READ: ISAIAH 1:15-18; 57:15-21; EPHESIANS 2:1-13; 5:25-27

Some people have called the book of Isaiah the Gospel of the Old Testament. At first glance though, you might wonder why. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John start off the New Testament by recounting Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection on earth. But Isaiah starts out with a vision God gave him that points out the sins of the Israelites and pleads with them to return to the Lord. God offers redemption and forgiveness to His people if they would only turn back to Him. Roughly half of the book is like this, then the tone switches and chapter forty begins with the words “‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God” (Isaiah 40:1).

The prophecies and visions in the first part of the book were for Israel when they had turned their back on God and gone after idols. Then the nations of Assyria and Babylon swept down upon Israel and hauled the people off in chains. In the latter half of Isaiah, God sends comfort to His people while they’re in captivity, promising not only that they would one day return to their own land, but that a new heaven and a new earth was being made.

Throughout Isaiah, God gives many promises about the forgiveness of sins and the Messiah He would send to save them. The Israelites didn’t have to wallow in their sins. They could come to God and be washed from their sins. In a way, we’re like the Israelites in the book of Isaiah. We’re in the same situation, but now the Messiah, Jesus, has come! We don’t need to continue in our sins and stay covered in guilt and shame. When we put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, we can be free from those chains and return to God. He loves us with an unending love, and He promises to comfort us and give us peace in His presence. Jesus is waiting to wash away our sins so we can be made new. Then we’ll hear God speaking comfort to us as the gospel does its work in us. • Morgan Mitchell

• Have you ever felt burdened by sin? Have you ever experienced God’s grace and forgiveness comforting you? What was that like? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 32.)

• In what ways are you in need of forgiveness and comfort today? Consider spending some time with Jesus in prayer, confessing any sins that come to mind and resting in His love and grace. Remember, if you’ve put your trust in Jesus, all your sins have been forgiven—past, present, and future. He loves you, and He wants to help you walk in freedom. (Find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.)

“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Isaiah 44:22 (NLT)

READ: ROMANS 6:1-4, 12-14, 20-23; 7:15-25

Nova Anadosha, Warrior of Light, drew her sword and held it ready as the enemy assassin approached. The wide hood of a jet-black cloak concealed the assassin’s face, but Nova could hear a malicious grin in the words spoken to her. “Come on,” the raspy voice said. “Give up. Give in. You know you want to.”

Nova responded with her own grin and gripped her sword tighter. “I don’t think so.”

The assassin suddenly lurched at her, sword whipping through the air, but Nova easily dodged its dark blade. “You’ve given in to me before,” the voice said.

Nova sighed and gave her blade a quick swing through the air, just to feel the weight of it. “Yet here we are again.”

The assassin came at her once more, but Nova was ready. She sidestepped the sword aimed for her heart and twirled around quickly, then brought the hilt of her sword down hard on the assailant’s shoulder. The enemy’s sword clattered to the ground, and after Nova dealt a few more blows, the assassin was down on hands and knees. With the tip of her blade, Nova removed the hood from the assassin’s head. Her own face glared back at her.

Nova stared into the assassin’s filmy eyes. “You’re not who I am anymore. You’re dead.”

The ashen face of the assassin twisted in anger. “Liar!”

Nova shook her head. “You’re the liar. You can’t defeat me. You died the day I was born—the day the Light shined on me. I’m in the Light now, and you have no power over me.” She sheathed her sword. “I just need to hold on to that truth as I wait for the day when you’ll be banished forever. Then I’ll never have to deal with you again.”

Nova turned and walked away, ignoring the assassin’s angry rasps behind her. It wasn’t over yet. She knew the assassin would be back to fight another day. And she would be ready. • Courtney Lasater

• The book of Romans tells us that, though Christians have been saved from sin by Jesus and given new life, we still have a sinful nature living within us. Even though Jesus has freed us from sin’s power, our sinful nature will still urge us to do things that go against who we now are in Jesus—and sometimes we will give in. That’s why we must fight against this nature, remembering that through Jesus we always have the power to turn away from sin. Today’s allegorical story addresses this struggle. In what ways have you struggled against your own sinful nature?

