Happy New Year! A new year often brings a new start. We all know that the turning of a new year doesn’t remove all our old troubles. That’s sometimes a difficult truth to grasp. Yes, that means some of those same issues or problems we had last year are going to follow us to the next. However, the beauty about the new year is that it sparks a new hope for what’s next. Just as some of our troubles stick with us into this new year, Jesus chooses to walk with us into the new year as well. What wonderful hope we have in a God who stays present with us!
If you know me just a little bit, you probably know that I hang with students. Specifically, 6th – 12th grade students. You know, the middle and high school ones! My career is wrapped up into getting to know students, their families, and helping them connect with God. Being a student is a unique time in life. If you could, take a minute and just reflect on your time as a student in 6th – 12th grade. The friendships, the schooling, and all the responsibilities. Probably the coolest part of my job is watching students grow. Not only grow in height or academic knowledge, but grow in understanding and in their faith in Christ. However, in my many years of student ministry I’ve realized something. When it comes down to it, we’re all students. We’re all students of the Word of God. We are all lifelong learners on a journey of connecting with God and growing in our faith. We sit under the authority of Jesus and we look to His Word to lead and guide us. We look to God’s word to teach us how to live a life that’s honoring to Him.
We’re actually starting a new series on growing our faith in middle school ministry called “Connecting the Dots”. In our first week we are in Matthew 7:24, which is when Jesus says, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Jesus not only says those who listen, but those who listen and follow. When we listen to God’s Word and follow… we grow and learn how to honor God. As Jesus says, if we listen and follow, we are like a person who builds a house on a solid rock. A firm foundation.
What would it look like for you to take a step towards reading God’s Word more consistently? What would it look like for you to listen and follow? I challenge you in this new year to take some time each day and be a student of God’s Word!