New Beginnings

During the Christmas break I felt both excited and uneasy about what the January issue of our newsletter (The Biblical Standard) should be. I spent time in prayer asking God for direction, and I sensed that the Holy Spirit was leading me to focus on readers who are new to the faith or just beginning their spiritual journey.

 I know that taking those first steps can feel overwhelming. Walking into a church for the first time, seeing others worship and pray, can make anyone feel out of place. When I was rediscovering my own faith, I remember thinking; what am I doing here, am I even on the same level as these people, how will I ever catch up, and why did God choose me? If you have ever felt this way, I want you to know that these thoughts are normal. In fact, they often come from a sincere heart that truly wants to know God. Simply choosing to walk through the doors of a church in search of Jesus is already a significant step.

 At the same time, it is important to understand that growing in faith is not just about attending a few Bible studies or going to church on Sunday. True faith develops as we absorb God’s word, apply it to our lives, and help others follow Christ. Walking with Jesus will bring moments of joy and spiritual breakthrough, but it will also bring challenges as we wrestle with our flesh and resist temptation. You may begin to notice that certain things in the world no longer hold the same appeal, and there will be days when your mind tells you not to go to church or not to spend time with God. Those moments are tests of obedience. In the end, our flesh remains behind, but through faith in God, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, we are promised something far greater, a new body and eternal life as described in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.

-Christian Miller [Editor Of The Biblical Standard]

*This blog post was taken from our January edition of The Biblical Standard newsletter.