The Importance of a Vital Relationship with Jesus

Mr. Daniel Howard, Boston Trinity alumni and new faculty member, told a bit of his history in a Chapel address Wednesday morning. He gave a short bio, saying, "Most importantly, I love Jesus. I can't explain to you how vital a relationship to Jesus is."

Mr. Howard grew up in a Christian home, but said his faith was mostly on an intellectual level. He had an older brother whom he idolized, and followed him to BTA as a freshman when his brother was a senior. Mr. Howard said he developed a competitive spirit because he was always trying to be as good as, or better than, his brother. "My identity was in affirmation," he admitted. "I was judgmental and cocky."

Then, a series of difficult circumstances left Mr. Howard feeling that God was not real and nothing really mattered. He started struggling academically, and would change his behavior depending on who he was with. Finally, his youth pastor told him, "You need to decide who you want people to think of when they hear your name." About that time, he participated in a Christian wilderness camp.  "I arrived with no identity," he shared, "but the program was a perfect fit for me at the time." He came to realize that each person is a child of God, and felt God's comfort and concern for him as an individual. When he left the camp, he also left behind his feelings of loneliness and despondency. God is real, God loved him, and God would never leave him. He was a beloved child of the King of the universe! He returned to Boston Trinity the next year a changed person.

Because he had experienced the joy of a life in Christ, Mr. Howard decided to speak only encouraging words from that point on. He read 1 Peter 3:13-18:

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

"The end of that scripture has an amazing promise," Mr. Howard said in conclusion. "Jesus died to bring us into a relationship with God."