I love meeting with Students 1 on 1.Why?Because they get to tell me their story.I so desire to hear from them, to watch them, to hear their hearts.No matter what they might say or what they may think or where they may be—I love to hear from them.
This week I have arranged through Jane meetings every half hour to meet with 1 or 2 students at a time to find out from them—all the above and today was a (in my mind and heart) a great beginning.Always a joy to hear directly from students—awesome!I am looking forward to a full week getting to know students not just by name, but also by their story.
Which reminds me of the Words of Jesus in John chapter 15
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.”
I am reminded while meeting with students today of Christ’s –
First—being loved by the Father.The Son could love because He was loved.
Second—that love produces obedience
Third—that love toward one another MATTERS!
Yes—loving one another is hugely important to God.To Jesus.So important that Jesus tells His followers to love each other as He has loved them.
How easy is it to love someone you don’t know as opposed to loving somebody you do know?Actually loving somebody you do know is quite simple.Loving somebody you don’t know means you don’t have to know their baggage, issues, downfalls, or STUFF.
But Jesus tells us to love one another because He knows He loved them with all their issues—so we can do the same.And the reason we can do the same is because He showed us and taught us—going to the cross was the ultimate love toward people that certainly he knew and yet had the ability to love.
And so goes the student ministry.The Next Gen Pastor toward the staff, the students, the parents.I know people that really love me—and they really love me because—umm they know me and know my shortcomings and STUFF.Now I can do the same as I meet with students.They can learn to be totally free to let me love them.Baggage and all- those that don’t have baggage?They do, I do—I needed the Savior not because I could do it myself (the list) but because I couldn’t period.
Yep, student ministry is a great trip because students are loved by God… not because of what they do or don’t do, but because they are by His choice—loved and loved because they are part of His creation—and therefore because I know the example of Christ who loves me—Students will be loved by me.
Crazy this thing called Student Ministry!Crazy!
“Love one another.”Lets try it.It may just reshape the whole next generation!
Great thoughts Don! My encouragement to you would be to remember to fill your tank before you meet these students. As I am sure you know, it is hard to minister to students if your tank is empty, especially with all the excitement in the air.
Praying for you Bro,
Dave
