I was reflecting a few weeks ago about my journey to find Jesus. I was in 8th grade, a 14 year old kid who had dealt with depression for the better part of 2 years. I had almost given up at times, not wanting to deal with it anymore. I was in a bad place mentally. But then something changed. I know in my story I talk about how my church got a new youth pastor that was so great at explaining the gospel and loving students. And that’s a HUGE part of my journey to Jesus. But there is another aspect that I don’t usually bring up, and that’s the community I found in youth group.
At the time of my conversion to Christianity, the high school and junior high were split up for Sunday School and Youth Group. We didn’t typically see each other, and I can tell you the high school students really liked that arrangement because junior high kids can be a bit much. If you’ve ever been around kids, you know what I mean. But when I became a Christian in 8th grade, our youth pastor had started playing a game with the high schoolers called Grog. It was a night game. They would meet at the church on a Friday or Saturday night around 9pm, and play this game for 3-4 hours, basically until everyone was tired and worn out. My brother was in high school, as he’s 2.5 years older than me. Because of his age, they let me come to play with them too. That is where I found people who not only loved Jesus, but lived like Jesus. No, they weren’t perfect, but those older students were people I would look up to, and in many ways I still do. They were so instrumental in my growth as a Christian.
Not only did they accept me into their group, but they showed me how life with Jesus should be lived. They challenged me to grow in my faith. They stretched me in my knowledge of the Bible and of God. I grew up in the church, so I knew many of the stories of the Bible. But they showed me that there is more to what the Bible says than just what the Bible says. There’s context. There’s theology. There’s more to following God than simply reading a book and going to church on Sundays. It’s a lifestyle. They ultimately helped form me into the man I would become, and for that I am truly eternally grateful.
I find myself these days wishing I could go back in time to enjoy that period of my life, 8th, 9th, and 10th grades. Those were great years with that group of people before they had all graduated high school and moved on with their own lives. I’m sure I’m not alone in missing people from my past. You probably do too. It’s the hard part of growing up and becoming an adult. As we come to Thanksgiving, those young men and women I had the privilege to know are at the forefront of my mind. I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t have that community at the beginning of my life with Jesus. I’m grateful for social media so that I can still stay in contact with them and see what they’re doing nowadays.
We all need people in our lives to help us follow Jesus. It’s not meant to be done alone. Jesus chose 12 disciples for a reason. He sent them out 2 at a time for a reason. Paul had Silas, Barnabas, Luke, Mark, Titus, Timothy, and many others with him in his ministry for a reason. Who is your group? Who do you have to help you stay accountable and continue to pursue Jesus in your life? We all need someone. I am grateful for the people here at RCC who help me stay on the straight and narrow. It’s not always easy, but with a strong community there for you, it makes it so much better.
This Thanksgiving, I would encourage you to reach out to those in your life that help you in your walk with Jesus and thank them. Make sure they know the impact they have on your life. We live in a world that at times lacks thankfulness. Let’s not be people that fall into that trap. People need that encouragement that they are making a difference in your life, just as you need that encouragement from the people you help.
I don’t think it’s for no reason that at the beginning of almost every letter in the New Testament is a place for thanksgiving. Romans 1:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; Ephesians 1:15-17; Philippians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4-5. Thanksgiving was so important to the authors of the early church. And I do realize that Paul is credited with writing all of these, but this was a common practice for many letter writers in the first century. Thanksgiving can’t be just a once in a while thing. It has to be consistent and regular.
So this Thanksgiving, and every day before and after, don’t hesitate to thank those in your life that have made a positive difference in your life. They need to hear it. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that group of students who took me under their wing when I was a new believer. And I’m sure you wouldn’t be where you are in life if it weren’t for the people that have crossed paths with you in the past.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. -Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
