Welcome
For many Jesus followers, living out this new relationship with God is what some might call an “unexpected journey.” When Jesus lived on earth, He chose 12 close followers, called disciples, from all walks of life. To these young men, He gave the simple invitation: “Come and follow me.” At the time, they didn’t know where they would go or what would become of them, but something about this Jesus gripped them so profoundly that they left their former lives to follow Him. Like these 12, you were walking in one direction in your life, but now not only has the path changed, but also the very destination. In many ways, this event of trusting Jesus has created a new, unexpected journey of following Him and learning to live by faith, trusting God with your life, every day. This short booklet is one small step to help ground you in this new spiritual journey.
As you set out on this path, be forewarned: the road is not always easy or safe. Jesus didn’t come to offer simple comforts, removed from danger; He came to offer new and abundant life. He did not come to remove every challenge and heartache, but He promised to walk beside you through them all—never leaving, never forsaking, never giving up on you. When you encounter struggles, suffering and temptation, know this is all part of the human experience, as Jesus Himself, our very role model for how to truly live, endured the same. You will fail and fall often but know God is always with you and His love for you never waivers, never changes, never fails.
To support you on this journey, this booklet contains 14 simple, yet deeply profound truths about your new quest and the spiritual reality in which it exists. These short reflections are intended to be read in order, one per day (but feel free to read at your own pace). After each reflection, there are a few questions and activities to help you better grasp each new idea. You are encouraged to document your insights in a separate notebook or journal. These questions and activities are broken up into two sections with headings: “Embracing New Life” and “Living New Life.” You can complete both sets of activities immediately after reading the reflection, or you can go through the booklet twice—the first time completing the “Embracing New Life” activities and the second time completing the “Living New Life” activities. Going through the booklet twice like this will help you better grasp and live out this new reality. That said, either path is good, with the most important thing being the effort you put into truly grasping each new idea in your heart and mind.
Finally, although your relationship with God is one that is all your own and truly personal, Christianity is a team sport. Throughout your life, God will place people around you to teach, train, serve, inspire and care for you. He will also ask you to do the same for countless others. As you begin to work through this booklet, be encouraged to work through it with someone else or at least discuss what you are learning with someone who has followed Jesus longer. This person can serve as a spiritual guide and help you with some basic things, like how to navigate your way through the Bible, a collection of books with God-inspired truth. You’ll see references to Bible passages throughout this booklet, often with the name of the book, followed by the chapter and verse (e.g., “John 3:16”). Look these up and start to get familiar with them. You will also be encouraged to spend time praying, which is simply a conversation with God. Let Him know your thoughts, feelings and requests, and wait or “listen” to see what He puts in your mind and heart in response. You have started your new life in Jesus, and it’s my prayer that you would soon begin to grasp just how truly awesome this New Life is and will be!
Amen. (So be it.)