** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 < June 1, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
Lay Your Burdens Down (Part 2)
• Mary Garner • Hebrews 12:1–3
Hebrews 12 encourages us to run the race that God has set before us, which is possible when we keep “our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (verse 2). Not only did Jesus start the race and finish the race, but He ran it faithfully—for us. He didn’t take His eyes off the end result, the prize. He was able to face anything that came His way, even enduring an excruciating death. Why? Because it was all worth it to Him.
The prize was greater than the race.
The prize was greater than the pain.
The prize was greater than the shame.
The prize was greater than the rejection.
The prize was greater than the cross.
He saw us—His people, His creation—and thought, "They’re worth it." Look at the second part of verse 2: “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Isn’t that beautiful? Jesus was looking forward to the joy of reuniting us to Himself, of healing His creation that has been broken by sin.
What about us? If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we get to look forward to living with God in His new world, where we will be free from sin and death. That is our joy that is set before us. In this life, we have hurt, we have pain, we have sorrow, we have defeat, we have discouragement, we have______. Fill in the blank. But that’s not the end of our story—and praise God for that! We have pain for a season, but thank you, Jesus, that joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Because we belong to Jesus, we can know that He is right alongside us in the pain. And the Holy Spirit empowers us to endure the hurt, the sadness, the brokenness...knowing that the prize will be worth it all. We can look forward to the end of our race, being with Jesus and hearing Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). He loves us, and He won’t leave us. • Mary Garner
• Jesus ran the race for YOU. How can this give you hope?
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1b-2 (NLT)
** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 < June 5, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
God Satisfies
• Emily Acker • John 6:32–40, John 7:37–39, Isaiah 58:11, Psalm 103:1–5, John 4:1–42
Have you ever been at school, with nothing to eat, and felt so hungry? Have you been on a diet or had to fast for a doctor’s appointment? It isn’t fun when we can’t satisfy our physical cravings, and it’s even worse when we can’t meet our basic needs. On a deeper level, we all want to feel satisfied and whole. We want to feel complete. And it can be frustrating when life does not satisfy us at all.
Have you ever tried to get happy by buying something new, or even going on a trip? Have you looked for fulfillment by taking on a new project? There are times when nothing we do makes us happy. The fact is, nothing this world offers can make us whole, and it makes sense that we feel incomplete.
Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that He is the only one who can fully satisfy us. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but we have all rejected Him and gone our own way. That’s why we’re left feeling empty. But God loves us, and He chases after us. He came to live among us and restore our relationship with Him.
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”
(John 10:10). When we follow after Jesus, we are made complete. As we trust in Him, God fills us with joy (Romans 15:13). And He helps us when we are in tough places. God knows everything we need, and He provides for us as we seek Him (Matthew 6:32-33).
No matter what we do, we will never be able to find joy or completeness on our own. Only God will satisfy us. • Emily Acker
• Do you ever feel empty inside, like you’re missing something?
• How has Jesus made it possible for us to have life to the full? (Read John 10:10-18.)
• One important way God satisfies our needs—both physical and emotional—is through Christian community. Who are trusted Christians you can share life with?
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
