 7/19 Acts 13-14

❏ 7/20 James 1-5

❏ 7/21 Acts 15-16

❏ 7/22 Phili 1-4

❏ 7/23 Gal 1-3

❏ 7/24 Gal 4-6

❏ 7/25 Act 17:1-15;

1 & 2 Thes

❏ 7/26 Acts 17:16—19:41;

Eph 1-3

❏ 7/27 Eph 4-6

❏ 7/28 1 Co 1-4

❏ 7/29 1 Co 5-8

❏ 7/30 1 Co 9-11

❏ 7/31 1 Co 12-14

❏ 8/1 1 Co 15-16

❏ 8/2 Acts 20:1-6;

2 Co 1-4

❏ 8/3 2 Co 5-9

❏ 8/4 2 Co 10-13

❏ 8/5 Rom 1-3

❏ 8/6 Rom 4-7

❏ 8/7 Rom 8-10

❏ 8/8 Rom 11-13

❏ 8/9 Rom 14-16

❏ 8/10 Acts 20:7—

23:35

❏ 8/11 Acts 24-26

❏ 8/12 Acts 27-28

❏ 8/13 Col; Phile

❏ 8/14 1 Tim 1-3

❏ 8/15 1 Tim 4-6

❏ 8/16 Titus 1-3

❏ 8/17 1 Pet 1-5

❏ 8/18 Heb 1-3

❏ 8/19 Heb 4-6

❏ 8/20 Heb 7-10

❏ 8/21 Heb 11-13

❏ 8/22 2 Ti 1-4

❏ 8/23 2 Pet; Jude

❏ 8/24 1 John

❏ 8/25 2 & 3 John

❏ 8/26 Rev 1-3

❏ 8/27 Rev 4-5

❏ 8/28 Rev 6-11

❏ 8/29 Rev 12-15

❏ 8/30 Rev 16-18

❏ 8/31 Rev 19-22

Without

faith it is

impossible

to please

God...

Mark 16:15

Hebrews 11:6

DEvotIoNs

Faith. I have faith my team will score. I have faith I will win the contest. I have faith this expired milk will

taste okay.

Sometimes we confuse faith with wishful thinking. We have faith our team can still win, even though they’re

down 10-0 in the ninth inning. We have faith we’ll win the million dollar prize, even though there are six

million entries. Unfortunately, sometimes we view God the same way. But when we read the Bible, we see

that true faith isn’t just blind, wishful thinking. When people in Scripture put their faith in God, they did so

because they knew He could be trusted. God had proven Himself faithful to His people, and that gave them

reason to believe.

Over the next few months you’ll come to a deeper understanding of faith. The devotions will start in Exodus

and show you the amazing power and holiness of our God. In July you’ll turn your attention to the book of

James and see practical examples of faith in action. You’ll end by studying Joshua, Judges, and Ruth and will

get to see the deep faith of historical heroes. Our faith should be more than just a wish or simple hope. Our

faith can be solid because we serve a faithful God.

juNE

12 Week One

June 5 – 11

God Requires

Holy Living

14 Week Two

June 12 – 18

God Alone Deserves

Our Worship

16 Week Three

June 19 – 25

God Is Holy

18 Week Four

June 26 – July 2

God Meets

With His People

july

28 Week Five

July 3 – 9

Faith Overcomes Trials

30 Week Six

July 10 – 16

Faith Results

in Action

32 Week Seven

July 17 – 23

Faith Chooses

Godly Conduct

34 Week Eight

July 24 – 30

Faith Brings

Deliverance

auGust

46 Week Nine

July 31 – August 6

God Honors Obedience

48 Week Ten

August 7 – 13

God Chooses

Unusual Leaders

50 Week Eleven

August 14 – 20

God Calls

Ordinary People

52 Week Twelve

August 21 – 27

God Uses Flawed People

54 Week Thirteen

August 28 – September 3

God Provides

Redemption

2

04

FeatuRes

04 Get Off the Couch by Don Stevanus

Physically, you need to get up and move in order to grow

strong. To grow strong spiritually, you need the same kind

of discipline.

20 The Tabernacle

Take an up-close and personal look at the Tabernacle and

its furnishings. You might discover new perspectives.

24 The Most Powerful Muscle

in Your Body byJenny Wescoat

It may be small, but your tongue can get you into a big

mess! How can you control it and use it to build up

instead of tear down?

24

36 Choosing to Lead by Jeff Mattson

What you believe about

yourself may limit the

leader you become,

but what you believe

about God can open

doors and expand your

opportunities to lead.

36

HIgHlIgHts

08 By the Numbers

10 Just Add T-E-N

11 Pop Goes the Culture

22 Everyday DIY:

Summer Drinks

38 Around the World:

Dakar, Senegal

40 Man to Man

41 Girl Talk

42 Samson’s Mixed-Up Story

44 How Well Do You Know?

45 Between the Pages

56 Forrest Fire

57 Top 10

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 3

4

Get Off the Couch

By Don Stevanus

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.

However, in 2020, March came in like a lion and the

lion stayed. All around the country schools closed

because of COVID-19. Many, including myself,

believed this would be short-lived and we would

be back to school in a week. It would be like a long

snow day. My girls and I were going to take advantage

of it. We began watching every trilogy we had

on Blu-ray and binge watched as many TV series as

we could find.

By the end of the three weeks it occurred to me

that we could not do this long term. We had not

been doing much of anything except eating, watching

TV, sleeping in, and staying up late. This began

to take its toll on me and the rest of the family.

I was beginning to go stir crazy from the lack of

physical activity. We were discovering that this

new habit of just relaxing all the time seemed like

a good idea but was starting to wear on us physically,

spiritually, and psychologically.

Too Much Rest?

Our bodies need physical activity. As I tell my

students, your body desires to move, to exercise,

to be challenged physically. God did not design us

to be lazy, relaxing all the time. He designed us to

be active and productive. Exercising our minds,

bodies, and hearts is what makes us stronger in

all areas. Don’t get me wrong—there is a time and

place to rest. God rested on the seventh day as

an example for us. But prolonged rest (e.g., three

weeks of watching TV, playing video games, staring

at phones and tablets) is not what He had in mind.

God has strong words for those who choose to be

lazy. Check out the descriptions of the lazy person

in Proverbs 13:4 and 21:25. Lazy people have a harder

time (Proverbs 15:19) and are avoided by hard

workers (Proverbs 10:26). They are irresponsible

(Proverbs 12:27) and will not have wealth (Proverbs

20:4) or important jobs (Proverbs 12:24).

Just to be clear, these proverbs are not promises

that all will work out the way you wish just

because you work hard, but it will be far better for

you if you work hard as opposed to being lazy. In

a parable in Matthew, Jesus told of the master’s

reprimand and punishment for a slothful servant

(Matthew 25:26–27). Use what you have to the best

of your ability. That’s what the master told the lazy

servant. You didn’t even try; the least you should

have done is put the money into the bank. At the

very least we should get off the couch and move

around.

If you’re needing some help, here are some tips

that will get you off the couch physically and spiritually

so you can strengthen yourself.

Physically

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians

6:19–20). I hope you have a desire to keep His temple

clean, healthy, and active. This is the body God

has given you. You must take care of it. He paid the

ultimate price for you because He loves you and

desires the best for you.

Physical disciplines (or exercise) include:

1. Routine: Have a set time to exercise. Let very

little get in the way.

2. Physical activity: Exercise for at least 60 minutes

a day. You can break it up into 15-minute intervals

throughout the day.

3. Get plenty of sleep. Most teenagers need at least

8-10 hours of sleep each night, and that’s time

you’re actually asleep, not time spent on your

phone while lying in bed.


4. Have a balanced diet. Adding in fruit and vegetables

now and limiting greasy foods and sweets

will make a huge difference down the road.

Spiritually

Your spiritual growth is far more important than

your physical growth. Paul told Timothy that

though physical exercise has benefits, godliness is

always valuable (1 Timothy 4:6–8). That should not

diminish the importance of physical exercise. As

you grow spiritually, you might find the desire to

take care of your body, the temple of Christ, grows

as well. I encourage you to work on the spiritual

disciplines just like you would your physical disciplines.

Spiritual disciplines (or exercises) include:

1. Routine: Have a set time to study God’s Word and

to pray. Let very little get in the way.

2. Biblical intake: Read your Bible every day, even if

it’s just for 15 minutes a day. Use the devotions in

this magazine to help you in your study.

3. Pray every day: Talk to the Creator of the world.

4. Meditate on Scripture: Think about and pray

through the Scripture you read each day.

While there are many more spiritual disciplines,

these will get you started.

Everything we do should be done for God’s glory

(1 Corinthians 10:31). In 3 John 1:2, the elderly apostle

John blessed his friend Gaius by asking God to

give him good health, both physically and spiritually.

That’s what I ask for you too.

Donnie Stevanus and his wife Leah are the parents

of four daughters and one son-in-law. He teaches

physical education at Harpeth Valley Elementary

School in Nashville and is the Associate Pastor at

Bethel FWB Church in Ashland City, Tennessee.

Suggestions for

Physical

Activity:

1. Do a variety of different

activities. There are free apps

that can help with different

exercises each day.

2. Take a nice walk each day just

to clear your mind of worries

and thank the Lord for what

He has done for you. Think

about the Scripture that you

read that day.

3. Hike nature trails.

4. Ride a bike.

5. Take up running. (Start out

slow; don’t try a 5K your first

time out.)

6. Walk your dog, if you have

one. Your parents will love it.

7. For every 20 minutes of TV or

video games, do five minutes

of some type of exercise.

8. Do something you love!

Do anything that gets you

off the couch and moving!

6

Check out the photos in the popsicles below to determine

if the sweet treat might be something else entirely.

Banana Popsicle or

_____________________?

Eskimo Pie or

_____________________?

Lime Popsicle or

_____________________?

Fudgesicle or

_____________________?

Twin Popsicle or

_____________________?

Ice Pop or

_____________________?


1940s

&

1950s

U.S. soldiers bring

flip-flops back

from WWII and

the Korean War

4000BC

Flip-flops seen in

Ancient Egyptian

murals

1960s

Flip-flops associated with

California beach culture

2006

Sales of flip-flops exceed

sales of sneakers.

Sports slides are now

taking part of the

flip-flop market

Flip-flop is an ONOMATOPOEIA —

from the sound they make when you walk.

WHAT

ARE THEY

MADE OF?

Rice

Straw

(China &

Japan)

Wood

(India)

Rawhide

(Africa)

Yucca Plant

(Mexico)

Papyrus

(Ancient Egypt)

Rubber, Foam, Plastic,

Leather, Suede, Fabric,

Recycled Bicycle Tires

(United States)

8

YOU COULD SPEND

ANYWHERE FROM

SIX FLIP-FLOP NAMES

AROUND THE WORLD

OLD NAVY

foam

BOTTEGA

VENETA

crocodile

leather

13.88

seconds

Fastest 100m

wearing

flip-flops

(André Ortolf

of Germany,

August 2018)

3

hrs,

37

min,

32

sec

Fastest marathon in flip-flops

(Alistair Kealty of Australia, April 2019)

33.9

meters

Farthest

distance

flip-flop throw,

using the foot

(Phillip Conroy of

Spain, June 2012)


Each of the answers below

contains the word TEN. When

you’ve found the letters to

fill the blanks, your list will

disclose another important Ten.

1. Not legally insane and,

therefore, able to stand trial

2. Many times

3. Like lava

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___

___ ___

___ ___ ___

4. Regular care for,

department for repairs

5. Be present for

6. Video game system

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___

___

___ ___ ___

___ ___

7. Stay after school, in

8. Insects have nibbled on wool

9. Open broadly, invite

___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___

___

10. Straighten a desk,

for instance

11. A game with net and rackets

12. Downey does this for fabric

___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___

___

___ ___

2

___

3

___

4

___

5

___

6

___

7

___

8

___

9

___

10

___

11

___

12

Answers on page 57

10

Time is Tik(Tok)ing Away

By David Jones

Question: What sound does a clock make?

Answer: Tick Tock

Question: What do social media influencers make?

Answer: TikTok

While that won’t win “Dad Joke of the Year,” in the

time you read that you could have watched at least

one TikTok video or someone’s story on Instagram.

(Or if you’re my parents, you could have watched

one story on Facebook or a Fleet on Twitter.) Social

media is all about being here, gone, and on to the

next thing.

But social media isn’t the only place where things

move at the speed of light. Do you remember Quibi?

Before getting shut down, Quibi (a mash-up of

“quick” and “bites”) streamed episodes of shows that

were only seven to ten minutes long. Even Amazon

has gotten in on the fun. While Amazon sells books,

they also sell summaries of books, in case you want

to read the book without having to read the book.

If things keep going at this pace, the world of Willy

Wonka might soon become a reality, where popping

a piece of gum in your mouth results in a threecourse

meal with little effort or thought.

Is all of this bad? Not necessarily. Sometimes it’s

very convenient. It’s nice to simulate parts of a video

game you’ve already beaten, or skip the commercials.

But it turns into a problem when our brains become

so wired for fast-paced frenzy that we can’t slow

down and focus on what’s important.

