The Father is revealed through Christ, who gives peace.

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Mathew 11:27-30 ESV

Read “Cornerstones” on page 16 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 1.

There are a lot of things in this world that offer temporary peace. A relationship, a movie, a sexual experience, or a night of drugs or alcohol can all offer promises of peace. But that peace won’t last! The comfort of sex and substances will be especially short lived, and will usually leave you less happy than you were in the first place.

But Christ’s peace is real, because well…he’s God. God’s love is ultimate and he will always love you, no matter what you do! Do you have that kind of security with anyone or anything else? Even the best human relationship can be lost or destroyed, and the feelings of peace that went with it. But God’s love is unconditional, and even if you completely blew him off or tried to hurt him, he would still love you. In order to receive the peace that comes from that love, all you have to do is go to Christ!

Where can you find lasting peace?

In what ways in the past have you searched for peace?

Why is it important to receive Christ?

Lord, I’m ready to make you the center of my life.
Thank you for your love and peace
And for taking on the burden of my sins.

    Christ took our punishment.

But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight – not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this though Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.

Romans 3:21-25 NLT

Review “Cornerstones” on page 16 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 2.

If you wreck your parents’ car, even if they forgive you, someone still has to pay for the car to be repaired or replaced. If your parents pay for the car, then they’ve fixed the damage out of their pockets. So even if you are forgiven for your sins, there is still a price to be paid – the question is, who will pay it?

The payment for mistakes is the consequences part of forgiveness. God takes care of the eternal consequences of your sins, but you have to take responsibility for the earthly consequences because your actions affect others. Restitution is the proof of your sorrow whether in heaven or on earth. Those who have no intention of making restitution fear the Lord’s mercy and spurn his forgiveness because it’s too much work. Those of sincere heart welcome God’s plan for their life. 

Before Christ, everyone had to pay for his/her own sins, so it was really important to “follow the rules.” But even the best people still mess up. There is no way that we can possibly pay the price for all of our debts, so Christ offers us a trade – his grace for the price of our sins. Pretty amazing, huh?

What is a “yoke?” (Hint: Matthew 11:28-30)

Have you ever forgiven someone that hurt you, but still felt hurt?

Is there anything that Christ’s grace doesn’t cover? Why or why not? 

“Take my yoke upon you…and you will find rest for your souls.”
Mathew 11:29 ESV

    We can’t claim that our own works have anything to do with our salvation. It is because of Christ, and faith in him, that we are saved.

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God though faith and not by obeying the law.

After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Romans 3:27-31 NLT

Review “Cornerstones” on page 16 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 3.

God gives you gifts and talents so that you can do great things, but don’t forget that they’re all gifts from God. It’s critical to let God be in charge of how you live your life and use your talents. Even the smartest person in the world isn’t as smart as God, and your brains can’t save you – only God can.

God knows your needs, and he knows what’s best for you. When you ask him for help with an open heart, you give him the power to work in your life…however he sees fit. He gives what you need, not necessarily what you ask for, and he gives it to you on his time schedule. God takes into account how answering your prayer will affect the entire community, not just you! You give God permission, in effect, to consider the consequences to others. It is the most loving thing you can do because it acknowledges that you are not the only person in this world with desires and prayers that need attention. You can rely on God to respond in the most loving manner possible. Put your faith in him! 

Do you give Christ the lead in your life? Explain.

What is one way that you can specifically work on giving God more control in your life today?

List at least one talent or skill of yours that God could use. 

Lord, I want your peace.
I want to give you the control of my life.
Jesus, live in my heart.
Thank you Lord.

 14:  What Does Love Mean?

    Love is selfless, and will last forever.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:4-9 ESV

Review “Off and Running” on page 204 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 2.

What do you really mean when you say, “I love you”? Love is a word that gets thrown around a lot. “I love you, you’re my best friend ever!” “I love you, you’re so hot!” “I love football!” and then the big ones, like “I love you, until death do us part.”

Before you get into a relationship, think about why you’re attracted to the other person. Is it physical? Is it because they’re a good friend? Or is there something deeper?

If you try to base a relationship on physical attraction or just friendship, it’s going to eventually fail. Don’t forget that dating is a way to learn about marriage, and to discover what kind of person matches with you. Dating needs to be based on a much, much deeper kind of love – the love God shares with you!

What are the three Greek descriptions of love? (Hint: page 204 of your SRT New Testament.)

Do you think the word love is ever misused? Why or why not?

Why is it dangerous to get into a serious relationship if you aren’t ready for it, or go into it for the wrong reasons? Explain. 

Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
Song of Solomon 7:4 ESV

 15:  Are You Ready to Commit?

    When you are married you have to worry about taking care of your spouse. It’s best to be married only once.

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. 

1 Corinthians 7:32-35, 40 ESV

Review “Off and Running” on pages 204-205 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 3.

When you like someone, you don’t necessarily need to immediately enter into an exclusive relationship with him or her. You can deepen the relationship by just hanging out and getting to know each other better without having girlfriend and boyfriend status. Does that mean to be a "player" and date every girl/guy you’re at all interested in? Not at all! It means don’t let relationships get to that level unless you’re sure that the relationship has potential. Serious, exclusive relationships should basically be for people planning on a long-term future together. Otherwise, these relationships generally end in heartbreak.

Are you scared of the idea of commitment and marriage? Why or why not?

How long do you spend getting to know someone you like before you date him/her? Do you think it’s enough time?

What does it mean to you to date, but not have a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”?

