Conversations with Jesus, Updated and Revised Edition: Talk That Really Matters

By Youth For Christ

Help your students hear what Jesus has to say to them Following the Youth For Christ 3Story® model of evangelism, this 60-day devo presents Scripture to students in daily letters from Jesus. They’ll learn to abide in Christ and connect their own story to God’s story through the daily readings and journaling opportunities. In this daily conversation they’ll discover their role in God’s story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Feb 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9780310730057

Youth For Christ

Youth for Christ/USA is a national youth ministry organization that is part of a worldwide movement (YFC/International) active in 105 countries. For over 65 years, our specialty has been reaching unchurched young people through evangelism and discipleship-evangelism.

Book preview

Devotional 1

you are never alone

TOPIC: Loneliness

MAIN SCRIPTURE: As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

OTHER SCRIPTURES: Deuteronomy 31:6–8; Psalm 23:4; Mark 15:33–39; John 14:16–19; John 16:4–15; Colossians 1:27

WHAT JESUS MIGHT SAY TO YOU: I understand your feelings of loneliness. Your cries in the night, when you feel like no one understands and no one cares, have not gone unheard … and I do care.

I’ve known loneliness. While hanging on the cross, I felt the pain of abandonment. In my final moments, I cried out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Although he dearly loved me, my Father in heaven couldn’t comfort me in my darkest hour, because I was carrying the sins of the world—your sin—on my shoulders, and he couldn’t look at the sin. No one before me and no one after me has experienced abandonment and loneliness as deep and painful as that. I understand.

I carried your sin and faced the abandonment of my Father so I could free you from loneliness. Even if you can’t see me now, I’m always with you because I live in you. I will never, never leave you nor forsake you. When others fail you or abandon you, I am with you—always.

In moments of desperation, allow your loneliness to drive you closer to me. Don’t fill your emptiness with things that can’t satisfy. Lean into me—I’m as close as the air you breathe. Cry out to me in pain and remember that I cry out in pain with you.

you mean more than the world to me, so take this opportunity to remove yourself from the cares of this world and draw closer to the one who will always be with you.

your faithful friend,

Jesus

HOW JESUS’S WORDS AFFECT MY STORY:

HOW I COULD AFFECT THEIR STORIES:

Devotional 2

give it up

TOPIC: Guilt and Shame

MAIN SCRIPTURES: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:1–4, NLT)

Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance … Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:9–10)

OTHER SCRIPTURES: Psalm 103:12; Acts 13:38–39; Romans 4:7–8; Romans 5:16–19; Romans 8:33–39; Jude v. 24

WHAT JESUS MIGHT SAY TO YOU: I have something really important to tell you: you don’t ever have to feel shame or guilt for the wrong things you’ve done. Though I want you to recognize your sin and repent from it, I never want it to hold you back. Guilt and shame do not come from me; they work against what I’ve done for you.

I set you free from sin. Guilt and shame will make you feel unworthy of my love and make you feel as though you have to make up for all the wrong you have done or will ever do again. But let’s get something straight; you would never be able to make up for sin. I am too holy; my standards are perfect.

When you sin, my Spirit will convict you about it. You’ll know when you’ve done something wrong. Confess it to me (and to others, especially those who’ve been affected by your behavior). But then leave it with me, and remember that my sacrifice wipes the slate clean. If you need to make a situation right with another person—through an apology, returning something, or repayment—then do that as soon as possible. But don’t dwell on the poor choice, the hurtful behavior, the moral wrong; don’t beat yourself up over it. Feeling ongoing guilt or shame is like punishing yourself for the error of your ways, as if punishment could make the wrong go away or cancel it. But I already took the beating for sin. You don’t have to. Live freely and forgiven; that’s what I want for you.

Not counting sin against you,

Jesus

HOW JESUS’S WORDS AFFECT MY STORY:

HOW I COULD AFFECT THEIR STORIES:

Devotional 3

note to self

TOPIC: Identity

MAIN SCRIPTURE: Though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done … I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. (Philippians 3:4–9, NLT)

OTHER SCRIPTURES: Galatians 2:20; Galatians 6:14; 1 John 5:20

WHAT JESUS MIGHT SAY TO YOU: Take note, at your deepest place, at the core of who you are: You are not a son or a daughter. You are not a sister or a brother. You are not a student or a dropout. You are not smart or not-so-smart. You are not needed or unnecessary. You are not cool or uncool. You are not an original or a slave to fashion. You are not funny or lame. You are not an artist or uncreative. You are not outgoing or shy. You are not popular or a loner. You are not a role model or a rebel.

These are the masks you may try to hide behind, the places you may run to for shelter, the idols you may bow before. But your identity can’t be found in any of these things. You can’t become more valuable by building up any of these things. You can’t become less valuable by lacking any of these things. You can’t be completely fulfilled by relying on or investing in these things.

At your deepest place, at the core of who you are: You are loved by me. You are simply a naked spirit clothed by my grace. You are my child. You are completely known. You are forgiven. You are brand new. You are precious in my sight. You are held close. You are treasured, and I will never let you go. You are secure, and I will never let you down. You have been chosen to be my friend and coworker. Your heart is my home. You are my beloved. I want you, not the things you hide behind.

Remember who you really are. Let me be your source of joy, the foundation of your identity, your life.

Your anchor,

Jesus

HOW JESUS’S WORDS AFFECT MY STORY:

HOW I COULD AFFECT THEIR STORIES:

Devotional 4

happiness is overrated

TOPIC: Wholeness

MAIN SCRIPTURES: Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.