Consider this: the last time you read your Bible, did

you focus more on the powerful Word in front of

you, or were you more concerned with getting it

done so you could move on to your next task? When

you pray, do you have a conversation with God and

take time to listen for His voice, or do you utter quick

memorized prayers because you have stuff to do?

Studies show our reading comprehension is declining

and our attention spans are decreasing. Why?

Because the world around us begs us to skim, multitask,

skip to the end, and avoid giving one thing too

much of our attention. While that’s perfectly fine

when scrolling through Instagram, it’s not a good

approach in our relationship with God. As crazy as it

sounds, it would be better to spend 15 minutes reading

one verse of Scripture than to spend 15 minutes

“finishing” ten chapters.

Life moves fast, and it moves even faster when we

open our phones. While the fast pace of the world

can be fun, don’t let convenience cause you to sacrifice

focusing on what really matters.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 11

Theme: God Requires Holy Living

juNE 5-11

saTuRday - suNday

Read Exodus 20:1–21

“Four out of five dentists recommend

______________ for brushing.” Personal

trainers for celebrities urge you to purchase

a certain fitness machine to “get

results!” A professional in the field has

the expertise to direct you toward the

best product on the market. Customers

will trust their authority.

God has the ultimate authority. In Exodus

20, the Lord declared His authority

to the Israelites as God and as their Deliverer

from Egypt. The Ten Commandments

that followed called them to

respect His authority. Do not have gods

before the true God or worship anything

besides Him (verses 3-4). Respect the

Lord’s holy name (verse 7). God is the

Creator and gave an example of rest to

follow (verse 11). His authority deserves

our utmost honor and respect.

What does it look like for you to

respect God’s authority?

This week, respect God by keeping

Him as first priority and honoring

His name.

MoNday

Read Joshua 24:1–27

From eating healthier, to being more

active, to stopping a bad habit, people

struggle to create better habits. An

effective method is to ask someone to

be your accountability partner. You can

keep tabs on each other’s progress and

work together to achieve your goals.

At the end of Joshua’s life, he told the

Israelites to choose whom they would

serve (verse 15). The people quickly

declared they would serve God, their

deliverer and provider. Then Joshua

called them out by revealing their idols.

The jealous God would not tolerate wavering

devotion (verses 19–20). When

the people again declared allegiance

to God, Joshua made them witnesses

to each other, accountable for each

other’s commitment.

What spiritual goals do you want to

achieve?

Ask someone you trust to keep you

accountable in reaching your goals.

tuesday

Read Hebrews 10:1

A shadow has much in common with a

reflection. Both demand light. Both provide

an image—not a reality. Neither can

be independent or active on their own.

Both are incomplete—and you know this

because that poster on your wall in no

way would measure up to the real thing.

Both point to a reality—someone or

something that is substantial to cast the

shadow or make the reflection.

The writer of Hebrews said that the Law

was only a shadow of God’s provision

for our sins. It established who God is in

His holiness and perfection and moral

goodness. Through its sacrificial system,

the Law pointed us to Jesus who would

be the perfect offering for sin. But its

repetitious offerings could never be as

good as the reality of Christ’s sacrifice

and infinite love.

Make a list of some of the characteristics

of God that are evident by

reading His Law.

Memorize the Ten Commandments.

This list still reveals who God

is and establishes a code of ethics

for His children.

12

WedNesday

Read Isaiah 8:11–17

The Lord spoke to the prophet, Isaiah,

and told him to be set apart. He was not

to conform to the beliefs or lifestyles of

the people of the land (verse 12). God

called Isaiah to fear Him and respect

His holiness and authority. The prophet

responded appropriately right away.

Isaiah put his hope and trust in the Lord

(verse 17).

Our culture promotes conformity and

tolerance. It says, “Let people believe

what they want to believe and do what

feels good to them.” Today, the Lord

continues to call Christians to be different

from the world around us. We are to

be lights in a dark world. Our response

should mirror Isaiah’s. We must revere

our holy God and put our hope in His

promises.

Are you conforming to the culture

or making a difference for God’s

kingdom? What evidence supports

your answer?

Stand up for what is right instead

of going with the crowd. It is never

wrong to do right.

tHuRsday

Read Mark 12:28–34

A 1965 song declared the world needs

love, and its lyrics are spot on. Love

provides for so many needs: comfort,

acceptance, kindness. We could all benefit

by giving and receiving more love.

In Mark 12, a scribe asked Jesus which

commandment was the greatest. Jesus

answered from the Old Testament

covenant. The most important commandment

is to love the Lord with all

your heart, soul, mind, and strength

(verse 30). The second greatest commandment

is to love your neighbor as

yourself (verse 31). Christ broke it down

fairly simply. We are to love God with our

emotions, spirit, thoughts, and actions.

And our love for others should match

our love for ourselves.

How are you showing love to God

and to those around you?

This week, show love to God by

spending more time reading His

Word and by talking and listening

to Him.

FRIday

Read Ephesians 6:1–4

As a teenager, Ephesians 6 is probably

not your favorite passage of Scripture.

It begins with, “Children, obey your parents.”

When the Bible clearly says it, you

have no more excuses. Paul reminded

us that to honor our parents is one of

the Ten Commandments. Yet it is not a

“do it because I said so” command.

First, Paul said to obey our parents in

the Lord because it is the right thing

to do (verse 1). That is a good enough

reason. However, it also comes with a

promise. If you obey, it will go well with

you (verse 3). Parenting is a difficult job

with its own responsibilities. As much

as you might think rules are unfair, your

parents are trying to keep you safe and

prepare you for your future.

How do you respond to your parents’

guidelines?

Take time each day to tell your parents

you love them and appreciate

all they do for you.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 13

Theme: God Alone Deserves Our Worship

juNE 12-18

saTuRday - suNday


Aaron, Moses’ brother, had helped lead

God’s people out of Egypt. Yet, when

Moses went to meet with God, Aaron let

peer pressure overtake him. The people

urged Aaron to create an idol. He fashioned

a golden calf to worship (verse 4).

Aaron let the people pressure him into

a ludicrous act that resulted in consequences

for all the rebellious people.

No matter what you think, people look

up to you and follow your example.

From younger siblings, to friends, to

people you might not know well, others

are observing you. When you give in to

negative peer pressure, you affect more

than yourself.

How do your choices affect others?

Create positive peer pressure this

week by encouraging people to join

you in doing the right thing.

MoNday

Read 2 Kings 18:1–7

Do you want to be remembered? Do

you want to stand out and make an

impact on your world? Would you like to

gain fame, even if only for 15 minutes?

King Hezekiah would be an excellent

example to follow. There was no king of

Judah like him, before or after his reign

(verse 5). He was definitely legendary!

Why did Hezekiah receive such a

glowing commendation? He trusted

in the Lord. He did what was right in

God’s eyes. He destroyed false idols

and places of idol worship. He kept the

Lord’s commandments. For his reward,

the Lord was with him and made him

prosperous (verse 7). What a wonderful

role model!

For what do you want to be remembered?

Make a difference by intentionally

doing something kind for someone

every day.

tuesday

Read Psalm 106:19–23

My father-in-law used to tease me when

we went to a seafood buffet. While he

was loading his plate with oysters and

crab legs, I started with a salad. Each

time he would remind me, “The price is

not for the rabbit food. It’s for the good

stuff.”

The psalmist wrote about the Israelites

worshiping the golden calf. Verse 20

explains that God’s glory was replaced

by an idol carved as an ox, which eats

grass. How mortifying! God’s chosen

people forgot all He had done for them

and exchanged Him for an animal!

Instead of giving the Lord all the glory He

deserved, they put an image of a beast

in God’s rightful place. They put the

rabbit food in place of the good stuff.

What consumes the majority of

your time and attention?

Pray for God to reveal idols in your

life that are being put ahead of your

relationship with Him.

14

WedNesday

Read Ezekiel 14:1–11

One of my softball coaches promoted

the “Life is not fair” motto. When some

players were slacking during conditioning,

he would call out one of us to do

push-ups or run extra laps. He would

make an example of one to cause the

others to step up their effort. We hated

it (and groaned and moaned and complained),

but it was effective!

In Ezekiel 14, the Lord called the children

of Israel to repent and put away their

idols (verse 6). Anyone who did not

would be an example to present and future

generations. God promised to turn

away from the idolater and cut him off

from the people (verse 8). The Israelites

were to be faithful to God and worship

Him only.

How highly do you value God and

your relationship with Him?

Think about God’s place in your life.

Is He Lord over everything or just

some things? Consider whether you

need to make any changes.

tHuRsday

Read Acts 7:39–53

Stephen spoke boldly and clearly to the

high priests, scribes, and council. He

recalled the history of Israel’s rebelliousness

and idolatry. Even when God’s

chosen people had the Tabernacle in

the wilderness or the Temple constructed

by Solomon, they still worshiped

false gods. God does not live in houses

made by human hands (verse 48), but

dwells in the hearts of believers through

His Holy Spirit.

A church building is an excellent place

to come together to worship and

learn of God’s truth. Going to church is

important for the bonding of a community

of believers. However, we must not

forget that the structure is not what is

essential. Christians have the Holy Spirit

as a guide and comforter. The Lord’s

presence resides in us.

How often do you appreciate all the

Holy Spirit does for you?

Read these verses about what the

Holy Spirit provides: John 14:26 and

Acts 1:8.

FRIday

Read Numbers 16:44–50

There was a one-day pandemic in the

book of Numbers. Two events led to it.

First, Korah led a rebellion against the

Levites, those appointed by God to lead

worship. The ground opened to swallow

up Korah and those who stood with him.

Second, others grumbled and came to

oppose Moses and Aaron. That’s when

God poured out His wrath. We don’t

know what the symptoms were, but we

know 14,700 people died before Moses’

and Aaron’s prayers were answered

and the plague stopped. That’s a lot of

drama.

Our holy God demands that He alone is

to be worshiped. He rightfully deserves

our adoration, praise, and obedience.

He sees intents and attitudes of our

hearts. Let’s worship in submission and

in sincerity.

What was Moses’ role in this

chapter? How does it provide an

example for you?

Pray for your pastors and your worship

leaders. Thank God for them.

Write them a note of support and

encouragement.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 15

Theme: God Is Holy

juNE 19-25

saTuRday - suNday

Read Exodus 15:11; Psalm 86:8–

10; 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 6:1–6

The Bible tells us God is holy. But what

does that mean? The words used for

holy in both the New and the Old Testament

mean set apart, sacred, pure,

distinct. God is unique. He is like no

other being that exists.

In Exodus 15, the Israelites praised God

for His power over their enemies. Verse

11 refers back to the fact that He is not

merely unlike all, but He is over all. He

is worthy to receive glory (credit and

fame), honor (praise and respect), and

power (the strength of His creation

should point back to Him). There is no

comparison to His holiness (2 Samuel

1:2) because He defines the term; He

sets the standard. He is worthy of all

praise.

What does it mean to take God’s

holiness seriously?

MoNday

Read Psalm 11:4–7

“I hate broccoli,” the forty-first U.S. President

was famous for saying. He didn’t

hold personal feelings against it, as if it

were an enemy.

We know that God loves everyone; it

is His nature to love. Love is the very

essence of who God is. But holiness is

also His nature. Our righteous God loves

righteous deeds (verse 7). He keeps His

eyes on us (verse 4), tests us (verse 5),

and invites us into His presence (verse

7). In His perfect holiness He must punish

sin. He rejects the wicked because

they have rejected Him (verse 5). In

His perfect love, He made a provision

for our sins to be forgiven through the

sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Because God is holy, how must He

treat wickedness?

tuesday

Read Psalm 145

Have your parents told you about the

day you were born? Have your grandparents

ever shared stories of what your

parents were like as children? These

good memories help us celebrate,

learn, and hope. On the other hand,

stories of tragedy and mistakes help us

learn what not to do and how to make

things better.

In Psalm 145, David made it clear that

we must tell old stories. These aren’t

just any old stories; they are stories

about God. The problem we all have is

forgetting what God has done. Talking

about God’s works and who He is helps

us learn more about Him. As verse 21

says, speak the praise of the Lord and

bless His name forever.

How does learning about the past

help you to understand God’s

faithfulness?

Your life should always be a song of

worship to God, the only One who

deserves it. Sing a song of praise to

Him.

Meditate on who God is. Think

about both His perfect holiness

and His perfect love.

Tell others about God and what He

has done. How will someone learn

about God if you do not tell him or

her?

16

WedNesday

Read 1 Chronicles 16:8–36

David wrote this song after the ark of the

covenant had finally been returned to

Jerusalem. The ark, a physical symbol

of God’s presence, was to be treated

with the utmost reverence. At some

point, however, the children of God had

stopped giving the ark priority.

Now that the ark had returned, David expressed

praise and gratitude while also

imploring others to worship God as well.

His song is a good illustration of what

our worship should look like: (1) remember

what God has done, (2) tell others

about it, (3) show God’s glory to others,

and (4) offer our time and resources to

God. Would others say our lives sound

and look like this song?

