The Law of Moses was a "schoolmaster" meant to point us toward Christ. He didn't lower the bar of the law; He moved it from stone tablets into our hearts. Living the law is no longer just about what we do, but who we are while we are doing it. Discussion Question: How does your motivation change when you view a commandment as a tool for personal transformation rather than just a rule to be followed?

Proverbs 4 teaches us that wisdom is the principal thing, but we must also get understanding. Wisdom is knowing the truth; understanding is the perspective of how that truth applies to our lives. We may have the wisdom to know God is there, but we need understanding to see how His timing is working for our good right now. Discussion question: It is easy to have the wisdom to say 'God is in control,' but much harder to have the understanding to feel peace while waiting. How do you practice 'getting understanding' when you're in the middle of a waiting period? What helps you see His hand when the clock seems to be moving slowly? For the full devotional, visit The Daily Joy Journal in Classroom.

The poem The Touch of the Master’s Hand describes an old violin, battered and scarred, that the crowd thought was worthless—until the Master played it. Sometimes we feel "drained" because we feel like that old violin—out of tune and overused. We don't need a new schedule; we need the Master's touch. The crowd saw a battered violin, but the Master saw a masterpiece in waiting. When you feel 'battered and scarred' by life's demands, how does shifting your focus from your 'worthless' feelings to the Master’s perspective change your outlook? For the Full Devotional, visit The Daily Joy Journal in Classroom.

If we want to be like Him, we have to stop seeing people as interruptions to our 'work.' The people are the work." Discussion Question: Think back on your last week. Can you identify a moment where you felt "interrupted" by someone? How might that moment have changed if you had viewed that person as your primary "work" in that moment rather than a distraction from your to-do list?

We cannot fully appreciate the light of the empty tomb without first acknowledging the crushing darkness of the Garden and the Cross. By sitting with "heavy feeling words" like piercing and flailed, we move beyond a general idea of grace and begin to see the specific, voluntary price the Savior paid for our personal peace. Visualizing the literal pressure of the thorns allows us to realize that His grace isn't just a sentiment—it is a scarred hand reached out to carry the specific weight of our own sorrows. Discussion question: Which of your current 'thorns' or heavy burdens do you feel the Savior was most mindful of while He suffered for you? How does knowing He chose to feel that specific pain help you feel His love more deeply today?