Devos for the Soul
Good evening family, friends, and graduates.
High School will officially end for the graduating class of 2008 tonight! Has it been an exciting and rewarding four years? I hope so. More than that, I hope that the upcoming years will rock your world!
Graduates, you have the foundation for a great future. Your parents during the last few years of your life have poured more time, energy, patience, and love into you than Michelangelo did on the Sistine Chapel! They have guided you, taught you, and (probably on more than one occasion) pestered you whether intentionally or not. They have laid a solid foundation—it is time that you begin to build upon it. I pray that their godly advice has penetrated your minds and changed your hearts.
As you prepare to leave the blithe high school years behind and venture into that unknown—whether it be attending college, pursuing a career, or something else—you must guard your foundation and build upon it.
Go your way! That is what God instructed Daniel to do in Daniel chapter 12. “As for you, go your way till the end….” What does that mean? It means to shine like stars in a crooked and depraved generation. If you choose to go your way with God, let me tell you: it is not going to be easy. But it will be worth it.
What is the trend today when graduates leave home? Most take a nose-dive and face-plant into the snares of this depraved world. If you don’t want to live through that turmoil, resolve now that you will devote yourself to God and go your way with Him.
Backing up in Daniel 12, it says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever.” Those who are wise… Many of you will be heading to college in the fall. You will be pursuing knowledge at your choice college or university, but I want to challenge you to pursue a knowledge and wisdom that will serve you better in the years to come than any mathematical equation or scientific formula. It is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
Did you hear that? Love the Lord with all your mind. That’s more than a fuzzy-feel-good-feeling. Loving with your mind goes beyond emotions. Loving with your mind is knowing the Scriptures, understanding who the Lord God really is, and using your brain when confronted by questions about your faith. Emotions only go so far in your relationship with Jesus Christ. You need mind-power too!
Now Go Your Way! Live for God; make His priorities your own. Love your God; love him with your mind, with your heart, with your soul. Never be satisfied with blending in—stand out for Christ. God did not say to Daniel, “Go Rad, Shack, and Benny’s way.” Nor did God say, “Go old king Nebuchadnezzar’s way.” No! God was specific: “Go your way, Daniel.” God has a unique way he wants to take you. He has given you the foundation, and if you’ll let Him, He will rock your world!
Copyright © 2008