What is this passage telling you to

do?

tHuRsday

Read Jeremiah 50:44—51:5

After a Category 5 hurricane on the

island where I live, I was stunned when I

first walked out of my shelter. Big trees

were snapped in two or ripped out of

the ground completely. Buildings were

stripped of their materials, and large

objects were moved to places far away

from their original spots. I felt smaller

than I’ve ever felt. The power that fueled

all that destruction came from God.

In today’s passage, we see God’s power

on display in a different way. Because

God is holy, He cannot and will not tolerate

sin. He used His power to remind

His people that He is holy, and yet He is

good. They could trust He would never

forsake them (Jeremiah 51:5).

When have you seen God’s power

displayed? How did it make you

feel?

FRIday

Read John 6:60–69

A paradox is a statement that seems

to contradict itself, such as, “This is the

beginning of the end” or “Less is more.”

Many truths of the Christian faith are

wrapped in paradoxes. Today’s passage

reminds us that salvation is a free gift

that will cost you your life.

Jesus told His listeners that they must

eat His flesh and drink His blood to

receive eternal life. Those who turned

away couldn’t understand what He had

meant by that. When we accept the

challenge to follow Christ, we say we

must die to ourselves in order to fully

live. It is worth the cost, but there is a

cost.

Do you live as though you believe

in Peter’s words in verses 67–69?

What evidence in your life proves

that?

Write your own song to God. You

don’t have to share it with anyone

else. Just write your soul’s thoughts

about God and try to sing them to

Him.

Make a list of every attribute (a

descriptive characteristic like good,

holy, powerful) you can think of

describing God. He is all of those

and more!

The next time your church partakes

of the Lord’s Supper, spend time

thinking about the sacrifice Jesus

made for you and what it means to

follow Him.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 17

Theme: God Meets With His People

juNE 26 - july 2

saTuRday - suNday


Our son loves the kids’ workshops at

home improvement stores. Unfortunately,

if Daddy is unavailable on those

Saturdays, Mommy has to go. As our son

truthfully states, “Mommy is not as good

at building.” My hammer and nail skills

are not lacking as much as my ability to

read and follow the complex directions.

The one time we successfully created

the wooden motorcycle, I gained much

pride, joy, and confidence—no matter

how little assistance I actually gave.

God gave Moses extremely intricate

directions for creating the Tabernacle.

Eight times, today’s passage included

the declaration, as the LORD commanded

Moses. Moses was up to the

task and completed God’s assignment.

Upon completion, God’s glory filled the

Tabernacle and dwelled among His

people (verse 34).

What tasks has God called you to

do?

Read Micah 6:8 for instructions God

has for all of His followers.

MoNday


God literally led the Israelites. His

presence was in the form of a cloud by

day and fire by night (verse 15). When

the Lord wanted His people to stay, the

cloud and fire stayed above the Tabernacle.

To show the people when and

where to go, God simply lifted the cloud

as a sign to follow.

What if God used neon signs to point

out each decision we should make?

Although God’s specific will for our lives

might take time to determine, He has

given us many general guidelines to follow

in His Word. He gives us talents and

opportunities to serve Him and others.

Christian mentors can give us godly

advice and guidance, as well. The Lord

does show us His way.

How can you use your skills to serve

those in need?

Serve this week by cleaning up litter,

donating to a food bank, or volunteering

at a senior citizens center.

tuesday


Picture yourself back in first grade. Your

teacher is telling you about states of

matter. She demonstrates that air takes

up space by blowing air into an ordinary

balloon. You cannot see the air, but the

balloon expands. When God’s glory fills

us, there should be a noticeable difference,

too.

In today’s passage, King Solomon and

the people were making final preparations

for the Temple. They made

sacrifices as the ark of the covenant was

placed in the Most Holy Place. Praises

were sung to the Lord for His enduring

and steadfast love (verse 13). The glory

of the Lord filled the Temple in the form

of a cloud. All believers now experience

God’s presence through His Holy Spirit.

Those around us should notice God at

work in us and through us.

How does your life display God’s

presence?

Share with a friend or family member

one way God has worked or is

working in your life.

18

WedNesday

Read 2 Corinthians 4:1–6

I wonder if Thomas Edison realized how

much we would rely on his invention of

the light bulb. Upon entering any room,

what is the first thing you do? I reach for

the light switch to illuminate the area.

Light is also connected with truth and

morality.

Paul used the idea of light when writing

to the Corinthians. Satan hides the light

or truth of the gospel from nonbelievers

(verse 4). Those who do trust in Christ

have the presence of God in their lives

to penetrate the evil of this world and

cause others to see His truth. We are to

illuminate the darkness with the knowledge

of the glory of the Lord (verse 6).

Are you letting your light shine?

Does the Lord’s presence “shine” in

your life? Explain.

Memorize Matthew 5:14–16.

tHuRsday

Read Hebrews 9:1–10

Spy movies have the coolest gadgets

and most up-to-date technology. The

agent is always able to enter a secure

facility. From swiping key cards, to hacking

eye scans, to dangling from above

to avoid motion sensors, they seem to

have no trouble gaining access.

The Old Testament Tabernacle had

numerous regulations for entering. Even

the high priest only went into the Most

Holy Place once a year and only after

making a sacrifice for his sins and the

unintentional sins of the people (verse

7). Christ’s perfect sacrifice canceled

our need for animal sacrifice and

separation from God. Any person who

confesses and repents of sin can freely

enter into God’s presence.

How has Christ’s sacrifice affected

your life?

Journal about our open invitation

to enter the presence of God—anytime.

What provided that privilege

for us?

FRIday


Have you ever found a light switch

that did not do anything? If you are like

me, you shrugged your shoulders and

moved on. If you are like my husband,

your curiosity kicked in, you tried to

figure it out, and you finally asked. You

had to know its purpose.

The writer of Hebrews declared Jesus as

High Priest and the perfect sacrifice to

redeem us from our sins. Not only does

Christ’s blood purify us from sin, but it

shows us our purpose of serving God

(verse 14). While we serve the Lord, we

are to eagerly wait for His return (verse

28). Our prayer should be the same as

John’s in Revelation 22:20: “Come, Lord

Jesus!”

How often do you think about or

await Christ’s return? Why is it important

to live as though He could

return at any time?

This week, fulfill your purpose by

telling someone about Christ’s

perfect sacrifice of love.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 19

THE TABERNACLE

This tent, about 45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 15 feet tall, was the symbolic dwelling place of God. When the Tabernacle

was dedicated, the fire and cloud that had led the Israelites occupied it. Remember, everything about the Tabernacle was

portable; the Israelites moved and set it up again and again through their 40 years of wilderness travel.

OUTER COURT: Jewish men, representing

their families, could enter the outer

court to bring their sacrifices. Here, they

slaughtered their best animal on the

altar and placed their hand on it as a

symbol that it represented their family.

HOLY PLACE: Only the priests

could enter this part of the

Tabernacle, about 30x15 feet,

with three pieces of furniture.

ALTAR: Made of bronze, the altar

was the centerpiece of the court

and the place where sin offerings

were sacrificed to atone for sin.

Attended by the priests, its fire was

never to go out. Jesus gave His life

as the perfect sacrifice for our sin.

BRONZE LAVER: The priests were required to

wash their hands and feet at the laver before

entering the tents of the Holy Place. This

was symbolic of confession and cleansing

before going into God’s presence.

20

TABLE OF THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE: A wooden table

overlaid with pure gold was set with 12 loaves

of bread each day. The Bread of Life, Jesus, still

gives spiritual life to believers.

GOLDEN CANDLESTICK:

The candlestick provided the only light for

the structure and was made of pure gold. It

symbolized God’s light shining through His

people—Israel, Jesus, and believers today.

THE HOLIEST PLACE (HOLY OF HOLIES): The high priest

entered this portion (15 feet square) of the

Tabernacle only once each year, on the Day

of Atonement, asking for pardon first for his

own sin, and then for the sin of the people.

ALTAR OF INCENSE: Also made

of wood and covered with

gold, the altar stood just

before the veil into the

Holy of Holies. As a symbol

of prayer, incense was

continually offered to God.

VEIL: This ornately embroidered curtain

separated the Holy of Holies from the rest

of the Tabernacle. At Christ’s crucifixion,

the Temple’s veil ripped from top to bottom,

symbolizing every believer’s direct access to

God the Father through Christ’s sacrifice.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT:

This chest (made of wood, covered with gold) contained the Ten Commandments, manna,

and Aaron’s staff. It was never to be touched with human hands. The top of the chest was

a solid gold slab, the Mercy Seat, which included two carved angels. This symbolic access

to God’s presence and forgiveness was made available to all of us through Christ’s sacrifice.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 21

Orange Julius

Directions:

Pour your orange juice

over two or three scoops

of vanilla ice cream and

mix it up! You can try it

with strawberry ice cream

or orange-pineapple juice

for some new twists.

What you’ll need:

1. Orange juice

2. Vanilla ice cream or

frozen yogurt

Strawberry Banana

What you’ll need:

Smoothie

1. Frozen strawberries and bananas (in season, you

can easily wash, cut, and freeze your own). You

could add other frozen fruit like blueberries and

pineapple if you want to. You’ll need about a cup full.

2. Orange juice (or substitute other juices, almond

milk, yogurt, or even ice water). You’ll need about

½ cup, depending on how thick you like your

smoothie.

3. If you want to add vitamins, throw in a handful of

kale or spinach; add protein powder if you like—

maybe with a spoonful of honey.

4. Add a ½ cup of ice cubes if you want a really cold

smoothie.

Directions:

Blend until smooth. If your

blender keeps getting stuck,

turn it off and poke the mixture

with a long spoon, or

add more liquid.

22

Captain America

What you’ll need:

1. Cherry 7UP (or make your own by adding the

juice from a jar of maraschino cherries to

some lemon-lime drink)

2. Gatorade Frost

3. Blue Hawaiian Punch

Directions:

The trick to making layered drinks is to put the highest

sugar content on the bottom and pour slowly!

Pour ¼ cup of Cherry 7Up into a clear glass. Add

several ice cubes. Slowly add Frost Gatorade, pouring

over an ice cube or over a spoon (about 1/3 cup).

Then add about 1/3 cup Blue Hawaiian Punch, again

pouring slowly over an ice cube or spoon.

More

Delicious

Ideas!

Unicorn Lemonade

Make ice cubes out of various

colored juices or stir in a drop of

different food coloring hues to

apple juice in your ice tray. Pour pink

lemonade over an assortment of the

colored ice.

Sonic-Hack Cherry Limeade

You may not be able to duplicate the

crushed ice, but stir in 1 Tablespoon

of lime juice and 1 or 2 Tablespoons

of maraschino cherry juice to your

lemon-lime cola for a close taste

match.

Almond Tea

To a gallon of sweet tea, add a can of

frozen lemonade and a tablespoon of

almond flavoring. Serve iced.

Please send us pictures of your creations to

velocity@d6family.com and we’ll feature

them on the D6Family Facebook page!

Iced Coffee

Make a simple syrup by boiling a

cup of water with a cup of sugar. Stir

well to dissolve the sugar. Add your

favorite flavoring extract (caramel,

vanilla, coconut, mint, etc.). Chill

until cool.

Start with cup of ice cubes, then add

the simple syrup (to taste—probably

a tablespoon or two). Add ½ cup

cooled strong coffee and top the

glass off with milk.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 23

24

By Jenny Wescoat

The apostle James compared it to a rudder, able to

steer an entire ship across the ocean. It’s a spark

that devastates a great forest with its fire and can be

tamed by no human being.

It’s the tongue, and it’s capable of corrupting your

entire body.

Strangely, you might notice that, even among believers,

sins of the tongue are more tolerated than some

other bad choices. For instance, you might listen to

gossip, deciding a friend just “needed to vent,” rather

than changing the subject to a more God-honoring

one.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 25

Maybe gossip isn’t a temptation, but you regularly

ignore your mom’s texts or respond to your dad with

a voice that’s loaded with annoyance. Or you might

use a little bad language when you’re particularly

frustrated, but even your churchgoing friends let a

four-letter word slip now and then.

The problem, if we read James 3 with a willingness

to be taught, is that sins of the tongue can lead to

our destruction. Let’s talk about some of the areas in

which your tongue might get you into some serious

trouble . . . and not just with your parents.

Honoring Your Parents: Ephesians 6:1–2 tells us

to honor our parents. In none of those instructions

does it say, “Honor your parents unless they are being

really unfair about letting you borrow the car,” or,

“Honor your parents unless you’re tired and frustrated

because the Internet is out.”

It also doesn’t say, “Honor your parents until you’re

14. Then you don’t really need to ask their advice,

because you’re getting older and you can think for

yourself.”

Thanks in large part to a lot of sassy characters on

television, YouTube, and other media, disrespect

toward parents has become commonplace, and as a

As with any effort

we make to be more

like Christ, this one

requires familiar tools:

prayer and the Word

of God.

result, acceptable to the world. James would encourage

you to try something different. Go out of your

way to bless your parents by honoring them in your

words and your tone.

Think it’s not worth the trouble? In the sixth chapter

of Ephesians, the Lord promises a long life to those

who honor their parents. Sounds worth it, right?

