Youth Group Devotionals

In Genesis 1 we read the creation story which outlines how God created and placed everything in this world. In verses 26-28 God creates man, but not the same way he created the plants and animals. When God created the plants and animals the text says that God spoke them into existence:Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”But in verses 26 & 27, God’s work sounds different:Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.God made each one of us in HIS own image. We are going to spend the next few days talking about why we were made in God’s image and what that means for us as we apply it to “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”Lastly, a side quest, did you notice that God said, “Our image”? Who was God referring to? There are several different thoughts around this, but I think John 1:1 answers the question. John 1:1 reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”. John calls Jesus, “the Word”, so I think God was referring to Jesus and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity) in Genesis. In fact, if you continue reading in John 1 you will see that John teaches that it was Jesus that was doing the work in the story of creation in Genesis 1.

Patience has never come naturally to me. Whether it's with myself, my family, or even other drivers on the road, I often find it difficult to practice patience.A few years ago, during a Bible study, I came across a passage that left a lasting impression on me. The author focused on Exodus 34:6, a moment when God is establishing His covenant with Israel. After Moses receives the commandments, he returns to find the people worshiping a golden calf. In his anger, he breaks the original tablets and later returns to Mount Sinai for a new set. During this encounter, Moses asks to see God’s glory, and God responds by passing before him and proclaiming:“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”What stood out most to me in that study was the discussion around the phrase “slow to anger.” It is sometimes translated as “longsuffering,” but the author pointed out that the literal Hebrew translation is “long of nose.” That phrase has stuck with me ever since. It paints a vivid picture: when we consider the stench of our sin, the idea is that God’s patience is so immense that it takes a long time for that stench to travel through His long nose for Him to smell our offense.Even after the Israelites had turned away from Him (worshiping an idol, indulging in rebellion, and breaking their covenant) God still described Himself as compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger. That kind of patience humbles me. It reminds me that if God can respond with mercy after such betrayal, then surely, I can grow in patience too.

Since United is this weekend, were going to take a break from the Lords prayer and talk about worship. Todays scripture comes from Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well which is a story we could talk for weeks about, but Ill focus on this part today. As Christ followers, we all know John 3:16, that God sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins and conquer death. But sometimes we say it so casually that it almost sounds like were mentioning something as ordinary as grabbing Chick-fil-A for lunch again. GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE ON A CROSS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!!!! When you read the story of the Samaritan woman, you see how wretched her life was. Yet after her encounter with Jesus, she ran and told everyone about Him. My hope for those attending United, and for every worship service for everyone going forward, is that when we enter a worship service, we remember why were there. Were not there to be entertained by a band playing praise songs like its a concert. Were there to worship our Lord and Savior together in song, with the same passion and excitement the Samaritan woman showed after she encountered Jesus. And remember what Psalm 100:1 says: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. It doesnt say you have to sing well.

In Matthew 6:9-13 the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. What Jesus responds with is now known as the Lordss prayer. You can break down the prayer into seven sections which highlight important elements for any prayer. The first section is, Our Father in heaven. Our reminds us that as a Christ follower you are not in this alone, you belong to a community of believers. Father reminds us that we can be in close relationship to God, He is not some distant mystical being. In heaven reminds us that although God is close, He is still so powerful that he controls the vastness of the earth and the universe. Spend a moment reading the verses today. When I was growing up, we said this prayer every Sunday morning as part of worship. Hopefully over the next few days you will begin to memorize it if you havent already.