• It’s important to remember that, once we know Jesus, our old sinful nature is not who we are anymore. Finding our identity in Jesus is both an act of resistance to temptation and an act of hope in His forgiveness. Because even when we give in to our sinful nature and do wrong, Jesus offers us forgiveness (1 John 1:9). He has already paid the penalty our sins deserve by dying in our place and rising from the grave. And one day, He will give us new bodies that will be free from the sinful nature we have now (Philippians 3:20-21). How can these promises give us hope when we’re struggling with sin?

• Often, our struggles with sin are hidden from those around us. But Jesus calls us to be in relationship with fellow Christians so we can help each other (Galatians 6:1-2). Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be open and honest with about your struggles? How could you be intentional about encouraging each other, praying for each other, and reminding each other of your new identity in Jesus and of His unending love, power, and forgiveness?

• If you want to dig deeper, read Romans 6–8; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21;Ephesians 2:1-10; 4:22-32; Hebrews 4:14-16; James 1:12-18; 1 John 2:1-2.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 32:1-12; 1 SAMUEL 30:1-6; HEBREWS 4:14-16

When you are afraid or in distress, where do you go? What do you do? Genesis 32 tells the story of Jacob preparing to see his brother Esau. These twins had a bad past—Jacob cheated Esau and then ran away. Years later, when Jacob heard Esau was on his way to meet him with four hundred men, the passage tells us Jacob was “in great fear and distress” (Genesis 32:7). He was afraid Esau was going to attack him because of their bad past. So what did Jacob do? He prayed! When Jacob was afraid, he went to God.

Later in the Bible, in 1 Samuel 30, we hear about David’s people being attacked while David was away, and many women and children were taken captive. Verse 4 says, “David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.” Then David “was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him,” but verse 6 tells us “David found strength in the LORD his God.” Like Jacob, David went to God when he was distressed. David found his strength in the Lord. The Lord was with David always, as He is with us.

Like Jacob and David, when we are afraid or in distress, whether it be stress about homework, fear of the future, or fear for a sick loved one, we can pray to God. He loves us, and He always wants to help us. Remember, Jesus Himself went to the Father in prayer when He was distressed. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus was in anguish, and the Father heard His cries and lovingly sent an angel to strengthen Him (Luke 22:39-44). Because of Jesus’s sinless sacrifice, we can have a restored, close relationship with God. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God has given us the Holy Spirit to equip us and strengthen us. So we can pray to Him whenever we’re worried or afraid. We can strengthen ourselves in God by spending time with Him through prayer or reading Scripture, and we can thank Him for being the God who hears. • Elizabeth Cooper

• What do you tend to do when you’re stressed out or afraid? Consider taking some time now to talk to God about any fears that come to mind. We can take comfort in knowing He always hears us, and He always cares about us. And when Jesus returns, we will never be distressed again.

• Can you think of a time you went to God when you were afraid and He protected or strengthened you? What was that like?

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NIV)

READ: EXODUS 20:1-20; ISAIAH 53:5-12; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

Are you ever confused or discouraged when you read the Old Testament and see the Ten Commandments or all the long lists of laws God gave His people? It seems impossible to follow every single one of those rules. And as humans in a fallen world, it is. God did not give the Israelites all these commandments because He thought they would follow them perfectly. He knew beforehand they would fall short. So why did He give them the law?

God wanted to show us we can never measure up to His perfection. We’ve all sinned, and we could never earn His forgiveness. And because God loves us, He wants us to realize our desperate need for a Savior. We need Jesus! Everything in the Bible points to Jesus, including the Old Testament laws (Romans 3:23-26).