When You’re Angry: All of us are tempted to

find words to express the strength of our emotions,

but there are several reasons why you might want to

hold back. First, in Ephesians 4:29 we are cautioned

against using our mouths for profanity.

Instead, Scripture encourages us to use our words

for building up one another, for encouraging fellow

believers and speaking truth to one another in love.

That’s a pretty tall order; there are times when you

will feel like doing anything but using your words to

encourage someone else.

In addition, you might find that your self-control in

the area of language makes a bigger impression on

others than any reaction you might inspire with a

rant. Your silence might communicate much more

than your angry words.

With Your Friends: You might think gossip is

something that primarily affects teenage girls, but

even adults struggle with this sin. A few years ago,

after I left a cozy brunch with a friend, I received a

text from her that said, “Hey, I really had a great time

with you today, but I realized later that some of our

conversation may have focused too much on other

people and discussed their situations in too much

depth.”

My friend was being generous and gracious, but I

knew what she was trying to say: we’d been gossiping.

I felt my cheeks go hot when I read her text, so I

26

knew she was assessing our conversation

accurately.

What do you do in a situation like this? I repented,

and I know my friend did, too. I also took time to

pray before we got together the next time, to prepare

myself to keep my conversation pure. We also always

pray together before we enjoy coffee or a meal

together, and we ask that our conversation glorifies

God.

I love that my friend was willing to claim our mistake.

It tells me that she is a faithful friend who’s

looking out for my good and that I can trust her to

avoid gossiping about me. You see, besides the sin,

there’s an inherent danger in gossip. When you and

your friends begin talking about others, you’re never

safe, either.

On Social Media: Online platforms offer a lot of

opportunities for our tongues to get us in trouble.

For instance, without thinking, we might post a hateful

thought or a meme we have no business posting.

It’s good to think through a post carefully before

publishing it. Not only is it being viewed by a lot of

people, but social media has a permanency far beyond

your original posting. A post could come back

to haunt you, even years later when you’re applying

for a scholarship or trying to find a summer job

and your interviewer checks out your social media

profiles.

Too Much or Too Little: When you’re with a

group of friends, are you the center of attention, or

are you more comfortable blending into the background,

content to let others lead the conversation?

Either extreme can be problematic. It’s easy to see

why hogging the spotlight and dominating the conversation

can be troublesome. You might not realize

that sitting back and not participating can be just

as dangerous. God could be leading you to take the

reins on a topic that’s become too racy, too disrespectful,

or just plain negative. Or it’s possible you’re

supposed to be influencing others around you, not

the other way around.

Don’t Settle for Good Behavior: Proverbs 4:23

tells us that everything we do flows from our hearts.

If you’re feeling a bit outmatched against your

tongue, you’re not alone. None of us can meet God’s

standards of holiness by simply working at it.

If you read the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians

5:22–23, you might think all you need to control

that tongue is a little self-control, some gentleness,

and a dab of goodness for good measure. Like using

masking tape to attach apples and oranges to your

clothes while you run a marathon, it’s simply not

going to stick.

As with any effort we make to be more like Christ,

this one requires familiar tools: prayer and the Word

of God. Keep reading and studying the words of God,

and ask the Lord to shape your heart to match His.

Soon you might be surprised to find yourself sounding

less like your old self.

It’s true—the tongue cannot be tamed by any human.

It’s a good thing we have no intention of leaving

that task to a human like you or me. Jesus saves

us, but He doesn’t allow us to stay as we are. Keep

praying, keep studying God’s Word, keep getting to

know Jesus, and see if your tongue can be a powerful

muscle for proclaiming what He has done!

Jenny Wescoat is a freelance writer living in St. Louis, Missouri. She

enjoys sharing her love for God and her hobbies of reading and

baking with her four kids and her husband, Jason. Jenny volunteers

in children’s ministry at church, encouraging children to ask tough

questions in a loving and safe environment.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 27

Theme: Faith Overcomes Trials

july 3-9

saTuRday - suNday

Read James 1:1–18

In an old TV show, the superhero got a

chance to go back in time and change

a traumatic event from his childhood

when someone was taken from him.

In this fictional world, he had to play

around with the effects of time travel

and changing the past, but ultimately he

realized that the “trial” was something to

accept. Although someone was taken,

all the good in his life was a result of that

bad situation.

We can’t travel back in time, and we

can’t pick and choose our trials, but we

can decide how we will respond. Some

experiences aren’t so good, but never

underestimate what God can do when

you’re tested. Allow your response to

trials to be one of ultimate surrender to

God’s plan.

How would you handle trials in a

different way if you understood

God was strengthening your faith

through them?

Take a good look at how far your

faith has come because of trials.

MoNday


Until we understand just how sinful and

wicked we are, we can’t fully appreciate

just how good God is. Sin is the very

thing that destroyed the relationship

God had with His creation, yet God still

offers forgiveness. Notice the contrast

here of the person who does not fear

God (verses 1–4) with the person who is

covered in His love and mercy (verses

5–12).

Even in times of trouble, even when we

have turned away from Him, God’s forgiveness,

love, and blessings continue

to bring us to repentance and back to

Him (Romans 2:4). God is a good God,

and He will give good gifts to His children.

His goodness should encourage

us to be more like Him.

What does this chapter tell you

about God and His attributes?

Ask God to forgive you of any sin

and thank Him for His forgiveness.

tuesday

Read Luke 6:20–26

Often we know what God wants us to

do and how He wants us to act, but the

offer of immediate happiness and satisfaction

is tempting. Those who follow

the world’s promise of happiness will

always come up empty.

The joy and satisfaction that Jesus

offers often involves short-term trials

and pain. This doesn’t look like a good

choice for those seeking instant happiness.

What the world offers is shortterm

gratification with no eternal value

or promises. Being “blessed” isn’t simply

about being poor, hungry, sad, and hated.

It’s about pursuing eternal joy even

when it makes us poor, hungry, sad, or

hated. We can still praise God when

those hard times come. Remember, all

these things will be added only after we

seek Christ first (Matthew 6:33). We will

be blessed when we choose Christ over

the world.

When has the world’s definition of

happiness left you feeling empty?

Memorize Matthew 6:33.

28

WedNesday

Read Luke 14:7–24

Money is worthless to God. The Bible reveals

how little God cares for how much

money we have or don’t have. When

we have His perspective, money won’t

matter to us either.

Does this mean we shouldn’t have money

or be rich since it can keep us from

God? What about the missionaries and

ministries that benefit from wealthy

and generous Christians? There is work

for everybody who follows Christ. All

are invited, but will those who have the

most attachments accept the invitation?

That’s the trouble. If you are called

to be rich, be rich! But don’t let it be

what holds you back from an eternal

mindset. It’s easier to stay focused on

God’s kingdom when God’s kingdom is

all you have.

Do you always want more or are you

content with what you have?

Take an inventory of your life and

make sure your passion is more

about God and not consumed with

“stuff.”

tHuRsday

Read Romans 5:1–5

Athletes sometimes train with obstacles.

Basketball players practice shots

with weights around their ankles to

improve their leg strength. Runners

run on difficult terrain to improve their

speed and endurance. Baseball players

add a weight to their bat during practice

swings to help make the bat feel

lighter when they hit. If athletes don’t

push themselves to get better while

practicing, their performance will lack

the endurance, strength, and patience

needed for the competition.

We should look at our trials as opportunities

for our faith to grow. If we keep

our eyes focused on God, suffering will

produce within us character, endurance,

patience, and hope. We also have

confidence that the God who allows

trials is the same God whose love, grace,

and comfort will see us through.

What difficulty have you faced that

has made you stronger and wiser?

“Interview” someone from the older

generation in your church to learn

how their experience with trials has

increased their faith.

FRIday

Read Romans 7:14–25

I am redeemed. I am a new person. I am

a child of God. I am still a sinful human.

When we are saved, it is as if we have

dual desires inside of us. We have the

Holy Spirit who helps guide, control, and

teach us. But we also have our flesh that

has been cursed by sin. In our earthly

bodies, we will always be in conflict

with ourselves. Paul wrote that his new

nature wanted to do right, but his old

nature didn’t.

This isn’t a license to sin and blame it on

the flesh. This is a reminder to stay diligent

and on guard. We must stay close

to God and His Word to constantly be

ready to fight this battle against ourselves.

God understands the battle. Forgiveness

and grace are always available.

What do today’s verses tell you

about life as a believer?

Make a plan to stay away from

things that tempt you.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 29

Theme: Faith Results in Action

july 10-16

saTuRday - suNday

Read James 1:22–27; 2:14–26

Talk is cheap. We prove we mean what

we say by our actions. The same is true

for faith. We back up our faith by our

actions. We like to sum up our faith or

our Christianity with “I believe in God.”

James reminded us that even Satan

and his demons believe in God.

Jesus’ life was one of action. None of us

would appreciate somebody who is all

talk. Jesus didn’t just claim to be God;

He proved it through His miracles! When

we decide to follow Christ, it is more

than just lip service. Our lives should be

living proof we believe what we say we

believe.

What do your actions say about

your faith?

MoNday

Read Luke 3:10–14

John the Baptist was not known for his

wardrobe or culinary advice. Remember,

he was the one wearing camel hair

and eating locusts in the desert. When

crowds of people came to him to say

they wanted to take the next steps as

followers of God, he gave some odd

instructions: If you have an extra tunic,

give it away. If you have extra food,

share it with someone who needs it.

People may have wondered at the

extremes he demanded, but there was

no doubt that their faith in God required

them to act, to do something. Saying

you believe is not enough; your actions

are the proof.

Still today, our generosity to those in

need and our fair treatment of others is

a strong indication of our faith.

tuesday

Read John 12:37–43

You might know people like those

described in John 12. They believe what

you tell them about God, and they even

know many things about God, but they

care too much for the things of this

world to completely live out their faith.

Have you ever heard people say they

would believe if God would give them a

sign? Jesus performed many miracles

in front of thousands of people during

His life on earth, yet many still chose to

ignore Him. In a day and age where technology

can make anything believable,

miracles today catch the attention of

even fewer people than they once did.

Our job is to continually reach out to as

many as we can, understanding that not

everyone will believe, and even if they

do believe, not everyone will follow.

This week as you read about making

your faith real, ask God to open

your eyes to ways you can put your

faith into action.

What indicators of your faith in

Jesus Christ can others see?

Clean out your closet. Give the

clothing you are not using to a charity

or someone in need.

How should the truth of Scripture

increase your faith in Jesus?

Why is true faith more than simple

belief? Faith should lead to action.

30

WedNesday

Read Genesis 15:1–21

Abraham’s belief and faith in God’s

words affected the decisions he made.

When he believed God, he was counted

as righteous (verse 6). His belief was

shown through his actions.

When we study all of Scripture, we learn

we cannot separate the ideas that we

are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8) and

that faith without works is dead (James

2:17). The two truths together complete

the picture of salvation. They are not

clashing; they are harmonizing with

each other. Faith in God saves us, and

real faith will produce works. Obedience

and good works are simply the outward

sign of our inward commitment.

Do you ever have a hard time believing

God’s words and promises?

If so, why?

tHuRsday

Read Genesis 22:1–18

It’s easy to “love God” when it only

requires weekly attendance to church.

But what about when it costs something?

The real test of our faith is how we

treat people right in front of us. We cannot

truly follow Christ when we neglect

to love the people who were created in

His image.

When we decide to follow Christ, we

begin to do the things He would do and

love the people He loves. Our love for

Him causes us to do beautiful acts of

kindness for other people. Our actions—

motivated by love—are what will tell the

world we love them and love Jesus.

When have you given of your time

and money to meet the needs of

someone else?

FRIday

Read James 4:17

Knowing to do good but failing to do it

is sin. How can we know what is good?

How can we measure up to those requirements

from God that are not listed

somewhere for us?

First, we need to know God’s heart,

walking closely with Him, tuned in to

those things that matter to Him. Second,

we need to know God’s Word, allowing

it to shape our thinking. And third,

we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to give

us direction and help. If we are watching

for Him to be at work, we can respond

when He nudges us to do something.

This will take intentionality and courage,

but it will please the heart of God.

When you think about this verse,

does the Holy Spirit remind you of

some good you could do?

Check out Hebrews 11. Notice that

even though their faith was the focus,

none of those who were counted

faithful were just sitting around

twiddling their thumbs. Real faith

produces real action every time!

In this passage, count the times

Abraham answered, Here I am or

Here am I. How do you respond

when God asks for your obedience?

Look at these biblical principles

about what God expects: Deuteronomy

10:12–13; Ecclesiastes

12:13–14; Micah 6:8; Matthew 7:12;

Matthew 22:37–40; James 1:27.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 31

Theme: Faith Chooses Godly Conduct

july 17-23

saTuRday - suNday

Read James 3:1—4:12

I sometimes forget what I planted. I’ve

buried the vegetable or flower seeds,

and by the time they come up, I’ve

forgotten what was where. When those

seeds grow, I figure out what I actually

planted. If tomatoes grow, then I know I

planted tomatoes. It sounds silly, I know.

Sometimes we don’t realize what we’re

planting in our lives until words come

out of our mouths or thoughts turn into

actions. “Whoa! Why did I say that?”

Well, what have you been planting?