Lord, thank you for the gifts of marriage and single life.
Help me to understand what you’ve called me to,
And help me to know if I’m ready for commitment.

    Love and help each other!

Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or, if they need lodging, for the night.

When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.

Romans 12:9-10, 13, 15 ESV

Review “Off and Running” on pages 232-233 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 3.

Have you ever had a friend who only seems interested in your friendship when life is great? Or you may have a friend who only hangs out with you when you get into trouble. A good friend will be with you for the good and the bad – not one or the other!

Having good Christian friends – and being a good friend – isn’t just something “cool.” It’s absolutely essential. So what does being a good friend mean?

Here are a few ideas on how to be a good friend, taken from the best guide there is – the Bible! 

1. Be excited when your friends succeed!
2. Pray for, encourage, and help your friends, even if it won’t benefit you.
3. Be there for your friends when they mess up.
4. Be a loving, warm friend especially when times are hard.
5. Stand up for your friends when others don’t.
6. Be the bigger person, and don’t wait for your friends to ask for help.

Did any of these points hit particularly close to home? Explain.

How do the above traits also apply to your relationship with your parents?

Which of the above friendship traits do you need to work on? 

Lord, thank you for the gift of friendship!
Help me to be a real friend all the time.

    God wants us for himself, not to share with sin and the world. He gives grace to the humble.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealousy over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:4-8 ESV

Read “First Steps” on page 303 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 1.

Would you keep someone around who claimed to be your best friend, but never put you first and went around behind your back telling everyone how worthless you were? Of course not! That person obviously doesn’t value you. Shouldn’t you put God first? How often do you say you live for God, but actually live for the world instead?

God tells us pretty clearly that we can’t live for him and for things in this world, like sexual indulgence or over-developed egos. If you claim that you can live for the world and still somehow put God first, you’ve done something that no one else has ever done!

Brace yourself – this might come as a shock. You aren’t perfect! A trick of the devil is to convince you that you don’t need God. The only way to avoid this trap is to realize that you will make mistakes, and you will need God's forgiveness and guidance. You can't get through life on your own! You need to let God teach you through your mistakes. If you keep yourself humble and remember that you are saved by God’s grace, you’ll stay free of that trap!

How can you stay humble?

Why is it important to be humble?

How can you tell if your ego is pushing God out?

    Christ resisted the temptation of the devil.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Mathew 4:1-4, 8-11 ESV

Review “First Steps” on page 303 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 2.

Maybe you know someone at school who is so cool – he/she is always at concerts and plays guitar in a band. But every weekend, your parents won’t let you go out to shows with your friend. They know something you don’t – that your friend is really into drugs, and there have been some assaults at the club where your friend’s band plays. You’ve pretty much accepted the fact that you’re never going to get to go. Then one weekend, a miracle happens and your parents decide to let you go out with your friend! The next weekend, aren’t you going to use, “but you let me last weekend!” as an argument in your weekly request? Won’t that make it much harder for your parents to say no?

Just as your parents find it hard to say no after they’ve given in once, it’s even harder to say no to the temptations of sin. Once you give in, it makes it that much easier to commit a sin again. Giving in also puts up a neon sign advertising to the devil that you might let him in again. Take strength in knowing that Christ is on your side, and that he resisted sin!

Why does giving into temptation once make it easy to do again?

What is a temptation that you struggle with?

How can you better resist temptation?

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NLT

    Jesus Christ is our pleader before the Father, who takes the price for our sins. Belong to God by obeying him.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. If someone says, “I belong to God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth. But those who obey God’s word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.

1 John 2:1-6 NLT

Review “First Steps” on page 303 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 4.

Say a little kid did something his parents told him not to, and then ran and asked for forgiveness. If his parents assured him he was forgiven, would he need to run back to them the next day asking for forgiveness for the same mistake? If he did that every day, wouldn’t it be an insult to his parents, like the parents saying he was forgiven wasn’t good enough?

When you ask God to forgive you for a sin, it is forgiven! End of story! So take comfort in accepting God’s forgiveness, and letting go of the hold the sin had in your life! Once you accept God’s forgiveness, run with it and break free from even the memory of the sin. Learn whatever lesson God has taught you through it, but use it as a chance to move on and make positive changes in your life. God not only forgives your sin, but Jesus paid the price for it through death on the cross! It’s an awesome gift, treasure it.

How does accepting God’s forgiveness help you to avoid other sin?

Did any of the verses, reflections, or questions remind you of something going on in your life? If so, what?

20: Prayer: Between You and God 

    Pray to talk to God, not to show off to other people.

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Mathew 6:5-8 ESV

Read “First Steps” on page 9 of your SRT New Testament.

Prayer isn’t about showing off for people. It’s about a relationship with Christ. When you pray, talk with God! If you had a friend who you really wanted to have a deep conversation with, how would you do it? Would you talk with him/her in the middle of a crowd, as loudly as you could so that everyone would know that you were talking?

Probably not. You would go somewhere quiet, where you could really focus on that conversation. You wouldn’t repeat yourself over and over again, but you would say what was really on your mind and in your heart. And you would really listen to what the other person had to say.

That’s exactly how you should pray to God. He wants to be the most important person in your life and the best friend that you’ll ever have! If you want him to be your best friend too, then treat him that way and truely talk with him.   

What is the purpose of prayer?

How do you talk to a friend who you really care about? Do you listen?

Write a brief prayer to God, telling him how you want to know him. 

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer!
Thank you for the ability to talk to you
And to know that you really do care.