As we enter the final days of summer, it’s time to make sure both teachers and students are ready for the long haul that is the school year. We all enjoy a good break, but you eventually have to re-enter the real world. While teachers start preparing their classrooms for eager young minds, it’s also important for students to start thinking about the things that come with a new year of school, both good and bad. Even if you’re an adult chasing after a degree through night classes, there are some motivational Bible verses for students of all kinds to consider. Learning isn’t all about laptops, erasers, and essay books. We also need mental preparation. Here are a few motivational Bible verses for students who are going back to school.
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
Each new school year means that we are growing older and (hopefully) wiser. Think of it like a staircase: when we complete a school year, we are taking one step up to the next level. Even Jesus was dedicated as a child in learning the ways of the world and honing His knowledge for His ministry to come. If you pay attention to the last part of the verse, you see that Jesus was growing in many ways. Gaining wisdom is far more than simply completing the bare minimum. We know that you don’t earn favor by being average or by mindlessly wandering. There is intentionality. Jesus was pushing himself to excel both in spiritual matters and by earthly standards. We should seek to improve in both areas as well.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
This selection is one of the most popular Bibles verses for students, especially in Christian schools. No matter what age you are at, each stage of life comes with its own set of obstacles and hindrances. Though our troubles in high school, college, or wherever may not easily compare to the struggles of the Israelites, we serve the same God who guided them. When we look to the Lord as our main source of power, we unlock a higher potential. That may not bring you an A on your test or an athletic championship, but God will help you to do more than you ever could on your own.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
One of the best examples of a student in scripture comes from the relationship between Paul and Timothy. As Paul goes on his missionary journeys, there are many other believers who are also taking part in the early church. Some are even direct students of Paul’s. Timothy is a younger Christian who Paul has taken under his wing to lead the church and ensure that it continues to follow biblical principles. There are many false teachers during this time as the information regarding Christianity is not as readily available as it is today. In these verses, Paul is telling Timothy to persevere and never give any ground to false teachers. He should rest on the solid foundation that has been poured out before him through Paul, the disciples, and ultimately Jesus Himself. This message works for us today in that we should remember those who went before us and blazed a path to be followed. We must stick with what we know to be true and not get lost in the false teachings that tempt us to divert from our intended destination.
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding- indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
If you are going to be a good student, you must be teachable. Another word that goes hand in hand with this virtue is humility. It is difficult to learn anything useful if you are consumed by pride. Men who feel they know everything and are unwilling to hear from someone else are very difficult to teach. Instead we must be constantly searching for wisdom and seeking God’s advice. Similar to what we discussed with Isaiah 40:28-31, God is the ultimate source for wisdom. Why would you go anywhere else? If we are eager to learn from Him and not solely trust on our own feelings, we stand a much better chance at gaining wisdom.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
We often speak of this verse when it comes to the subject of finances, but there is truth in it for any situation. We can only serve one master. That choice will essentially come down to either God or some version of ourselves. There are countless examples in the world today of people who made selfish decisions only to hurt everyone around them and eventually destroy themselves. When we place God on the throne of our lives, we are going to end up with better results. This verse is closely followed by a series of verses that tell us not to worry because God is in control. When we live our lives in service to Christ, many of the dangers and hindrances that might consume us otherwise fade to the background. As you pursue academics and develop wisdom, remember that you can only serve one master.
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”
As one of the longest chapters in the Bible, Psalm 119 has more than a few motivational Bible verses for students. Verse 72 goes back to what we were talking about in Matthew 6:24 in that we should live our lives constantly reflecting our decisions against scripture. Which master are we going to serve? How committed are we to Him? This world will throw every temptation our way, whether it be cheating on a test, picking on someone less socially acceptable than us, or compromising our morals for some worldly reward. Are we willing to trade any or all of the “good” things this world has to offer in order to serve the Lord?
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
We mentioned this verse in an earlier piece on motivational verses for athletes. Rewards don’t often come to those who are undisciplined or unfocused. It is through calamity that we develop endurance. Pain brings an extra layer of skin to help us more easily navigate the world around us. In the scholastic world it means that you need to consistently take care of the little things. It’s easy to be selfish or lazy. You must make the hard decisions if you want to achieve ultimate victory.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
Motivational Bible verses for students are spread throughout the book of Proverbs, but this one rings especially true. In the pursuit of knowledge, a student cannot overlook the importance of wisdom. Before we can ever claim to be wise, though, we have to acknowledge the One who is the author of wisdom. The most wise thing you can ever do is to recognize that (1) there is a God and (2) you are not Him. This simple thought will bring relief to stress, douse your pride with humility, and force you to prioritize the things that matter over those that do not. Living this way may not guarantee you a long life, but it is the life most worth living.
“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.”
Daniel is the perfect example of a boy who becomes a man through discipline and commitment to the Lord. Though his people live in service to the Babylonians, Daniel follows the Lord and allows himself to be used by the Lord. We see in these verses that Daniel was a young man who was smart, quick to learn, and well-rounded. Due to this, and likely some handsome features, Daniel was perfectly positioned to be God’s servant behind enemy lines. As you can see from the other events in this book, Daniel answered the call in an exceptional way and is rewarded for his faithfulness. We may not all serve in the same way as Daniel, but God has set aside a calling for each of us during our school years. Maybe an aptitude for sports, or debate team, has offered you the opportunity to engage in the Lord’s work. Take advantage of this opportunity and see what good comes from it.
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
One of the many warnings Paul gives in Romans is for believers to watch out for false teachers. This threat can exist in one of two ways for students: teachers who claim Christ but teach something different from the Bible or teachers who try to indoctrinate students against the Bible. Both can be dangerous, so it’s important to stay close to scripture and always evaluate new ideas into the context of the Bible. While we can often make up over-the-top caricatures of college professors who are trying to convert Christians away from the faith, there are many people who will try to disrupt your theology one way or another. Be on guard.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
The last of our motivational Bible verses for students is a portion of scripture that can benefit everyone. When you are of school age, the people around you are often talking about inappropriate things, being unkind to others, or engaging in behavior that is not recommended. Sadly this can also be the case for grownups. Instead of doing what is acceptable to the world, we should be doing that which has been called good by our Heavenly Father. Focus on that which meets the criteria found in verse 8, but that’s only part of the command. We are also to replicate these teachings and impact those around us for the gospel.
These are just a few of the motivational Bible verses for students that show us how to conduct ourselves in the world of academics. We should live above reproach with our hearts and actions perfectly aligning with the One who created us. To settle for anything else is to simply waste time.
The K-LOVE Fan Awards exists to celebrate the musicians, filmmakers, and more who are making an impact on the Christian community and to bring their biggest fans together for the ultimate fan experience. Featuring spectacular concerts and exclusive access, this annual event is the place to be. Find out how you and your family can be a part of the magic by clicking on the link below.
We know that making travel plans for you and your family can be a bit of a hassle. That’s why we wrote our own Nashville Travel Guide to help you out. Tennessee’s state capital is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, so come see what all the fuss is about.