James wanted us to hear truth, speak

truth, and live out truth. When we spend

time with God and His Word, we can see

His fruit.

When have someone’s words hurt

you or hurt someone you care

about?

As you read about allowing your

faith to control your words and

actions, think about what you’ve

planted and watered in your own

life. That “fruit” will reveal itself soon

enough.

MoNday


My friend found her preschool daughter,

Trixie, alone in her room. When she

asked why, Trixie responded with, “I am

mad, Mommy. I feel frustrated when

you said I cannot go outside to see the

raindrops, so I go to my room to sit in

my bed until I feel better.” This toddler

demonstrated a wise perspective when

she didn’t give in to her selfish desires

to throw a tantrum. That’s hard, even for

adults!

With discipline and submission to God

(verse 8) we can learn to have power

over our temptations and feelings. We

can’t do it on our own. Our emotions

and feelings are very strong, and it is out

of desire that sin comes (James 1). We

need God’s help!

Can you remember a time when

you chose God’s ways over selfish

desires?

Challenge yourself this week to

submit your will to God. With God’s

help, fight your selfish desires. Record

your efforts in a journal.

tuesday

Read Proverbs 4:20–27

“Garbage in, garbage out” isn’t just an

old saying; it’s truth. If you bought a

gallon of milk, you wouldn’t expect lemonade

or water to come out of the jug.

The things that come out of our mouths

are a product of the things we put in our

hearts. If we want good things to come

out of us, we have to put good things in.

How do we do this?

We read God’s Word and hide it in our

hearts. We focus on good things (Philippians

4:8). We guard our hearts, knowing

our tendency toward wickedness. And

we pray, pray, pray. In these verses,

Solomon told us to guard our hearts and

concentrate on the things that will keep

us on the right path. Put up boundaries

and keep your desires in check.

According to these verses, what

is the key to keeping your mouth

clean?

Focus on implementing the steps

above to guard your heart and your

tongue.

32

WedNesday

Read Matthew 12:33–37

What is in your heart comes out of your

mouth. Good words bubble up from a

good heart; bad words, careless and

hurtful words, or disrespectful words indicate

an evil heart. Following Christ and

allowing His Spirit to work in your life will

produce character traits first (Galatians

5:22–26), and then specific words and

actions will be the result. Sometimes,

we try to do things for Christ without first

having the mind of Christ.

We can’t expect the good actions that

come from a bad heart to amount to

much. When our faith is strong and we

are obeying His commands, Christ can

work through us in incredible ways.

How does recognizing that you

will give an account for your words

(verse 36) change the way you talk?

Ask God to give you a transformed

mind and heart. Pray that you will

be Christlike in all you think, say,

and do.

tHuRsday

Proverbs 10:19

“She talks too much.” “He never says

anything.” We’ve met the extremes

(and we could name names). Whether

you are Chatty Cathy or Silent Sam,

this proverb is both a warning and an

encouragement. Too many words can

lead you to sin. Bragging, lying, criticizing,

gossiping, and taking God’s name in

vain are only the beginning of the list. We

know our tongues can build up or tear

down; we know they can be used for

good or for evil. Proverbs 10:19 teaches

that self-control is wise or prudent. We

can give the Holy Spirit the opportunity

to make our words pleasing to God.

Listen more. Talk less.

Talking too much can lead to sin.

What about talking too little—closing

off communication with family

and friends?

Talk with your parents about the

spiritual discipline of silence. Plan a

day where you say nothing at all and

focus instead on spiritual things.

FRIday

Read Romans 12:3–8

We are given gifts and abilities to serve

God well and to benefit others. Unfortunately,

we don’t always use our gifts

wisely because we allow selfish desires

to dictate what we do with them. To use

them well we must realize they were given

to us from God. We all have different

gifts, and whatever gift we have should

be generously dedicated to God.

In the fairytale, Cinderella was beautiful

because of her humility, kindness,

and generosity. In searching for fame,

wealth, and status, the stepmother

and sisters became ugly; their desires

made them mean and selfish. When we

become jealous or prideful, everything

becomes ugly, ruined, and broken. Our

actions and words should always be for

God’s glory, not our own.

What gifts and abilities have you

been given? How are you using

them for God’s glory?

Find someone in your church who

is using his or her gifts and abilities

well, and learn from his or her

example.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 33

Theme: Faith Brings Deliverance

july 24-30

saTuRday - suNday


If you were running for your life and had

to find a place to hide, would you go to

a murderer’s or drug dealer’s house?

When Joshua sent two Israelite spies to

scope out Jericho, they hid in the house

of a prostitute—not the place you would

expect God’s people to be. Surely this

woman had no respect for God or His

people.

Verse 11 completely changes what we

think. Rahab declared the God of the

spies is the one true God. In spite of her

sin and horrible past, Rahab declared

faith in the one true God. Like Rahab,

we were all once far away from God. We,

too, can come to Him in faith.

Is there someone you think would

never become a follower of Christ?

How does this story prove otherwise?

MoNday


If the children of Israel and their new

leader, Joshua, had seen waters nicely

parted, the double-striped lines, and

the flashing “Walk” sign, they would have

known what to do. But that wasn’t the

case. In his first few weeks as leader of

the travel-weary bunch, Joshua and the

children of Israel came to the Jordan

River—at flood stage. Joshua heard from

God and gave the people instructions to

purify themselves and follow the priests

who carried the ark of the covenant. But

not until the priests’ feet hovered over

the water, preparing that first step, did

the river water part. Not until they acted

in faith and obedience was the way

plain. This was confirmation the living

God was on their side.

What do you do when you feel

blocked?

tuesday


Every family has those stories. They

may be funny; they may be sentimental.

They are stories of what make your

family unique and give you a shared

understanding of your identity.

That’s what the children of Israel

established as they brought the twelve

stones from the Jordan River. Each tribe

brought up a rock to add to the pile in

the middle of the crossroad at Gilgal.

They became a memorial—a reminder

to everyone who passed that God had

made a way for them to cross the river

on dry ground, that God had led them

to the Promised Land, that God was

powerful and worthy of praise. They

knew who they were because they knew

whose they were.

What story does your family have

about God’s deliverance?

If you have not trusted in the one

true God and His Son, why wait? Find

help from an adult in your church.

What courageous step do you need

to take? Purify yourself before God,

and pray about how you should

proceed.

Record a story from your parents or

grandparents about God’s protection

or provision in your family. You

can write it or video it.

34

WedNesday

Read Acts 7:54—8:1

Evel Knievel was a stunt performer who

dared to do impossible things. On a

motorcycle, Knievel jumped over 19 cars!

Unfortunately, all of Knieval’s stunts did

not go as planned, and he had at least

433 bone fractures. Many thought he

was crazy, while others thought he was a

hero. Certainly, he was dedicated to his

crazy schemes.

In Acts, we read about Stephen, a man

who prayed for his murderers as he was

dying (verse 60). How could Stephen do

this? Verse 55 tells us Stephen obeyed

God and was full of the Holy Spirit. He

believed Jesus was who He said He was.

When he faced danger, Stephen held

strong to his faith in God.

If you had the faith of Stephen,

would it be easier to do impossible

things? Why or why not?

Pray for people who are persecuted

for their faith in Christ. Explore

an organization like Voice of the

Martyrs that helps persecuted

Christians.

tHuRsday

Read Acts 16:23–34

Paul and Silas were Christians who

believed all people needed to hear the

good news of Jesus. Like Stephen, they

had enemies who tried to keep them

from sharing. After Paul and Silas were

beaten, they were thrown in prison. If

you were these men, what might you

do? Verse 25 is shocking. Paul and Silas,

bruised, bleeding, and trapped, were

singing songs and praising God. Verse

31 tells us just what kept these men so

calm: faith in Jesus Christ. Even though

they were in terrible circumstances,

they had faith that God loved them and

would care for them.

Why did the jailer want to believe in

the God of Paul and Silas? Do you

have friends who are desperately

searching for God?

In the midst of trouble, praising

and singing to God might not be

easy, but try it anyway. You will be

surprised how the Holy Spirit helps

you as you worship.

FRIday

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2–10

If your best friend had to describe you

in three words, what would they be?

The three words you select for yourself

might be a little different from what a

friend chooses. Each word we say, joke

we tell, or action we take tells people

about us.

Paul had more than three words to

describe the Thessalonians. They were

hard workers, had great faith, loved

others, and held true to hope (verse 3).

These qualities were not merely internal.

Verse 8 says people talked about

the Thessalonians’ faith in Macedonia,

Achaia, and beyond. Think about it—this

was before social media or cell phones.

How did people know about the Thessalonians’

faith? They must have been

living it out every day, everywhere.

How would a stranger at school describe

you? What do your actions

tell others about you?

Galatians 5:22–23 lists qualities

that the Holy Spirit helps create in

believers. Which describe you?

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 35

Choosing

to Lead

By Jeff Mattson

36

When you think of a leader, who comes to mind?

Someone famous? Someone who changed the

world? I wonder . . . did you think of yourself?

Whether you did or didn’t is okay, but for the next

few minutes, I want you to imagine yourself as a

leader.

But what if you’re not athletic or popular? What if

you’re shy, awkward, and barely noticed? Is leadership

even a possibility for you? Absolutely! Let me

explain why.

If you don’t know who Bear Grylls is, look him up.

He’s a pretty impressive guy. Not only is he known

for his survival skills, but he served in the UK Special

Forces Reserve and summited Mount Everest

too. But if you dig deeper into his story you’ll find

out that Bear was an awkward teenager who was

bullied. That’s right—the ultimate survivor expert

who crosses raging river canyons with a makeshift

bamboo pole and, with his bare hands, catches

deadly venomous snakes that he ends up eating—

that Bear Grylls was once a confused, awkward

teen. He struggled to find his way through the

days, not knowing how or when the next insult,

humiliation, or hurt would come his way. And then

it happened for Bear—a mentor came into his life

and shared the hope of Christ with him.1

Most of the world knows Bear from his popular

shows Man vs. Wild and World’s Toughest Race:

Eco-Challenge, but they don’t know that he didn’t

feel special as a teenager until he accepted God’s

love for him. Bear, like all of us, made a choice. He

could have chosen not to believe in the good news

that his mentor had shared with him, but Bear

chose differently. He chose to believe in who God

is and what He says about Himself, and who God

says that he is and how God wants him to live.

BECOMING A LEADER

• IDENTIFY POSITIVE ROLE MODELS

AND SEARCH OUT A MENTOR.

• READ BIOGRAPHIES OF

LEADERS IN HISTORY.

• RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE INFLUENCE OVER

YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY EVEN NOW.

• SERVE OTHERS. JESUS PROVIDED THIS

MODEL FOR TRUE LEADERSHIP.

These truths will make all the difference in the

world if you truly believe them!

Does this mean belief in who God is will transform

you from an awkward teenager into a survival

expert? Probably not. But belief in who God is and

who He says you are will transform your life in

amazing ways. Suddenly, you realize the Creator

of the world loves you and has a plan for you. He

has entrusted you with sharing the hope of Christ

with a world that needs it. In essence, when you

believe what God says, you’ve just received the call

of leadership.

Jeff Mattson is the co-owner and founder of Living Wholehearted,

a leadership coach, author, and co-host of the Living Wholehearted

Podcast. He and his wife Terra are passionate about helping leaders

live with integrity through the disciplines of professional counseling

and organizational development. Together, they are raising two teen

daughters and enjoy the great outdoors through camping, fly fishing,

and some serious competition in games!

1 Bear Grylls, Soul Fuel: A Daily Devotional. Zondervan, 2019.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 37

On the scene from mission fields...

In Dakar, Senegal, with Rachel Burns

If you google “Dakar, Senegal,” you will most likely see a picture of the African

Renaissance Monument. The statue features an African man guiding

a woman with one arm, and with his other arm, he holds a small child.

The second picture you find might be the Mosque of the Divinity, located

right on the beach of the North Atlantic Ocean. Both landmarks are located

less than a mile from one another, and within a mile of my home and

school. Basically, I am living in the middle of a Google collage of Dakar.

Dakar is home to almost three million people, most of them Muslims. In Dakar, not only do you get to experience

the culture of local Senegalese, but you can find many other groups of people and their culture represented

too. Senegal has been named the country of Terenga. This word does not directly translate into English, but

I have heard it summed up as hospitality, which is the English word I would use to describe Senegal as well.

Top five things I love about Dakar

1. People: I moved here on August 1, 2019, and I have yet to meet a person I did not want to be best friends

with. A few weeks after returning from summer break for my second year in Dakar, I realized my new

glasses were no longer in my bag. Through the process of elimination, I knew they had fallen out of my

backpack on my taxi ride to my school. I know this sounds crazy, but one week later the taxi driver brought

my glasses to my front door. He drove across town to drop them off because he thought they might be mine.

2. Food: My favorite Senegalese dish is maffe. You can enjoy maffe a few different ways, but my favorite is

prepared with beef, rice, plenty of carrots, and peanut sauce. The sauce is made with natural peanut butter

and tomatoes. Speaking of eating, I love how the Senegalese eat together. Generally, they all sit around a giant

silver bowl. The bowl is divided into sections like pizza slices. You eat from the triangle in front of you.