So flash forward to the New Testament, when God the Father sends God the Son, Jesus, to earth to do what we could never do. Jesus becomes a human and lives a perfect life, embodying all of God’s good ways. Because Jesus is sinless, He is able to give up His own life as an acceptable sacrifice for the sins of all people in all time. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all our sin upon Himself (1 Peter 2:24). And then He rose again, defeating the power of sin and giving eternal life to all who trust in Him as their Savior.

So, whenever we read the law, let’s remember it shows us how much we need a Savior. We can’t do it on our own. And because of Jesus, we don’t have to! God saves us through faith in Jesus, not through any works or good deeds we do. Praise God! • Elizabeth Cooper

• Have you ever tried to please God by doing good things and trying to do everything right? How could it be freeing to know that we’re not perfect, but Jesus has already done everything that was needed to save us?

• The law points to our need for Jesus. We don’t need to do anything or clean ourselves up before coming to God. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can come to God just as we are. If you want to know more about what it means to trust in Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page.

• Once we know Jesus, God the Holy Spirit lives inside us. The Holy Spirit works to transform us to become more and more like Jesus, helping us turn away from sin and walk in God’s good ways instead. What might it look like to obey God, not out of fear, but out of love and gratitude?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

READ: GALATIANS 6:8-10

I spend a lot of time at home, and sometimes that makes me feel like I’m not touching as many lives as I should. But as I thought about it more, I realized there are lots of things I do while I am at home to look out for others and be there for my fellow believers. Like me, you might feel like you’re not doing enough, but there are small things you can do in your everyday life to make a difference.

When we put our trust in Jesus, believing in His life, death, and resurrection, His love transforms us, and He calls us to share that love with others. It’s easy to think we’re only called to minister to those who don’t know God, but that’s not true. Jesus calls us to look out for our fellow believers too. So when we’re home and we serve someone we live with, whether they’re a believer or not, we are serving God. When we surprise them by doing something special for them, we’re following what Paul says in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

We may think we need to be doing big things in order to serve God or live the way He wants us to. But the truth is, there are many things we can do that aren’t necessarily going to be noticed by everyone but can still touch lives just the same. Getting someone their favorite snack, helping with their chores, or just being a listening ear are all everyday ways to serve the people God has placed in our everyday lives. We can show the love of Jesus to the people around us, whether we spend a lot of time out and about or we spend most of our time at home, whether we go to school or are homeschooled, whether or not we have a job we go to. As long as we’re looking to God for direction and relying on Him to help us live how He calls us to, the small things we do out of obedience to Him can change lives. • Emily Acker

• Can you think of a time somebody did a small, everyday thing that made you feel loved? What was that like? What have you been able to do recently that showed others God’s love?

• Sometimes, it’s hard to think of ways to serve the people around us. Have you asked God how He wants you to serve? Consider spending some time in prayer, asking Jesus to show you how you could show His love to the people around you.

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

READ: 1 PETER 2:9-12

Blessed

That is what I am today

Each day of my life

Thanks to You

Thankful

You take care of me today

Each day of my life

My journey is with You

Happy

To never be alone

Each day of my life

Your gentle hand leads

Humbled

You call me Your child

Each day of my life

You love me as Your own • Bethany Acker

• Which of the stanzas in today’s poem sticks out to you the most today? Why?

• Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, God calls us to ponder the wonderful truths of who we are in Jesus and the blessings He has given us. As we take time to remember God’s goodness, we often find it feels easier to trust Him. If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 23; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 1:3-11; 1 John 3:1. Do you have any other favorite verses or passages that reveal God’s presence, blessings, care, guidance, love, etc.?

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 142; ISAIAH 53:3-6

Imagine this: You walk into the room, and everyone reacts. Some point. Some stare. Some laugh. Apparently gossip spreads quickly, and so do videos. You look around and don’t see a single kind face or one person you could possibly sit with. You turn and run.

