READ: GENESIS 1:27; PSALM 139:13; MATTHEW 5:14-16

Bullying. It’s painful to experience. But here’s the thing: I don’t know bullying’s pain because I’ve been bullied. I know its pain because I have been the bully.

I’ve made fun of people. I’ve gossiped about people I didn’t like. I’ve secretly judged the so-called “losers.” But I’d been trying to live my life for Jesus and be different. I wasn’t one of those people, right? But I was one of those people. I was a bully.

It took a long week—full of conviction, tears, and prayer—for Jesus to help me see that reality, changing my life and outlook. I realized I wasn’t just hurting the people I was mocking, teasing, gossiping about, and hating. I was hurting Jesus, the one who loved me so much He died so I could be forgiven for my sins, including bullying (Matthew 25:31-46; Ephesians 4:29-32). I was not acting like I belonged to Him. I was taking God’s creations, made after His own image, and raising myself above them. Like I was better than them.

But I’m not. I need Jesus’s grace—just like everyone else. Bullying is a sin because it forgets that every person was created in God’s image. Basically, making fun of other people is hating on God and His good creation.

As I sought to turn away from the sin of bullying, Jesus was with me— working in me to make me more like Himself. I apologized to the people I hurt. God was humbling me so I didn’t see myself as better than others, but equal to them in His eyes. I started to see people as wonderful, interesting creations of God Himself, even becoming friends with people who were still being hated on by others.

No matter how badly we’ve messed up, Jesus can forgive, restore, and transform us (Luke 23:34). We can even become a light to others who are struggling. He redeems us from our brokenness and gives us the opportunity to share His love and truth with others. • Natalie Gilkinson

• Why is it important that (1) God created all people in His image, and (2) we are all sinners in need of Jesus? How might these truths affect the way we see those around us? (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:11-12, 23-24; 6:23)

• If you are bullying others, are being bullied, or are seeing bullying happen, who is a trusted adult you can talk to about it?

Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 17:11-19

“Jesus is coming,” Nathanael whispers. “He’s coming.” “Jesus?” I say, scratching another sore on my arm until it weeps.

“Oh, you Samaritans! Don’t you know anything?” Nathanael sighs. “He’s the Healer, like the prophets predicted. He can save us—even you.”

Ten of us are still alive in this leper colony. Staying at home would put our families at risk. Tears prick my eyes as I think of the day I left behind my wife and son—of the sadness on their faces. I miss them.

“Unclean!” people scream at us, hurrying by. “Ugh! Look at them!”

“Dear God,” I pray, “please, let Jesus heal me.”

“Jesus is coming,” Nathanael cries. “A huge crowd is following Him.”

“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” we cry over and over again until our throats dry up. Sunshine scorches us, playing havoc with our wounds, my heart thumps as Jesus stops. He does not run away. His eyes reflect compassion and love. He reaches out to us. The crowd immediately disperses, shuddering.

“Go show yourselves to the priests,” Jesus says.

I want to shout out that they won’t let us near them. But then I remember my prayer, and I wonder if, maybe, this is God’s answer.

All of us obey. As we walk, my skin tingles. The heat is no longer intense. Before I even look down, I know I am well. Overcome with emotion, I jump up into the air!

I begin to praise God loudly, running back to Jesus, falling on the stony ground at His feet, unable to stop thanking Him.

Jesus speaks, His eyes rich with love, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

I run home, my heart soaring. Jesus has saved my life. • Cindy Lee

• Today’s story is how one author imagines Luke 17:11-19. When have you felt like an outcast? Read John 1:12 and 3:16. How does Jesus give us a place to belong? (To learn more, see or "Know Jesus" page.)

[Jesus said,] “Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:18 (NLT)

READ: JUDGES 2:16-19; ROMANS 6:1-14

If you’re a pet owner like me, then you know sometimes your pets do things you don’t understand. One thing I don’t understand about my cat Elora is that she loves to get into my bedroom closet. Elora knows how to slip in between the two sliding closet doors, but she doesn’t know how to get out. Whenever she gets stuck inside, I hear her meowing for help, and so I open the door to set her free. This process often repeats itself, and I wonder when my cat will learn not to get stuck in the closet!

My cat’s obsession with getting into my closet reminded me of how we often get stuck in cycles of sin. In the Old Testament, the Israelites went through cycles of sin for many years. First they followed God, then they followed other false gods, and so God let their enemies rule over them. Then they cried out to God for help, and God rescued them. And the cycle would start all over again. In the New Testament, we see our lives follow the same pattern (Romans 5:20–8:39).

When we’re left on our own, we choose to sin against God because we’re born with a sinful nature. We can’t break out of our sinful habits on our own because, without Christ, we’re all slaves to sin. The good news is that Jesus, God in flesh, gave His life for us. He died on the cross and rose from the dead so we could be forgiven of our sin and be made right with Him.

God loves you so much, and He doesn’t want you to be separated from Him. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, He has delivered you from sin and death and brought you near to Himself. Like I rescue my cat from the closet, Jesus rescues us. He teaches us not to wander into sin, but even when we do, He comes for us every time. • Brooke Morris

• Can you think of a time you felt like you were stuck in a cycle of sin? You might feel like there’s no way out, but there is hope! Jesus took our punishment on Himself when He died on the cross for our sins. If we’ve put our trust in Him as our Savior, He has already delivered us from sin’s power and given us the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to say “no” to temptation and break our sin cycles. Consider taking some time right now to pray. You can thank Jesus for being your Savior, confess any sin that comes to mind, rest in His sure forgiveness, and ask for His help to escape any sin cycles you may be stuck in.

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. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)