The meal's designated host will move the good stuff (meat and veggies) to your section of the bowl as you

need more. Never forget to carry a spoon because you never know when someone will invite you to join.

3. Language: The official language of Senegal is French, but the native language is Wolof. I am sure it is like

this in other cultures, but the Senegalese take greetings very seriously. They genuinely want to know about

my family, job, house, and friends, and then we can talk about something else.

38

4. Beach: Let's be real—who would not want to live close to

the beach? I am not sure how I lived in landlocked states

until 2019. The ocean brings something very special to

this city, and I have not yet put my finger on it.

5. Dakar Academy West: One of my favorite things about

Dakar is getting to work at Dakar Academy West. God

has big plans for this place. He has shown His provision,

protection, and love for our small school in so many ways.

Dakar Academy is operating for the purpose of providing a

good education option for families who want to share the

gospel in West Africa. In August 2019, DA launched a new

school on the opposite side of town, which we call Dakar

Academy West. When I came to teach, the school was brand

new, most of the staff was new to West Africa, and our administration

was also new. Lots of new things mean lots of room

to grow, and growth is what happened. We started the year

with 22 enrolled students and ended with about 50. Don't

forget this was during a global pandemic. In the fall of 2020

we added one new grade, four new teachers, a second floor

(with an ocean view), and about 30 additional students. Our

staff and students combined represent 20 different countries!

In my classroom alone we have six cultures represented, and

we get to celebrate all of our differences.

Another thing unique to West is that we have a lot of families

who are in Dakar for business. This means we have many students

who get to hear the gospel and study the Word for the

very first time. The greatest joy of my day is getting to share

with my students why we need a Savior and how God provided

one for us. The other day my principal came in during

our Bible lesson, and we were talking about the apostle Paul.

Principal Hein asked, "What is the gospel?" This question led

us to another one: “Why did Jesus have to die?” One of my students

spoke up and said, "Jesus is the bridge!" The rest of the

class joined in, and the gospel was presented clearly by the

children.

How You Can Pray

• Pray that every student, parent, gardener,

builder, teacher, support staff, delivery

person, and any guest who walks on this

campus has an opportunity to see the love

of Jesus.

• Pray for our students who are studying the

Bible for the first time. It's a big deal, and

we want them to find His Word as truth.

• Pray for our students who know Jesus

and know Him well. Pray that their desire

to know grows stronger every day. They

have a significant job as young followers

of Christ, and they get to fulfill that

responsibility inside the classroom.

Rachel Burns teaches

second grade at Dakar

Academy West as an

associate missionary with

IM, Inc. Read more

about Dakar Academy at

www.dakar-academy.org.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 39

By

Daniel Webster

Worst First

“Worst First” Has Something

to Do With Rotten Fruit

When I was a teenager, I mowed a couple of lawns

in the neighborhood. I loved cutting grass and still

do. Looking back over a freshly-cut lawn gives a

wonderful sense of satisfaction.

One particular lawn had several fruit trees. So, on

a hot summer day I would save that part for last,

employing a worst last approach. While cutting

the rest of the yard, all I could think about was the

unlikable experience I would soon face. The fear of

being stung by a bee and the nasty feeling of rotten

pears on my shoes made the entire job miserable.


to Do With Painting and Broccoli

A couple of years later, while working at my new

job, the lead painter gave me a list of things to do

for the day. One of them was getting down on my

hands and knees to scrape the dirt and rocks away

from the foundation of a house. He looked at me

and said, “You need to start here behind these big

holly bushes. That will be the hardest part and we

always do worst first.”

Even now when I’m working on a project, I can hear

the lead painter say, “We always do worst first.” I’ve

taught this to my children. One of my kids decided

he didn’t want broccoli on his plate; his mom put it

on there anyway. When I sat down with my plate, I

motioned toward my broccoli and said, “Worst first.”

He knew exactly what I meant. He picked up his

fork, downed his broccoli in a few bites, and then

proceeded to enjoy his pork chop.

Whether completing yard work, eating broccoli,

doing your homework, or organizing the garage,

worst first is an important principle to implement

because it shapes your character.


to Do With Following Jesus

When it comes to following God, Jesus used

imagery that evokes hard work. He told His

disciples to take up your cross (Matthew 16:24–26)

and to take His yoke (Matthew 11:29–30). He equated

aspects of the Christian life with plowing a field

(Luke 9:62), building a house (Matthew 7:24–27), and

casting a heavy net (Matthew 4:19).

We don’t work our way to Heaven or work our way

into favor with God. Our standing in the eyes of

God is totally and completely through Jesus Christ.

But God expects us to apply ourselves and to give

Him our best. “Worst first” will help you get things

done, but the Spirit can also use this mindset to

help you endure the trials of this life as you live out

your faith in full reliance on God.

Daniel Webster works at Welch College in Gallatin,

Tennessee. He and his wife have three children. You can read

more from him at AThingWorthDoing.com.

40

by Shannon Primicerio

Bummer Summer

I was 20 years old and heading home from college

for the summer. My dad lined up a job for me working

as a receptionist. Everything was set.

same city my parents moved to, and I would be able

to sit face to face with editors and agents and pitch

my book proposal.

But when I arrived home, my job fell through. To

make matters worse, my parents had recently moved

so I didn’t even know anyone in their new city. With

no friends and no job I drove around handing in

applications for seasonal employment. The responses

were all the same: “Sorry. We’ve already filled our

summer positions.”

How in the world was I going to get through what

was shaping up to be the worst summer ever?

Home alone, and bored out of my mind, I found a

book my mom bought about how to write a book

proposal. Since I was a journalism major, I was

intrigued and began to read it. The more I read, the

more convinced I was that I was supposed to spend

my summer writing a book proposal for a book for

teenage girls.

So I did. At first I didn’t tell anyone, even my parents.

But in a few weeks I shared what I’d been working

on and they were impressed. I also discovered a

writers’ conference would be coming to the very

Feeling nervous, I went. And by the time I came

home again for Christmas I had a signed book contract

for my very first book, The Divine Dance. Me. A

20-year-old college student! I still think that story is

wild when I tell it.

And here’s why: God took an ordinary college student

with no summer job, and He used her to write

not just that one book, but ten books that would go

on to impact the lives of thousands of teenage girls

all across the world.

It’s summer now. And even though you’re not a

college student, you might have your own plans that

fall through. Look for the opportunities God brings

you. Dare to dream big and attempt something impossible

for the sake of God’s kingdom. Seek Him.

And remember that your own bummer summer just

might end up being your best one yet.

Shannon Primicerio is the author of ten books for teenage

girls, including The Divine Dance. Learn more about Shannon

and her books at beingagirlbooks.com.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 41

Samson’s Mixed Up Story

Ask your friends for a little review on their parts of speech and plug their most interesting

answers into the story below. You may find some new twists and turns in the story!

Scene 1

Judges 13 through 16 tell about adjective scenes from the story of Samson.

The first scene is the announcement of his birth. An noun came to his parents, Manoah and

woman’s name , and told them they would have a son. He would take a vow to be set apart

unto God. The child had three prohibitions, not for a season, but for his entire life. He was not to touch

noun , not to drink something to drink , and not to cut his noun .

Manoah and his wife responded to the pronouncement by worshiping God and making an offering to Him.

Scene 2

They named their son Samson. As he became an adult, he asked his parents to allow him to marry a girl from

place . His parents, of course, wanted him to marry a nice Jewish girl. But Samson was insistent.

On his way to see his girlfriend, Samson was attacked by a young animal . He tore it into pieces

with his bare hands. When he returned later, he found that a swarm of animals (plural) had

settled in the carcass of the dead animal. So Samson helped himself to food and shared it with

his parents. At the wedding feast he used this animal story as a riddle to stump the wedding party, offering 30

noun (plural) as a bet. No one could guess the riddle, so Samson’s new wife cried until he told

her. When she told her people, Samson lost the bet. Samson accused them of verb -ing with his

noun . To pay off, he killed number men in the town and gave their clothes to those

who had guessed the riddle. Then he left for home and his wife was given in marriage to the best man.

Scene 3

After Samson cooled off, he returned to his wife, bringing a noun as a gift for her. When he

found out she was now married to someone else, he refused to marry her younger sister! Instead he caught

number animals (plural) , tied their body part of an animal (plural)

together with noun (plural) , and set them loose in the town. The crazy animals ran everywhere,

destroying the noun (plural) and the noun (plural) . The townspeople promised

revenge.

The men of Judah were frightened when their enemies came to town looking for Samson. So a group of

number men tied him up to take him back for the fight. As soon as he was in the enemy camp,

42

God’s Spirit came on him, he broke out of the ropes, and he grabbed the nearest weapon—the

animal’s body part of a animal . With it, he killed number of the

enemy. For number years, he was a judge in Israel.

Scene 4

In Gaza, after a night with a bad woman, Samson was again threatened by an enemy ambush at the entrance

to the city. Instead of exiting through the locked city gates, he verb (past tense) them up and

verb (past tense) them away. Ambush? Fail!

Then he met Delilah. The enemy offered Samson’s new girlfriend 1100 money to find the secret

of his strength.

Delilah verb (past tense) up to Samson and purred, “ something a girlfriend would say to

a boyfriend. .” Samson told her she could tie him up with nouns(plural) and he

wouldn’t be able to escape. He lied. When he took a nap and she tried it, he snapped them easily.

“Oh, Samson,” Delilah said, “you lied to me. Tell me something a girlfriend would say to a boyfriend. ”

This time he told her to tie him up with nouns . Again she tried it during his nap. Again he broke

free. Once again Delilah verb (past tense) and again discovered Samson had lied.

Delilah knew how to pout and verb . Day after day she asked Samson, begging him to reveal the

secret, until he was worn out with it. He told her if she cut his noun , he would have no strength.

She rocked him to sleep in her lap, gave him a haircut, and called in the enemy guards. Samson was captured

and Delilah cashed the check. The Philistines verb (past tense) out Samson’s body part ,

shackled his body part , and made him work at the place to work .

Scene 5

At a adjective noun to celebrate, the Philistines brought Samson into their

building . They mocked him and verb (past tense) him and stood him up next to two

pillars of the building. Samson asked God to give him strength one final time. The Lord answered his prayer,

and Samson pushed on the pillars until the building verb (past tense) , crushing him and all the

people at the celebration.

Obviously, that’s not quite how the story went!

To compare your story to what actually happened, check out Judges 13–16.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 43

Choose a friend or a family member and see just how

well you know that person. Fill in the blanks on the

left side of the page as you think he or she would,

fold your answers back so they are not visible, then

have your friend (family) fill in the blanks on the

right to see how well you predicted the answers!

Favorite animal

Favorite Bible verse

Favorite sports team

Dream car

Favorite singer

Favorite TV show

Favorite song you sing at church

Least favorite food

Name of your all-time

favorite teacher

How much your last

pair of shoes cost

Best vacation you ever took

Favorite commercial spokesperson

How much money you

have in your wallet

Favorite fast food restaurant

If you could give $100,000 to a

charity, you would give it to this one.

44

Are the Ten Commandments

still valid for today, or are

they outdated since they’re

in the Old Testament?

All of the Ten Commandments are reinforced in the New

Testament in direct teaching or principle. In the Sermon on

the Mount, Jesus made it clear that the teachings of the Law

remained in force (Matthew 5-7). Jesus even raised the standard

of the commandments by pointing out that those who hated

and lusted in their hearts were guilty of murder and adultery.

Jesus later summarized the entire Old Testament Law in two

commands: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor

as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).

Dr. Danny Conn is the Director of

Editorial and Strategic Products at

Randall House Publications.

Scripture teaches that Jesus came to fulfill the Law. But fulfill

does not mean to abolish or invalidate. Jesus fulfilled the

Law by living up to the strict requirements for righteousness

through His sinless life and also by being the answer to all of

the prophecies regarding the Messiah. The primary distinction

between the old or former testament/covenant is that faith

was demonstrated by following the commandments. In the new

testament/covenant, faith is demonstrated by following Jesus—

the perfect example who fulfilled the letter of the Law and the

spirit of the Law. We even honor the Sabbath principle with a

day of worship on the day Jesus resurrected from the grave.

What was an Old Testament judge? Did they wear black

robes and bang a gavel like our judges today?

The Old Testament judges were not legal experts that made rulings according to the law as we use the term

today. The Old Testament judges are better understood as deliverers or leaders who carried out the judgments

of God. They led the nation of Israel for about 300 years, after the death of Joshua until the time of the kings.

Judges 2:16-19 gives a brief description of the role of the judges. Often they served as military leaders whom

God raised up for a specific time and region of the country to overthrow the enemies of God’s people. Gideon,

Jephthah, and Samson are examples. They also served as spiritual leaders to guide the nation in faithfulness to

God, as best demonstrated by Samuel and Deborah.

Some of the judges had some glaring faults in their lives—Samson especially. Yet in the book of Hebrews, several

judges, along with Samson, are recognized for their faith (Hebrews 11:32-34). Their example helps us understand

that God can use imperfect people to accomplish great things when we trust Him and do what He says.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 45

Theme: God Honors Obedience

july 31 - aug 6

saTuRday - suNday


When the Israelites left Egypt, God

promised to guide them to a new, wonderful

home. Along the way, they faced

enemies that wanted to keep them

from this place. In our reading today, we

find the Israelites facing the huge city of

Jericho with a strong wall protecting it.

