Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: JOHN 19

If you search “famous last words,” you’ll read the final thoughts of a variety of people throughout history— thoughts that range from sad to crass to funny to hopeful.

Jesus has seven recorded statements from the cross, but His final statement summarizes His saving work: with His last breath, Jesus announces, “It is finished” (John 19:30). It’s a startling end to the life of the greatest person who ever trod the planet. And yet, on the surface, the three-word sentence seems rather basic.

But picture Leonardo DaVinci painting the Mona Lisa. He has spent many years perfecting his painting. There’s the blend of colors, the smile, the eyes, the shading. Finally, after completing his masterpiece, I imagine DaVinci puts down his brush, sits back in his chair, and announces, “It is finished.”

That’s the sense of Jesus’s words. He had come down from heaven, become a human, lived a perfect life to fulfill the requirements of the law. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He declared that there was nothing more for Him to do to make sinful people righteous before a holy Father. As Christians, we are His masterpiece—the work is already done (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The implications of this are huge. There is nothing left to do, nothing left undone. Jesus completed the task—dying on the cross and then rising from the grave—so there is nothing left for us to earn. Jesus’s righteousness covers those who put their faith in Him (Romans 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Virtually every other religion offers salvation through works, but Christianity relies on Christ’s work to provide our salvation from sin and death. Jesus removed all doubt with His final words on the cross: “It is finished.” • Mike Hurley

• When Jesus died and rose again, what work did He finish?

• Why is Jesus the only one who can finish the work of salvation in us? (Philippians 1:6)

• Because Jesus rose from the dead, His words on the cross weren’t really His last. And this is good news! Find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (CSB)

READ: PSALM 103:8-12; MICAH 7:18-19; ROMANS 8:1-4

When I was a freshman in high school, I messed up. I lied and misused my parents’ trust—and I got caught. The broken relationship with my parents (as well as losing my privileges) hurt, and I beat myself up about it for a long time. I had sleepless nights and bouts of sobbing because I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been and how bad I was. I couldn’t forgive myself. Even though Jesus had forgiven my guilt, I still felt so guilty. It was a constant, unbearable weight.

Satan wanted my shame to make me doubt Jesus’s forgiveness and lose my way. In time, though, I realized something incredible: I didn’t have to carry that burden. Because of God’s faithfulness, goodness, and mercy, I could give my shame to Jesus, over and over again, as many times as it took before I could let go. I kept taking it back and telling myself I still deserved the feelings of guilt even after Jesus forgave me. But, through the struggle, Jesus was patient with me, and I eventually gave my shame over this incident to Him for good.

You may be struggling with guilt and shame too. But God’s Word tells us that all people are guilty of sin, yet He loves us even in our failures (Romans 3:23-24). It was because He loves us that Jesus died on the cross, taking the punishment for all our sins—past, present, and future. Since Jesus rose from the grave, everyone who has put their trust in Him has already been declared innocent, permanently. So, when we sin, may the feelings of guilt drive us to Jesus, who understands our struggles and offers us boundless grace every time we fall. He picks us up, smothers us in His mercy and love, and bears our burdens so we don’t have to.

If you know Jesus, everything you’ve ever done or ever will do has already been forgiven. So, instead of living in the past and beating yourself up, you can come to Jesus with all your guilt—He is eager to help you throw off the shackles of shame and bask in His love and forgiveness. • Martalisa Fischer

• Can you think of a time you felt stuck in a cycle of guilt, but then God helped you get out of it? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! (2 Corinthians 7:10)

• Are you feeling burdened by guilt today? Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about any sins that come to mind and thank Him for His sure forgiveness. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

• Why is it sometimes difficult to forgive ourselves even when we know God has forgiven us? Who is a mature Christian in your life you can be honest with when that happens?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NIV)

READ: 1 SAMUEL 16:1-13; MATTHEW 7:1-5; COLOSSIANS 3:12

I was recently talking with my son about a person I didn’t know very well, so my son pulled up the person’s Instagram. I instantly had a thought I’m not proud of. Their clothes were a little messy. They looked a little wild and like they didn’t care. I was looking at their hair color and their family, and I’m not proud of some of my thoughts. Then it hit me—I was judging a version of myself.

