What's Next: Student EditionSample

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life …

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NIV

If you’re reading this plan, it’s because you made the most important decision in your life: committing your life to Jesus.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Messiah: the Chosen One of God. He is the Son of God who left heaven and entered history to bring forgiveness and redemption to our fallen and rebellious world. He is the Good Shepherd who cares for His people with compassion and goodness. He is the Lamb that was slain—the One who died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, and then rose from the dead. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

And He loves you.

Do you believe that? Do you feel that? Sometimes it can be really challenging. Because we’re so aware of all the things we’ve done wrong. All the parts of us we’re ashamed of. All the reasons why we don’t deserve to be loved. This is why the gospel is such good news, because Jesus sees past all of our problems and sees our potential!

Jesus sees you as you really are.

In the beginning, God created everything as an act of love. He created the heavens and the earth. He created the stars and the sky. He created plants and animals. And the cherry on top of the masterpiece that is the cosmos? Human beings. People like you and me. There was something different about people. Something special.

You see, we were created in the image of God. What does that mean? It means God created us to be walking, talking, living, laughing pictures of His goodness, grace, and mercy. You were created to be a picture of God. From page one, the story of the Bible has always been a story about a loving Creator and His desire to partner with His creation. His desire to be our friend and to be our Father.

Because of Jesus, the relationship with God we once had has been restored. Because of Jesus, the image of God in us that was cracked by sin is being healed. Because of Jesus, we’ve been given the gift of new life.

And today is the first day of the rest of your life. The first day of your new life.

What are you going to do with it?

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus and thank You for new life. I want my life to make You proud. Help me to learn how to love You and to love others well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bonus: Watch this video to learn even more about what it means to follow Jesus!