There were no bulldozers or bombs, just

men. But God had a plan.

Was God’s plan in verses 2–5 what you

would expect? If we were to come up

with a plan, it probably would not involve

marching, shouting, or trumpets. But

the people did exactly what God had

said (verses 6–8). What was the end

result of obeying God? The result was

absolute victory. God always sees the

big picture, and His plan can be trusted.

Do you ever complain about God’s

plans or commandments? If so,

why?

Obeying God is not always easy.

Like Joshua, continue to trust that

God knows what is best.

MoNday


One of the most comforting thoughts

to remember is in verse 19—God is not

man. When someone does you wrong,

how do you react? If someone lied to

you, tricked you, and mocked you, how

would you treat that person? If someone

murdered your parent, could you

forgive him or her?

Now think about God. Adam and Eve

thought they knew better than God

and brought sin into the world. How did

God respond after disciplining them?

He clothed them. Soldiers beat, spit,

and cursed at Jesus, but how did He respond?

He prayed that God would forgive

them. When we disobey God and

act like we know best, how does God

treat us? He loves us, forgives us when

we ask, and offers us salvation. God

never changes, so we can trust Him.

How can verse 19 give you comfort

during dark times?

A human seeks revenge, but God

is just. List some of the ways God’s

response is different from ours.

tuesday

Read Proverbs 1:20–33

If you ate a dozen doughnuts every day,

what would you look like in a year? If

you ran one mile each day, what might

happen in a year? But it’s not always

that simple to see how your decisions

affect your life.

Proverbs is a book of wisdom that helps

us learn about God, the world, and ourselves.

Today’s reading is full of advice

for the choices we make. The passage

described a person who ignored wise

counsel. Verse 27 said these bad choices

will cause terror and horror. Thankfully,

there is another option found in

the very last verse—whoever listens and

obeys God is secure. God’s plans truly

are the best for you.

Are there choices you are making

you know will have a negative consequence?

Though all Christians struggle to

obey God perfectly, He still loves

us and is ready to forgive us when

we ask.

46

WedNesday


Would you include your name on a list

of people with strong faith? Paul would

not have included himself. Though he

called himself the lowest of all of God’s

people (Ephesians 3:8), we know some

of the great things Paul did and how God

used him. In verse 3, Paul said our struggles,

temptations, and hardships are not

from the physical world; they are from

the spiritual world. You need spiritual

strength to fight the temptations you

face. Verses 5 and 6 tell us to compare

everything to what God says, to pray to

Him especially in times of need, and to

obey Him. The next time you are tempted

to complain, disobey, or be angry,

ask God for help. This is a spiritual battle

and you need Him to help you win it.

How does God help you fight your

spiritual battles?

The next time you are tempted to

brag on yourself, boast about God’s

grace instead.

tHuRsday


If you needed to sculpt a statue, would

you rather learn from a toddler with

Play-Doh or Michelangelo? It is always

better to go to the expert. When

something challenging happens, we

don’t always know where to go for help.

Friends and parents give us guidance,

but even they are not perfect. The only

one we can turn to for a perfect example

is Jesus.

While on earth, Jesus faced temptations

and discouragements just like

other people. Even though He was

crucified, He kept His eyes on His prize—

being with God the Father. Just like

Jesus, we are to keep our eyes focused

on our life with God in Heaven. Throw off

sin and leave bad influences behind.

Why do you look forward to

Heaven?

Make a list of friends, places, apps,

or games that distract you from

knowing God’s truth. Check the

list often to make sure you are not

giving them priority in your life.

FRIday


In the Marvel comics, Thor is a mythical

man whose weapon is a mighty hammer.

Although other men try to lift the

hammer, they cannot make it budge.

Only Thor can lift and use it. The men

who try to lift the hammer use the same

actions as Thor, but they get different

results.

The stories of Rahab and Jericho have a

key element that makes them wonderful.

Verses 30–31 tell us it was faith. The

walls of Jericho did not fall because

the Israelites walked. They fell because

God’s people faithfully obeyed Him.

Rahab’s life was not saved because

she was nice or a good person. God

accepted her because of her faith. We

can make the right choices, be kind, and

be admired by others, but what truly

matters is our faith in God.

Which faithful person in Hebrews

11’s list is most like you?

Like a muscle, our faith grows when

we exercise it.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 47

Theme: God Chooses Unusual Leaders

august 7-13

saTuRday - suNday

Read Judges 4:1–24

Deborah trusted God’s plan, but it

seemed Barak trusted Deborah more

than he trusted God. Sometimes, the

Lord puts people in our lives to help us

and mentor us, but we should never be

so dependent on them that we can’t

function without them! The Lord should

be the One who receives all of our

trust. No matter what, God was always

in control of the situation. No man’s

decisions ever stopped God’s plan.

Because Deborah trusted God, the

enemy was delivered into the “hand of

a woman” (verse 9) instead of the hand

of a military leader as expected. God is

in the business of empowering anybody

willing to be used by Him.

Are you more like Deborah or

Barak? Remember God when life is

good, and trust Him when it doesn’t

make sense.

This week, as you read about

trusting God, ask Him to help you

become stronger in this area.

MoNday

Read Judges 5:3–9

This superhero probably looked a lot

like a grandmother. She had no invisible

plane or bullet-deflecting bracelets.

She couldn’t fly or see through walls.

She had no Power Bow or bee-stinging

ability. But Judges 5 is a ballad about

Deborah’s leadership in the battle

against Sisera’s army as she rallied the

troops and fought for God’s people.

The song includes two other women:

Jael (verses 24–27) and Sisera’s grieving

mother (verses 28-30). Two notes of

the song are obviously missing. There’s

no put-down of Barak who summoned

Deborah’s help and would not go to battle

without her. There’s no pride about

Deborah. Instead the focus is on God,

who gave the victory.

When you take leadership and

things go well, how do you keep the

focus on God who helps you?

Write a simple praise chorus to

God, thanking Him for helping you

to have victory.

tuesday

2 Chronicles 7:14

In high school, one of my teachers

assigned a project and gave us specific

requirements to complete it. When

our projects weren’t working out, she

offered her help only to those who had

followed her original instructions. She

had no sympathy for those who didn’t

do what they were supposed to do.

Solomon asked God to make provisions

for the people when they sinned. God’s

answer involved four specific conditions

for forgiveness: humble yourself, pray

to God for forgiveness, search for God

continually, and turn away from sinful

and evil habits. One of the reasons God

gave this list was to outline what true

repentance looks like. God provides

unconditional love, but sometimes His

promises are conditional. God will hear

us, forgive us, and heal us if we follow His

instructions.

Why is it important for you to admit

your mistakes and ask God for

forgiveness?

Write down the four specific

instructions in this passage and

practice them daily.

48

WedNesday


Any coach can take a talented,

well-practiced team of all-stars and win

games with them. But it takes a great

coach to turn a losing team into a winning

one. Those are the coaches who

are the subjects of movies.

God didn’t choose the most powerful

nation to be His people. He didn’t

always choose the most talented, educated,

or even best-looking people as

His followers and spokesmen. God has

a way of picking “nobodies” and making

them somebodies. This is what brings

Him the most glory. Our weaknesses

highlight His strength. If you’re worried

about being too talented, educated, or

good-looking to be in God’s crew, don’t

worry—those things are not the problem.

The problem is found in pride. God

wants to use the humble and obedient.

Why is it important to know that

God can use anyone and only

requires a trusting and faithful

follower?

Thank God for using the weak for

His glory.

tHuRsday

Read John 15:14

Your parents have probably set up rules

and guidelines for you. You might have

a bedtime or a specific homework time.

Maybe you can’t eat too many sweets

or watch certain movies. Parents make

rules to show you they love you. If the

rules seem difficult, remember cavities,

heartbreak, and broken bones.

If parents show us their love by making

rules, how do we show them we love

them? By obeying their rules! The same

is true for God’s laws. He tells us that

obedience is the best way to show Him

we love Him. When we obey our parents

and God, even when we don’t understand

their rules, we communicate that

we trust them!

How does Jesus ask you to prove

your love to Him in this verse?

Spend a week obeying your parents

without questioning. Notice how

they respond to your new attitude.

FRIday

Read Acts 3:19–20

Many people pray sincerely, but the

Bible is very clear that sin is a divider;

it separates God and man. If we pray

without repenting of our sins, God will

not hear our prayers. We want prayer to

comfort and affirm us, and we want to

“claim” God’s promises and words, but

these things simply aren’t going to help

the one who hasn’t repented.

Holding on to the things of the world is

like holding on to the rail because you

don’t trust the stairs. When we try to

hold on to our earthly treasures (idols)

or sinful pleasures while serving God,

we’re saying we don’t trust God to be

enough for us. His ways and His plans

require us to be all in!

Why is it sometimes difficult for you

to let go of sinful things and live for

God?

Evaluate how much you trust in

God by thinking of what you’re still

holding on to.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 49

Theme: God Calls Ordinary People

august 14-20

saTuRday - suNday


Sometimes God puts us in situations

or calls us to tasks that seem to go

against our strengths or defy human

logic. When this happens, get ready.

God is setting the stage for His power,

not yours. God didn’t want Gideon or his

men to think for even a second that they

had beaten the Midianites in their own

strength. When they won that battle,

everybody knew it was God.

Can you imagine what Gideon thought

when he was told his army was too

big? Instead of arguing, he trusted and

obeyed God. Because he did, God

granted His approval (verse 15) and

ultimately the victory (verse 22). God’s

goodness and power are available to

all who trust in Him. He can use anyone

who is surrendered to Him.

What can you learn from Gideon’s

experience?

Think about the things that get in

the way of trusting God. Ask God to

show you His power in spite of your

weaknesses.

MoNday

Read Isaiah 55:8–9

Photo mosaics use smaller pictures to

make up a large picture. If you’ve ever

seen one you know it’s difficult to see

the whole picture when you’re standing

close enough to see the smaller

pictures. Only when you step away from

the smaller components can you see

the whole thing as one big picture.

God sees the whole picture, and every

single tiny detail that makes up the

whole, at the same time. His knowledge

and understanding far surpass what we

see. He knows what we can’t know. He

sees what we can’t see. He created what

we can’t understand. Why wouldn’t we

trust the One who holds it all?

What do these verses show you

about your understanding compared

to God’s?

Find a puzzle to put together this

week. As you work, think about how

it’s impossible to see the whole picture

based on one piece. Ask God

to help you trust in Him.

tuesday

Read Job 23:10

Precious metals are exposed to fire in

the purification process; it burns out

any soil or other rock that was mined

with the metal. God purifies us as well.

As hot and as painful as it might be,

it takes that fire to refine us. We can’t

know the depth of our character or our

trust in God until we respond under

testing.

Today’s verse is Job’s response to

God’s refining work even in the midst

of great pain and loss. It should also

be ours. Instead of complaining about

our struggles, we should see them as

opportunities for growth. Struggles are

the fire God uses to make us something

better (James 1:3). God will never leave

us during this painful process. He is

intimately involved in refining every part

of the metal.

What areas of my life could use

some purifying?

Look for a video of the gold refining

process and imagine it as a representation

of your life.

50

WedNesday

Read Psalm 43:4–5

Life will knock you down. That’s expected.

It’s what we do when we’ve been

knocked down that matters. Just as the

psalmist did, we should look to God as

a source of encouragement. His light

and truth will lead us to hope and joy.

Today’s verses give the picture that the

Lord sends out His light to guide us. In

spite of feeling discouraged or troubled,

we can put our hope in God. When life

is hard and you’re scared and worried,

God whispers, “Find refuge in Me. Trust

in My power.” When we draw close to

God in times of trouble, when we worship

in the middle of heartache, He will

restore our joy.

Where do you look for encouragement

and safety in times of

trouble?

Check out the song “Joy” by Rend

Collective.

tHuRsday

Read John 21:16–18

Just three chapters earlier, Peter denied

being a follower of Jesus. Here Jesus

gave Peter a chance to redeem the

words he foolishly spoke to those who

asked about his relationship to Christ.

Jesus not only forgave Peter, but He

told him he would still be used for great

things. He called Peter to a role much

bigger than Peter could have imagined.

It might sound like Jesus questioned

Peter’s love, but He gave Peter three

chances to say he loved Him face to

face.

We will fail as we live for Christ, but failure

doesn’t have to be final. Christ loves

us and wants us to love Him as well. If

we love Him, we serve Him by serving

others.

How would you describe the feeling

of having a chance to right a wrong?

Ask God to help you see His

patience with your struggles. Ask

Him to help you have that same

patience with others.

FRIday

Read Jeremiah 9:23–24

Professional athletes can be cocky

about their abilities, winning percentages,

and records. Rich people are sometimes

known to be snooty or think they

are better than those with less money.

Very intelligent people sometimes look

down on the uneducated. However,

people with these attitudes wrongly take

credit. All we have in skills, possessions,

and wisdom was given to us by God. He

has the power to take it all away.

