THE HEDGE: Time is Short

by Stuart Estes - U of A ABS Director

The end of the school year is always a bittersweet time. Everyone is happy to see summer break coming, but it’s also a time when some of our closest friends leave as they graduate. It’s even harder when the one leaving came to know Christ and first learned to walk as a disciple due to The Hedge. Alexa is one such student. Her friends, Natasha and Kaitlyn, and the rest of us will be sad to see her go, but we know the Lord has great things in store for her!

I’ve been working through a Bible reading plan in the New Living Translation this year. I’m enjoying the dynamic translation offered in that version, and I was struck by some of the Proverbs in new ways as I read them last month. I found Proverbs 26 especially helpful and entertaining. Verses 18-19 are so appropriate for our day and time — “Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, ‘I’m only joking.’” Consider reading the chapter for yourself!

Early in April, I was feeling a bit discouraged. I had some hard conversations with some students, and they were weighing on me in the days following. I went to the Lord one morning during my quiet time and laid out how I was feeling before Him. It so happened I was in Hebrews as a part of my reading plan for that day, and the Holy Spirit answered my prayers as I read through the passages. I’ve read Hebrews quite a bit, but not often in the NLT, and by God’s grace, He spoke directly to me in new and fresh ways as I read His Word.

These four passages stood out to me as I journaled that day:

• Hebrews 6:10-12 — “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”

• Hebrews 10:35-36 — “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

• Hebrews 12:1-2 — “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

• Hebrews 12:12-13 — “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”

Those four passages were just what my weary soul needed! I needed to hear Him say that He saw what was going on. I needed to hear Him tell me not to throw away my confidence in Him. I needed to hear Him remind me to keep my eyes on Jesus. And I needed to hear Him challenge me to “…take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees!”

What grace He shows His people through His Word! And I want to remind you, as I often remind the students, the Bible is not like Tylenol — it’s more like a vitamin. It works best when you are on a constant and consistent diet.

That’s what I see when I look back on the last month at The Hedge. Will you join us in praying that the Lord would protect and sustain students over the summer, give us wisdom and guidance for adding a ministry team member and for more laborers in the harvest.