READ: JOHN 1:12-13; ROMANS 8:15-30; 1 JOHN 3:1-5

I look in the mirror and meet my gaze. Who am I? I can study my looks and see bits and pieces of my parents, and similarities to my siblings. I can remember my ancestors and where they came from and know that they are the reason I look the way I do. But beyond the way I look, beyond what I see in the mirror, who am I?

I am God’s child. That thought brings comfort. It gives peace. No matter who my looks remind me of, no matter my family or ancestry or anything else about me, the truth is that I am God’s child. And that matters more than anything else.

I am God’s child, and I want to live like it. I want to live for Him. When others see me, I want them to know who I am. I want to shine the light of Jesus. I want to show the world who He is. I want to glance in the mirror and not just see myself, but see God working in me.

I am God’s child. I am so loved by Him. And therefore, I’m free to love Him back—and free to live for Him. • Bethany Acker

• Throughout our lives, we all wonder, “Who am I?” There may be times when this question feels more difficult to answer. We may look to our families or ancestry—or perhaps to our appearance, abilities, or accomplishments—to try to discover who we are. But any answer to the question of identity will always be incomplete without Jesus. While our families and ancestry are certainly important, they are not the most central part of who we are. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have been adopted into God’s family as His dearly loved child—and nothing can shake that. (You can find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) How could it be comforting and empowering to know that, above all else, you are God’s child?

• In Ephesians 5:1, we are called to imitate Jesus like a small child imitates their loving parent. According to verses 2-20, what does this look like practically?

• See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NLT)

READ: LUKE 12:13-48; 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-21

Greed is a treacherous sin. But, because Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the grave, we can be free from the power of every sin, including greed. As people who’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have His Holy Spirit living in us, so we have the power to reject greed—and not only reject it, but replace it. What do we replace it with?

Hope: Instead of setting our hearts on money and other created things, which will pass away, we can put our hope in God, seeking His kingdom and trusting Him to provide for all our needs. When we rely on God, we are free to follow Him wherever He may lead. After all, our eternal future is secure—nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus (Romans 8:35-39). So we don’t have to give way to fear. We have an eternal hope that will never fade (1 Peter 1).

Contentment: Instead of always trying to get just a little bit more for ourselves, which leaves us feeling exhausted and anxious, we can choose to be content with what we have. We can thank God for the many ways He has provided for us. We can rest in His love and enjoy His good gifts—both the material ones and the immaterial ones, like laughter, friendship, and sunshine.

Generosity: Instead of clinging to the things we own, which is driven by the fear that our needs will not be met, we can open our eyes to the needs of the people around us. God has been so generous to us—Jesus gave up His very life to save us from sin and death, and now God calls us His dear children and lavishes us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:15-18, 32; 1 John 3:1)! When we realize how much we are loved, and how much we’ve been given, that love overflows from us in acts of service and generosity to others.

And whenever we notice greed lurking in our hearts, we can bring it directly to Jesus. As we continue to confess greed, turning away from it and back toward Him, we can choose daily to hope in Jesus, to be content with what God has given us, and to give generously to others, always remembering how dearly we are loved by God. • Hannah Howe

• Which of the three “instead” options sticks out to you most: hoping in Jesus instead of setting our hearts on created things, being content and thanking God for what we have instead of trying to get more and more, or giving generously to others instead of clinging to what we have? What is one way you could practice this today?

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 6:19-34; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-20

I am guilty of greed. It’s one of those sins that seems to keep popping up in my life, sometimes in the same old ways, sometimes in new and surprising ways. But I’m thankful that God keeps pointing out this sin to me as I read His Word. It’s uncomfortable, and sometimes downright appalling, to realize how guilty I really am. But God’s correction also gives me hope—I know it’s because of mercy that He sheds light on our sins (Ephesians 5:12-13). He wants us to repent, to turn away from sin and back toward Him, so He can lavish us with forgiveness and help us live the good life He has called us to.

Greed seems like a complicated thing, but in English the Merriam-Webster Dictionary only has one definition for greed: “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.” That definition gives me pause. How often do I crave more of something than I really need? More time, more food, more things and stuff, and yes, more money.

The frightening thing is, our greed hurts our neighbors. When we are only focused on ourselves, we neglect the needs of others, and even oppress them by our selfishness.

So what do we do when, by God’s mercy, we recognize greed in our lives? We turn to Jesus. When He suffered the cross, He took all our sin upon Himself—including greed. And when He rose from the grave, He declared that all who trust in Him are dead to sin and alive in Him. That means we are forgiven, and we have been freed from the power of sin. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we have everything we need in Jesus, so we don’t need to chase after created things. What a relief! Greed is a cruel master, always demanding more, but Jesus has set us free. He is a kind and gentle shepherd. And in His love, we find rest. • Hannah Howe

• In what ways have you been guilty of greed? Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about this, confessing your greed, resting in His forgiveness, and pondering how He may be inviting you to rely on Him and move forward into the good life He has called you to.

