The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One
and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14
The Gospel is built around the core theological idea of incarnation. The fact that God became a man and made our
home his own is full of mystery and wonder.
The very idea that Jesus traded all the glories of Heaven for the
mundane has provided inspiration for artists, musicians, and ministers for over
two thousand years now. Somehow, knowing
that we were worth this
incredible sacrifice, this confounding trading of places, captures our hearts
in ways that nothing else can.
God became a man. The Word
became flesh. For a moment God was
physically present here on the earth, and now He has sent the Holy Spirit to be
a constant presence in the lives of those who believe in Him.
In youth ministry, we can never underestimate the power of presence in young people’s
lives. Our relationship with God is
centered on the incarnation – the presence
of God in a place He didn’t have to be.
You also can choose to be present in a place you don’t have to be. No one is forced into youth ministry. No one is pressured into getting to know and
care for a teenager. But when we choose to practice presence in
the lives of students, we are embodying the very heart of Jesus for His
children. We become incarnate – the love
of God made manifest in their lives through acts and words of encouragement,
consistent reaffirming love, or simple smiles and unprovoked kindness.
The Word became flesh. May our
love for Jesus, our love for students, and our passion for youth ministry take
on tangibility in the lives of the teenagers we are so blessed to know.
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