Instead, God calls us to delight in our

relationship with Him. When we know

Him, we are better off than any Hall of

Fame athlete, billionaire, or Jeopardy

champion.

How can you glorify God with the

abilities, influence, and wisdom He

has given you?

Thank the Lord, privately and publicly,

for all He has given you. Use

your gifts to serve God and to lead

others to a relationship with Him.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 51

Theme: God Uses Flawed People

august 21-27

saTuRday - suNday


Samson believed Delilah’s very obvious

lies and made foolish decisions. He

wasted much of his life and the gift of

his strength. He is a good example of

what not to do. In Samson’s final moments,

though, we see a picture of how

patient God is with each of us. In spite

of Samson’s past, God still answered his

final prayer and used him to destroy the

heathen temple along with its worshipers.

In fact, Samson is mentioned in the

“Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11).

Sin leads us down paths of destruction

and distorts our judgment, but we have

never gone too far to turn back to God. If

we are willing to simply confess our sins,

God can still save. He is always ready

to restore us to a right relationship with

Him.

When have you allowed your

feelings or desires to cloud your

judgment?

MoNday


God put several restrictions on Samson’s

life. He was to be set apart and

live a clean life under the Nazirite vow.

We can assume that when Samson

broke some of these rules in chapter

14 he noticed he didn’t lose any of his

strength. However, these small steps

of disobedience eventually led him to a

very bad place.

God had a specific role for Samson, but

Samson found other things along the

way he desired more—sex, revenge, and

power. Maybe you’ve been tempted

by similar things. Don’t allow popularity,

recognition, or wealth to lead you away

from Christ. He has a specific role for

you as well! Sin is only fun for a season.

Samson’s life is an example of that!

Why does it get easier and easier for

people to compromise their faith

and values?

tuesday


You know those break-up stories where

the girl starts dating the guy’s best

friend? That’s what happened to Samson,

except the girl was his wife. To say

he was angry would be an understatement.

He caught 300 foxes, tied their

tails together with torches, and let them

loose to set the countryside on fire. Yes,

that would be called revenge.

So when the deed was done, and

Samson’s father-in-law and ex-wife

had been put to death, was Samson

satisfied? Was his life better? No!

Revenge does not fix our problems; it

only creates more. It may soothe our

wounded pride, but God tells us to leave

vengeance to Him (Romans 12:19). He is

a God of justice, and we can trust Him to

do what is right.

What is the difference between

standing up for yourself and seeking

revenge?

Check out Hebrews 11:32–34 to see

the difference faith makes in flawed

people.

Allow God’s plan to matter more to

you than what the world offers.

Is there something you need to

choose to forgive rather than seeking

revenge? Talk to God about it.

52

WedNesday


Samson would make a great comic

book hero. He’s certainly a flawed

character, and there is no lack of excitement!

After his revenge on his father-inlaw,

ex-wife, and the local economy of

the Philistines, an army invaded Israel’s

territory. To save themselves, 3000 of

Samson’s countrymen found him, tied

him up in ropes, and handed him over

to the Philistines. Then the story got

really good. The Spirit of the Lord came

upon Samson, he exploded out of the

ropes that bound him, and he grabbed

the nearest weapon to attack them all.

He killed 1000 Philistines. One against

1000. One bone for a weapon. The

powerful Spirit of God protected His

children and His name.

What does it mean that the Spirit

of the Lord came upon Samson?

What could His Spirit enable you

to do?

tHuRsday

Read 1 John 1:5–10

As a kid, I got in trouble often for staying

out after dark. I would be having too

much fun with my friends and didn’t

notice the time. My focus was not on

pleasing my parents or doing what was

right. I was only thinking about the fun I

was having! Only when the fun was over

did I notice the darkness outside.

The battle we face between right and

wrong can be frustrating, but it reveals

our desire to do what’s right and our

need for forgiveness. It reveals our longing

for the light. The struggle is not the

problem. The concern is when there is

no struggle. This means we are giving in

to the temptations of sin; we don’t even

realize we’re walking in sin. Our lives are

dark in those moments, but we don’t

even notice the lack of light.

How can you put 1 John 1:9 into

practice?

FRIday

Read Isaiah 30:15

The verse does not say, “In workouts

and extra effort, there is strength.” It

doesn’t say, “In rallying support and

gaining popularity, there is strength,” or

“In repeatedly explaining and in speaking

up for yourself, there is strength.”

We know we need strength—strength to

make good choices, strength to continue

to follow God, strength to endure our

daily responsibilities and the extraordinary

difficulties that occasionally come

our way. We need physical, mental,

emotional, and spiritual strength, because

on our own, we are weak. Strength

is available from the Lord, but He has

conditions for granting it. The conditions

seem unusual to us: quietness, confidence

in the Lord, trust. He is offering

what we need. Are we willing to take it?

How are you demonstrating quiet

trust in the Lord?

Refocus your attention on God’s

honor and consider whether that

changes this part of Samson’s

story.

Memorize 1 John 1:9.

Find a worship song that reminds

you of this principle of quietness

and confidence, and add it to

your playlist. You’re going to need

strength!

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 53

Theme: God Provides Redemption

aug 28 - sEP 3

saTuRday - suNday

Read Ruth 4:1–17

The book of Ruth begins with death,

sorrow, and pain. What would become

of Ruth and Naomi? How would they

find shelter, food, hope, and love? As we

work our way through chapter 4, we see

pain turn into beauty and despair into

hope. In verses 9–10, Boaz committed

to officially redeem Naomi’s family and

take Ruth as his wife. The widows were

no longer lost! They had a new family

and redeemer who would provide for

their needs.

Ruth and Naomi’s redemption is a

beautiful picture of what Jesus did for

you and me. Isaiah 53:6 says we are like

sheep who are lost. Jesus graciously

finds us and brings us to God’s family.

Through His death and resurrection,

we can live new lives of forgiveness and

worship the one true God.

How does Jesus’ death show you

that God loves you?

MoNday

Read Ruth 1:8–22

You make hundreds of choices every

day. Some choices are simple, while

others make you scream, “I don’t know

what to do!” After Ruth’s husband died,

she was left without children, a home,

or money. In order to survive, she had

to make a choice. Would she leave her

widowed mother-in-law and return to

her parents’ home, or would she stay

with her?

Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, made her

decision even harder. In verses 8–15,

Naomi told Ruth to leave. She even

told Ruth to turn back to serving idols.

Thankfully, Ruth chose a different path.

In verse 16, she declared that Naomi

would always be her family and the Lord

God would always be her God. God saw

Ruth’s choice of faith and was pleased.

In tough choices, when you face

opposition, to whom do you turn for

support?

tuesday

Read Ruth 2:1–22

Many teenagers wonder what plans God

has for them and what decisions they

should make. Thankfully, God does not

keep us guessing. His Word helps guide

our steps. The faithfulness of Ruth is

one example for us.

When Ruth and Naomi returned to

Naomi’s homeland, they were without

shelter, food, or money. Instead of

waiting for a miracle, Ruth immediately

began working. Verses 7 and 17 tell us

she worked from early morning until the

evening, gathering wheat from Boaz’s

field. Boaz watched over Ruth, even

having his men drop full pieces of wheat

for her to gather. God saw Ruth’s faithful

dedication to caring for Naomi. Her

faithful work was what He desired, so

He blessed Ruth and Naomi with Boaz’s

generosity.

You can do God’s will starting right

now. What is His will for you today?

Write a thank you note to God for

His redemption.

Commit to reading Psalm 119:105

every day this week. God’s Word will

give you direction.

Make Ruth’s faithfulness your

example as you obey your parents,

care for your siblings, and faithfully

do your chores.

54

WedNesday

Read Deuteronomy 25:5–10

Boaz’s commitment to take Ruth as his

wife in Ruth 4 included an odd procedure.

Why did Boaz have to gather

witnesses at a gate, and why did he take

off his sandal? These practices were

not a silly ceremony; they were actually

commanded by God.

God cared for His people Israel, so He

gave them several practices to follow.

Today’s verses show us one of these

practices that helped protect a widow.

In order for the widow and her family’s

inheritance to continue, the brother of

the dead husband was commanded to

take her as his wife. Like shaking hands,

the brother was to take off his sandal to

seal the deal. This legal practice showed

God’s concern for His people, even the

widows and orphans.

Boaz carefully followed the law to

make Ruth his wife. What did that

reveal about his character?

Pray for an opportunity to share the

story of redemption with someone

this week.

tHuRsday


If Ruth’s redemption story was not

amazing enough, her descendants’

stories are even more spectacular.

Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed

who would become David’s grandfather.

God chose David as His servant to

lead His people (verse 70). Hundreds

of years later, a more perfect servant

would come from David’s family, and He

would be the Son of God who saved the

world.

God’s amazing plan of salvation is

even more special because we do not

deserve it. God chooses immigrant

widows and shepherd boys and other

unlikely people to be part of His kingdom

and part of His plan of redemption.

God’s redemption is beautifully free and

never deserved. Praise Him!

God doesn’t always choose the

people we would choose. How

does that make you feel?

Interview your parents and grandparents

about the way God has

worked in your family. Even if they

are not believers, they will have

some stories about unlikely

developments.

FRIday

Read Deuteronomy 12:1–7

In these verses, God gave instructions

about worship that pleases Him. He

listed destroying places of idol worship

and choosing to worship with God’s

people. He went on to include bringing

offerings and sacrifices. In verse 7, He

commanded His people to rejoice with

their families as they worshiped Him.

They were to recognize His blessings

and celebrate them together.

Ruth, Boaz, Naomi, and the entire

community rejoiced in God’s provisions

for them in Ruth 4. God deserves our

worship and praise for His wonderful redemption.

He is pleased when we come

together with a community of faith to

honor Him in worship.

Is this your pattern for worship

today? Why or why not?

Rejoice about God’s provision for

you. Today, remind your family of

one of God’s blessings and encourage

them to praise God with you.

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 55

insights from youth pastor

There’s a country road with no traffic that crosses

over an incredibly busy interstate close to where I

live. Sometimes I stop on it and watch cars pass beneath

me on I-24 and marvel. There’s no way that

guy from Pennsylvania heading west in the blue

Prius feels the same joys and pains I do, right?

I stop on that overpass often because I need to be

reminded I am not the center of the universe. I

am not the star of some cosmic movie that lasts

78 years, swaying to the soundtrack of my Spotify

playlist. The real crime of living in this Jon-centric

universe is that I start believing Jesus belongs to

me and not vice versa.

Jon Forrest

Overpass Understanding

The thought that Jesus belongs only to me and

my tribe is wrong for many reasons. Jesus died for

every person you will ever see and for every person

you will never see, and He deserves glory from

every one of them.

The next time you are in a busy place like a school

hallway or mall, look at people with a new set of

eyes. Rip away the thought that these people are

the background extras in your “movie.” See them

as people with eternal destinies who have the

potential to glorify God by enjoying Him forever or

as people who have the potential to experience the

anguish of being eternally separated from Him.

I find myself acting like James and John in Mark

10:35-41. They approached Jesus and told Him they

wanted Him to do whatever they asked. They

requested to sit next to Him in glory. I’d guess their

favorite song was probably “Jesus Loves Me.” That

song is true, but Jesus’ love is not exclusively for

me. When you ask my two-year-old niece, “Who

made you?” she says, “God.” When you ask her,

“Why?” she replies, “For His glo-way.” Jesus deserves

to be glorified by every person on I-24. Let

me rephrase that: Jesus deserves to be glorified by

every person.

There’s no room for prejudice or even timidity. It’s

not enough for me to head to my overpass and

pray. We owe it to Jesus to take this good news to

the hallways, the malls, and to the people driving

by us every day.

Jon Forrest is the youth pastor of Bethel Free Will Baptist

Church in Ashland City, Tennessee, and the author of Help! My

Games Stink and FIGHT. His passions include collecting Nerf

guns (he estimates well over 400) and spending time with his

wife Carrie and daughter Ellie, who lovingly put up with him.

56

1. Competent

2. Often

3. Molten

4. Maintenance

5. Attend

6. Nintendo

7. Detention

8. Motheaten

9. Extend

10. Neaten

11. Tennis

12. Softens

COMMANDMENTS

Page 10

TOP

10

Signs Your Favorite Baseball

Team Is Having a Bad Season

10 The catcher is mistaken for the bat boy.

09 Due to a lack of players, the team uses “ghost

runners” when reaching base.

08 All tickets are refundable . . . after the game is over.

07 The seventh-inning stretch features an alarm

clock to wake up fans.

06 Stadium policy: Catch a foul ball, get a contract.

1. Yellow Daisy

2. Coffee Mug

3. Bell Pepper

4. Horse Hair

5. Medicine

Capsules

6. Clear Umbrella

Page 7

ANsWERs:

05 After nine straight strike outs, the umpire sets up

a tee.

04 “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is replaced by “Hit

the Road Jack.”

03 New promotion: “The first nine fans in attendance

get to play!”

02 The mascot is hitting third.

01 Your starting pitcher is traded for a fence. (This

actually happened to Lefty Grove! Look it up!)

JUN • JUL • AUG 2021 57

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