• What questions do you have about money and greed? Who are trusted Christians in your life who you can have open and honest conversations with about these things?

• If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 23; Matthew 11:28-30; John 10.

Then he [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15 (NIV)

READ: PSALMS 19:1-4; 148:1-14

Have you ever looked around at nature and just felt in awe of how beautiful God’s creation is? God made a wonderful world, and He invites us to enjoy it with Him—from sunsets to ocean waves. Sometimes we’re so moved by the beauty around us, we can’t find the words to express how we feel.

God made everything that exists, and He made it all good. Though creation has been deeply affected by sin, and we experience brokenness in so many ways, we still encounter many reminders of His beauty, His love, and His power in the world around us.

God has no sin. While some of the beauty in creation is marred by sin, God’s beauty is not. His majesty and power are perfect. And He gives reminders of that in creation—all of it praises Him.

We are in awe—and maybe a little fear as well—of something like a thunderstorm or a strong wind. But God is the one in control of it all. He’s showing us His power whenever there’s a storm, whenever the wind blows.

Creation can leave us awestruck. Just imagine the awe we will feel when we see Jesus in all His glory! Everything was created through Jesus, and when He returns, it will be infinitely better than anything we’ve ever felt on this earth. Until that day, whenever we experience awe or wonder in nature, we can remember who creation is praising—and lift up our own praise to the Creator. • Haley Walts

• What in nature leaves you awestruck? Consider taking a moment to remember this feeling of awe, and let it overflow in praise to God.

• Because Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave to give us new life, we have the sure hope of His return—when He will restore the heavens and the earth, and He will raise His people from the dead to live with Him forever! Then, creation will no longer be marred by sin, and everything will be as our Creator intended. If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 11:6-10; Romans 8:19-22; Colossians 1:16-20.

Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Psalm 148:3 (CSB)

READ: JOHN 15:1-17

Have you ever seen someone prune a tree or another plant—or done some pruning yourself? Pruning involves cutting off part of a plant so there can be new growth. As a gardener clips, cuts, or saws off branches, sometimes it looks like they’re trying to harm the plant rather than help it. But pruning is an important part of helping trees and other plants grow and flourish. For example, if you strategically cut a few branches off a fruit tree, the tree will put more energy into creating fruit, making the fruit plentiful and better tasting. If you cut a stem off a basil plant in the right spot, two more stems will grow in its place, producing more basil. And if you lop off the top of a bush, it won’t just grow taller, it will also fill in more foliage near the ground.

Just as a skillful gardener knows when and how to prune, God also prunes us. In John 15, Jesus says He is the vine, we are the branches, and the Father prunes us. Sometimes God cuts things out of our lives to help us grow the way we’re meant to. He may remove an idol—something we had been putting our trust in rather than Jesus, such as wealth, strength, success, or the approval of others—so we can learn to rely on Him for all our needs. Or maybe He’ll allow a favorite activity to be canceled so we’ll have time to hang out with someone who needs a friend. Or He may even allow the loss of a relationship that was hindering our spiritual growth.

Pruning may be painful at times, but God does it because He loves us. Jesus died and rose again to save us and graft us into His family tree (Romans 11:17-24). Pruning is one of the ways God cares for us. He is helping us learn to trust Him more, and He is transforming us to become more and more like Jesus. Whenever God prunes something in our lives, we can be sure new growth will flourish in its place. As we look to Jesus, the one who laid down His life for us, we can trust Him to use times of pruning to help us grow in our faith and show His love to others. • A. W. Smith

• In John 15, Jesus says He is the vine, and we are the branches. He calls us to remain, or abide, in Him. What might it look like to press in to relationship with Jesus during times of pruning?

• Have you experienced a loss recently? Not all losses are pruning—some are simply the result of living in a world that has been broken by sin. Consider spending some time talking with Jesus and trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern whether this loss is a work of pruning, or if it’s something else. Also remember that it’s good to lament and tell God how painful a loss is, regardless of why the loss happened. He is always eager to comfort and help us.

“He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.” John 15:2 (CSB)

READ: PSALM 51:7; ISAIAH 1:18; EPHESIANS 2:1-9; REVELATION 19:6-9

I squinted up at the castle as I waited for admittance to the feast. The King had to test all who came through, to see if they were worthy of acceptance. I was sure that I could get in; I hadn’t done many bad things in my life. I’d never murdered anyone. In fact, I’d done quite a lot of good things. I’d also saved up for a new outfit, one that was much better than my old work clothes. Surely the King would let me pass. I smoothed the front of my shirt. It was white, beautiful, and expensive. It’d cost me almost a year’s wages.