Have you ever felt completely alone? Have you felt like everyone was against you and you didn’t have anyone on your side? It’s hard to face rejection, to feel alone, or to be scared about what’s happening in your life. And it can be especially hard when difficult things are going on and you feel like you have absolutely no one you can turn to.

But the good news is, we can always turn to God. No matter what’s happened, no matter what we’ve done, God is always with us. Just look at Psalm 142. David shares how he feels completely alone. He mentions that no one is concerned about him. He feels friendless and unprotected. So David cries out to God from a place of despair and realizes that he is not as alone as he feels. God is with him. That same God is with us. In every tough situation and every fear.

Being alone isn’t fun, and facing life alone can be scary, but even when it feels like the people around us have all turned their backs on us, Jesus is there. We can trust that He is with us. We can ask Him to send people to support us. When we feel overwhelmed and like we have no one else to lean on, we can always lean on Him. • Emily Acker

• Can you think of a time you felt alone? Do you feel alone right now? Consider taking some time to follow David’s example and pour out your heart to God, telling Him all about whatever you’ve been going through. God hears you, and He wants to be your refuge (Psalm 142:5).

• Because God wants so much to be with us, Jesus came and lived among us. Jesus can truly empathize with all our struggles; He knows what it’s like to be hurt and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). When He was arrested and unjustly accused, His closest friends all ran away and abandoned Him (Matthew 26:56). But Jesus was willing to go through all the rejection and suffering and humiliation of the cross because of His love for us. Though we have all rejected Jesus and turned our backs on Him, His love for us has never changed. Because Jesus died for us and then rose from the grave, everyone who trusts in Him is brought near to God. (Find out more our "Know Jesus" page.) Romans 15:7 says, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” How has Jesus accepted and welcomed us? How could you welcome lonely people in your own life?

“Surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 37:1-36; 45:1-15; 50:15-21

Do you wish parts of your life were different? Perhaps a broken relationship, a shattered home, a selfish decision, or a misguided choice. Pieces that seem too jagged and broken to fit together into anything remotely beautiful. Ever since sin entered our world, we all have brokenness in our lives. But God can work through our stories—just as He did through Joseph’s.

In Genesis 37, we see how Joseph’s own brothers sold him into slavery. They were filled with jealousy because of their father’s wrongful favoritism of Joseph, and their anger was stirred up by Joseph’s sinful pride. One day they attacked him, throwing him into a pit and then sending him to faraway Egypt. Joseph was forced to leave behind his home and his father, Jacob, who grieved for the son he thought had been killed.

Joseph’s life in Egypt was hard. Yet “the LORD was with him and…gave him success in everything he did” (Genesis 39:3). Joseph was eventually put in charge of his Egyptian master’s entire household, but then he was wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit and thrown into prison. However, through the hand of the Lord, he went from the dungeon to being second-in-command over all of Egypt. God worked through Joseph to save the people of Egypt and surrounding lands from a devastating famine. When his brothers came to Egypt, desperate for food for themselves and their families, Joseph recognized them and was filled with emotion. After testing them, he revealed his true identity to his brothers and they were tearfully reunited.

Though Joseph’s life was full of pain and heartache, God used the mistakes and sins of Joseph and his family to bring about His own good purposes (Genesis 50:20). Israel was saved from starvation. And generations later, God fulfilled His promise to bring a Savior, Jesus Christ, through their family. God can take the most broken parts of our lives and make them beautiful. • Julia Faith Steward

• Though it’s easy for us to focus on how our situations look in the present, God sees the bigger picture. He is working all things together for good. How could this truth give us hope?

• Joseph and his family were real people with real emotions. Joseph felt the pain that resulted from being betrayed by his brothers, who were supposed to love and protect him. When they were reunited, he sobbed so loudly that all of Pharaoh’s household heard him. How could it be encouraging to know that the people in the Bible dealt with brokenness and pain just like us?

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