Christian Teen 101 - Devotionals

Matthew 5:16 Romans 2:4 How Your Kindness Will Lead Others to the Lord There is a story about a young man who experienced a very difficult childhood. He’d grown up in a rough neighborhood, surrounded by abuse and ungodliness. After his mother was killed in an accident, the young man turned to drugs. He used them, sold them, and spent some time in prison. When he got out of prison, he wanted to change his life, so he went looking for help. Figuring God was his only hope, he asked the drug dealer he was staying with if he knew of a good church. “I don’t know of a good church,” the drug dealer answered, “but I know a good woman.” Think about a drug dealer making that statement! What would someone have to be like to make such an impression on someone so deep in sin? Looking for answers, the troubled young man got in touch with this woman, and she shared the gospel with him. She took him to her church where he made Jesus the Lord of his life and was delivered from drugs. His transformation was so great that his father, also a drug addict, did the same. He said to his son: “I watched you, and thought if you could do it, I could do it.” See how that worked? One good woman—living out the goodness of God before others—became a testimony and drew one young man to Jesus. He became a testimony to God’s goodness and drew his father to the Lord. As you’re living your life, think about the importance of the fruit of goodness in your spirit. Remember that God’s goodness manifested through you has the power to change others. Being good to others isn’t just about checking off some religious box—it is light and life to those around you.

Matthew 12:36 Proverbs 31:26 Kindness Is Seen in the Way You Speak To Others One of the primary ways kindness manifests is in the way we speak to others. This includes the way we talk to friends, family, co-workers, store clerks, pastors, strangers on social media, and especiallyto those who are unkind to us (when the average Joe will just strike back). Knowing that you attract people to God when you show the fruit of kindness in the way you talk to others, ask yourself this: Can people count on you to be positive and encouraging when they talk to you? Or do they expect negativity and words of criticism? We all have to work at being kind, but ultimately, we are all held responsible for every word we speak (see today’s reading). Here’s a quick self-check to see the condition of the fruit of kindness on your tree. Are you respectful, loving, and encouraging to your spouse or are you always pointing out their faults? Do you discipline your children with love and encouragement, or are you harsh and critical? Do you respect your grown children, or do you pout or make them feel guilty if they don’t do what you want them to? Are you a kind and encouraging in-law? If you’re a boss or leader, do you lead by building relationships and expressing appreciation to your team or do you lead by intimidation and threats? Here’s the biggest test of all: If asked, would every person in your life describe you as kind? These questions certainly aren’t meant to condemn any of us. We all need work! And without doing a self-check within certain areas, we won’t be able to grow, mature, and develop into the kind of people who are pleasing to God, attracting unbelievers to Him, and living a blessed life! Bottom line? We, as Christians, should always strive to talk to others in a way that builds them up and encourages them, not criticizes or tears them down.

Matthew 7:18 Matthew 12:33 Titus 3:8 1 Peter 2:12 Romans 12:21 Good Trees Bear Good Fruit It isn’t always easy to extend God’s goodness to people. They give us plenty of opportunities to find it difficult! So, when someone aggravates us, mistreats us, or is just downright rude, we have a choice—get mad and lash out or be like our heavenly Father and express “goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14, KJV). Let’s be real—doing this in the face of difficult people is not something we can do in our own power. Instead, we have to choose to yield to God and His goodness within us to overcome the selfish tendencies of our flesh. Unsaved people don’t have the nature of God within them. They’re still living in the kingdom of darkness. So, when they’re under pressure, they follow their natural, worldly thoughts and emotions. They’re automatically selfish and looking out for themselves. Jesus said it’s impossible for a bad tree to bear good fruit. So, don’t be surprised and upset when unbelievers bear bad fruit. Realize it’s normal for them because they’re still joined to the bad tree of sin. For us as believers, however, bearing bad fruit is not normal at all. We’ve been grafted into the good tree of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because we’re in Him and He’s in us, we are “full of goodness” (Romans 15:14). Remember that the next time someone does you wrong. You’re a good tree, and you are to bear good fruit. When you do, you’ll walk in the blessings God has in store for you.

Acts of the Apostles 10:38 John 14:12 Walking In God’s Goodness God’s Word is a good Book, written by our good God, to show us how to receive and walk in the abundance of His goodness all the days of our lives. What does it mean to walk in God’s goodness? It means that we receive His blessings in every area of our lives—spirit, soul, body, financially, and socially—and that we share those blessings with others. It means we do what Jesus did when He was on earth: We go about doing good and healing all who are oppressed of the devil. Jesus told us that those who believe in Him will do the same miraculous works He did, and even greater works! In Mark 16:17-18 (KJV), He said, “These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Every born-again believer ought to be doing what Jesus talked about in those verses. We ought to be ministering the healing power of God to the sick, casting out devils, sharing the Word of God with people, and helping them get delivered! God is ready and able to do those things through us. He just needs us to stop being so caught up in the natural things of this life and start paying more attention to His lead. He needs for us to walk with Him day by day, and allow the fruit of the spirit He’s put within us to flow out to others. The more we do that, the more we’ll see revival in this earth. The more we do that, the more people will see God’s goodness through us and come running to Him!

Matthew 11:28-30 Galatians 6:9 When You’re Running Short On Kindness Kindness is such an important fruit of the spirit in our lives. And it is the light of Jesus we shine in a dark world. But have you ever noticed that when you’re tired or you’re experiencing times of great pressure, you start to feel like you’re running short on kindness? When this happens, there’s only one thing to do. Run to Jesus! He’s the Source of the fruit of the spirit in our lives. He’s the One who enables us to be gracious, thoughtful, and helpful to others. We don’t do it by our own ability. That’s why Jesus said, “Come to Me.” Don’t look at the circumstances that have risen up against you. Don’t look at the people around you and say, “Well, they never help me. They don’t care anything about me.” When you’re looking at circumstances and people, you’re looking in the wrong place. Look to the Lord! You can always get a fresh supply of kindness from Jesus because He has an abundance of it, and He’s eager to minister it to you. He’s waiting with open arms, eager to help you, to pour out His mercy on you, and to lift the burdens off your shoulders. Don’t wait until you’re in a desperate situation to draw near to Him. Come to Him every day. Spend time with Him every morning in the Word and in prayer before you see anyone else. When you live in continual fellowship with Him, nothing will ever be able to drain God’s peace, love, joy, and kindness from you.