As the line moved, I watched up ahead. The King—the King himself—stood at the entrance, and as one man stepped forward, the King bent down and said something to him. The man said something back, and the King shook His head. The man was dragged away.

My heart began to pound as my turn approached. I was good enough…wasn’t I? My clothes, all my work—surely they had to amount to something. But I knew, even as I stepped forward for my turn, that it was hopeless. I realized now that it wasn’t enough. My clothes looked like dirty rags next to the King’s. And my good works weren’t enough to cover the bad things I had done, no matter how small I’d thought they were before.

I have disobeyed the law. I cannot pass the test. I knelt before the King, my hope draining away. I didn’t deserve admittance. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up into the face of the King. “You are not worthy,” He said gently, “But if you receive my gift, I will give you admission.”

I blinked. “But—how can that be?”

The King smiled gently. “I am worthy, and I paid the price for your acceptance. You must simply take the gift. Do you want it?”

“Yes, I do, my King.” He pulled me to my feet, and I looked down. My robes were white as snow. With joy in my heart, I walked through the entrance. I was accepted. • Macy W.

• Like in today’s allegorical story, we can never do enough to earn acceptance into God’s eternal kingdom. But God has made the way for us to be forgiven and live in close relationship with Him forever through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Yet, even after we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we sin every day. And every day, our acceptance is based on Jesus’s worthiness, not our own. How does this truth reveal Jesus’s patient, faithful love? (If you want to know more, see our "Know Jesus" page.)

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 15

Have you ever wondered why Jesus often spoke in parables? Parables are short, metaphorical stories that point to a deeper truth. They illustrate what Jesus was teaching, and they can also make biblical truths easier for us to understand.

It’s kind of like the difference between eating a lime and eating a slice of key lime pie. On its own, a lime is very sour. It’s too much for most of our taste buds to handle. But key lime pie is different. We can still taste the lime, but it’s much sweeter. It’s suited for our taste buds so it’s not too intense and we can enjoy the flavor of the limes that were used to make it.

A parable is kind of like a slice of key lime pie. It helps our human minds understand the truth of God’s Word. It’s suited to the way God created our brains to learn—we respond to stories. Jesus could have told us God’s truth in a more straightforward manner, and sometimes He did. But He knew that we often listen and learn better from parables.

Isn’t it so wonderful that God chose to communicate with us in a way that we could understand? It shows how much He knows us, and how much He wants us to know Him. Even though we will never have all His teachings completely figured out, at least this side of eternity, He made sure we could understand His heart. His desire is for us to know how deeply He loves us, and then to love Him and love each other. • A. W. Smith

• Jesus tells three parables in Luke 15, and they all show different facets of the same truth about God’s heart toward us—His love for us is so great that He seeks us out, and He always wants us to come to Him, even after we’ve really messed up. That’s why Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the grave—to rescue us from sin and bring us near to God. (You can find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) Which of these three parables resonates with you most today? Why?

• Parables often invite us to examine the same truth from multiple angles. Consider reading Luke 15:11-31 three times—once from the perspective of the younger son, once from the perspective of the older son, and once from the perspective of the father. What differences and similarities do you notice?

• Some parables are harder to understand than others, and Jesus even said that some people wouldn’t understand His parables (Matthew 13:10-17). What questions do you have about parables? Who are trusted Christians you could ask? If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 13.

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. Mark 4:33 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 51; EZEKIEL 36:16–37:14; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Remove from me this heart of stone

I know I’m more than these dry bones

Create in me a heart that’s clean

A steadfast spirit willing

Restore your joy unto me

Morning mercies covering

Rebuild the rubble heaped around

A garden where new life is found

You alone can make me live

Mending fast with breath and skin

Hope once dead revived again

Cleanse me from this guilt and sin

A broken heart you won’t despise

I’m made righteous in your eyes

By the blood of Jesus shed for me

Now I’m yours eternally • Savannah Coleman

• God called Ezekiel to be a prophet to the Israelites. Even though they were constantly faithless to God, God remained faithful to them (2 Timothy 2:13). In His holiness, God judged their unholiness and idolatry. Yet He was always willing to draw them back to His heart, no matter how much they rebelled. He promised to give them a new heart and spirit, removing their hearts of stone and giving them hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). And this promise is also for us today! Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He cleanses us from our sin (Psalm 51:2, 7). And He gives us His Holy Spirit, who enables us to love God, love others, and follow God’s good ways. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, it’s true that you’ll still struggle with sin until Jesus returns. But it’s also true that all your sins are forgiven, and you have a new heart! (If you want to know more about trusting in Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page.) How have you seen the Holy Spirit at work in your life?

• In Psalm 51, David pours out his heart in repentance to the Lord because of his sins of adultery and murder. He knew that he had sinned greatly, but God’s mercy was even greater. Consider taking some time to bring God any sins that come to mind, following David’s example in Psalm 51.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV)