June 13, 2009

• Words of the day: graduate & commencement

  As our youngest son is graduating from High School today and our oldest son graduated college a few weeks ago (Congratulations, guys!), I've been thinking about graduation.

  The word "graduate" comes from the  medieval Latin word graduare - "take a degree," and from the Latin, gradus, "degree, step."

  So when we think of graduation, perhaps we ought to think of it as one step of many we will take in our lives. That's why the word "commencement" is also often used because the word means a beginning or a start. The word "commencement" comes from the Old French words commencier, or comencier, based on the Latin words com (expressing extensive force) + initiare "begin."

  Isn't that what we're to do in the Christian life? Commence and graduate.

  We begin to walk with God but then we never stop because He never stops walking with us. His Spirit has come to abide with us forever.

  The Christian life is described as a race. We don't merely begin the race and then stop. The race is intended to be run to the end. Jesus talked about us taking the Kingdom by force and pressing into the Kingdom. We're not to let up as we pursue the King and His Kingdom. We're to continue on and keep stepping forward in the Christian life. It is not God's intent for us to begin and then become lazy and stop running.

  Aren't we supposed to be taking the Kingdom by force? Aren't we to be pressing into the Kingdom? Aren't we to be working out the salvation God has worked in us fully confident that it is God who is working in us to do so and relying on the power He provides through His Holy Spirit?  Aren't we to be running and persevering and pressing on to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of us? By the grace and power of God, aren't we to be laboring and walking in the good works God has ordained for us, trusting that He who began a good work in us will complete it in us at the day of Christ Jesus?

  This is the paradox of the Christian life. Yes, we work, but it is God who works in us. Apart from the resurrection power of Christ in us, we can do nothing.

  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
  

  –Philippians 2:12-13
  

  Because it is God who works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure, along with the apostle Paul might each one of us say

  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
  Philippians 3:14

  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
  

  –Matthew 11:28-30

  Jesus says to us, "Come, take my yoke and learn."

  So we come and take His yoke and learn of Him.

  But if we don't stay and remain in His yoke, if don't continue to learn of Him, can we say we pressing on?
  

  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
  

  –John 8:31-32

  Jesus says to us, "Abide in my word."

  So we come and abide in His word, we show we are His disciples and we come to know more fully the truth and the freedom He has give us.

  But if we don't continue to abide in His word, can we say we are His disciples, can we say we are pressing on?

  And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
  
  You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
  

  –II Timothy 2:1-2
  

  Jesus says to us, "Go and make disciples and teach them what I have taught you."

  So we go and make disciples and teach others what we have been taught so they might teach others.

  But if we don't continue to go, if we don't continue to make disciples and teach others, can we say we are pressing on?

  
  Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
  

  –Hebrews 13:20-21
  

  
  

  Holy Father, may we press on and labor faithfully and work hard in the power You provide because we know that in and of ourselves we know we have no power.

  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
  

  –I Corinthians 15:10
  

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  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Dictionary Information from my Oxford American Dictionaries desktop widget.

  • 10:27 AM
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