As a teen, I didn’t come from the best home. People made assumptions about me based on how I looked, how I dressed, who my family was, and what I didn’t have. I felt insecure, misunderstood, and like I didn’t belong.

So why—years later—was I doing the same thing to someone else? In that moment, God reminded me of me. Who was I to judge anyone? Matthew 7:1 reminds us: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” That reminder isn’t just a command. In this verse, Jesus is calling us back to compassion and grace.

The truth is, we never fully know someone’s story. That classmate who dresses differently might be expressing themselves the only way they can afford. That kid who smells like smoke might live in a house where no one opens a window. That “angry” person might be heartbroken.

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). God sees the real us. And He calls us to see others with that same grace. This is possible because, once we know Jesus, His love begins to transform us from the inside out. When we remember that all our sins and vulnerabilities are covered by His mercy, we can be free to love others—and ourselves. As it says in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Next time you’re tempted to judge, pause and ask yourself: “Am I seeing people through God’s eyes, or through my own ego? What if that was me?” Because maybe, just maybe, it was. • LaVerne Vest

• When are you tempted to make assumptions and judgements about other people?

• How can resting in Jesus’s love and understanding for us help us view others as He does?

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

READ: PSALMS 23:1-6; 119:103-105

Looking back
I see the good
Every move
There You stood

Lessons learned
Step by step
Every day
In Your love, I’m kept

As I move
Through life’s highs and lows
You are there
Tell me where to go

I trust in You
To lead me on
You’ll do it well
Until the very end • Bethany Acker

• As you look back on your life, can you see any ways God has taken care of you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for these glimpses of His goodness.

• Reflecting on God’s faithfulness to us in the past often makes it easier for us to trust Him to lead us in the future, and to provide for us every step of the way. It can also be helpful to remember that Jesus has promised to be our Good Shepherd (John 10:10-18, 27-30). We can trust Him to lead us well because He loves us so much that He died and rose again to save us and bring us into His flock. He is always with us, through all the highs and lows, keeping us in His love and covering our faults with His mercy. In what areas of your life do you need to be reminded of Jesus’s presence today? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about whatever comes to mind.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1 (NLT)

READ: JUDGES 17:1-6; PROVERBS 3:5-6; ISAIAH 5:13-21; 2 CORINTHIANS 7:5-13

Growing up in the country, I spent lots of time running around barefoot. So when we needed to rush one day to get to a soccer game for my family member, Eli, I jumped barefoot into our minivan. Once we arrived at the park where Eli played, I followed my family across several fields carrying my sandals.

The lush grass of the fields, damp from morning dew, felt soothing on my feet. At first. Then I noticed a tingling sensation on the bottoms of my feet. As I watched the soccer match, the soles of my feet began burning and turning red. Too late, I realized I had walked through ant poison that had been sprinkled on the grass. For the rest of the day—after Eli’s game was over, after I put on shoes—all the skin that had encountered the grass (and, therefore, the poison) itched, ached, and swelled. What had appeared harmless, even inviting, at the start of the day had caused pain lasting most of the weekend. I couldn’t see the danger—didn’t consider any risk—and unknowingly ran right into it.

In the Old Testament, we read about God’s people who ran right into spiritual danger, assuming that what appeared good to them—including idol worship— would bring satisfaction. “All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6), and that did not turn out well. But God desires something better for us. Jesus came to die for our sins and rise again so we could be in relationship with God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we no longer need to depend on our own ideas of what’s good. We’re not on our own—we have a Father who possesses all wisdom and generously wants to share it with us (James 1:5). He knows the dangers in what seems good, even when we can’t see it. He will lead us well. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Can you think of something that seemed good at first, but turned out to be harmful in the end? Some bad decisions are sinful, and some are just unwise. Thankfully God is always merciful and eager to help and guide us—both in making good decisions, and in the aftermath of bad ones.

• Sometimes following Jesus doesn’t feel comfortable. It can be hard! Yet, if we know Jesus, the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead is now living in us, giving us power to walk in His good ways (Romans 8:11; 2 Timothy 1:7). And even when we do sin, Jesus still loves us, and He wants to forgive us and help us move forward in following Him. Where do you need wisdom or strength? Who are trusted Christians in your life who could pray and dig into the Bible with you?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)