I still remember my high school graduation. It seems like yesterday. I also vividly remember the day of my Open House, and how I played in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Baseball State Championship that morning before my Open House. Lots of memories. Lots of excitement. Lots of opportunities in front of me. I couldn’t wait for the “next step” in my life.
It seems like yesterday that my parents took me to Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin. Now, in the middle of farm country, I had left the big city for higher education. As my parents finally gathered in their car to go back home with eyes filled with tears (every parent knows that feeling in some way), I was thrilled to “become an adult.” I was on my own. It was “my time” to learn and grow. Freedom!!!! Well, kind of...that is until the responsibility of schoolwork began! Now, I was faced with the all-important question: HAD I LEARNED ENOUGH FROM MY PARENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
This is exactly the context of Paul’s next admonition to the Philippians. By way of review – he is in a Roman prison under house arrest. While he can have visitors and continue writing his letters to the churches, he is confined to the house, not able to go anywhere else. He’s not physically available to the Philippians, and he may never be physically available to them again. So, he challenges them to “work out their salvation” meaning that he is expecting them to attempt to grow in their faith.
What happens when our mentors and teachers are taken from us? Are we ready to “stand on our own” for Christ? For our high school graduates that time has come. They are not going to be able to take their parents, grandparents, coaches, teachers, and youth workers to college with them. If they are going to stay home and work, it’s still true that they are now at a place where what they have been taught is going to be truly tested! As a child, their faith was their parents’ faith. As a teenager, their faith was their coaches’ or youth workers’ faith. Now, the “great transfer” must fully take place. It is time for them to OWN THEIR FAITH – to make it theirs for when the challenges come...which will come!
The Apostle Paul gave the Philippians the “key” to spiritual longevity. They must pursue knowing God with a humble and aware focus. What were they to be aware of in Paul’s mind? The answer is the devastation of poor choices. They should “fear” God which combines the idea of fright and reverence leading to wisdom. What is wisdom? It can be defined as moral skill. In other words, it’s taking the knowledge that you have and making wise choices.
When the pressures would come, instead of blaming God or getting bitter under the circumstances, Paul challenged the Philippians to trust him maintaining their profession of faith. Ultimately, if they prioritized their spiritual growth it would lead to Gospel impact as they shined like bright lights in the sky.
I couldn’t wait to be on my own. I know most of our high school graduates feel the same way. With freedom comes great responsibility! When I was at my high school graduation, the valedictorian of our class (yes, I was not that smart ?) spoke of how it was now “our time” to lead. In that moment, it was funny because many of the adults in the room that night felt as if she was discrediting them. While I can understand the angst of some people, I think a lot of what she said was true. I’m going to be 52 years old in October, while I still have “fuel in the tank” for God, there’s no doubt that we need the younger generation to “step up” in the days to come. Paul knew that his days were numbered. He knew that the Philippians needed to not use him as a “crutch!” His heart was that they would take this admonition to heart. Own. Your. Faith.
In May of 1992, I graduated from high school. The following fall, I went away to college...and so it began. All the time, energy, love, and assistance that I had been given from so many was now put to the test. I pray that over these last 30+ years I have honored God and influenced as many people as I could. Ultimately, it’s all for the glory of God! There’s been mistakes along the way for sure too. Through it all, what’s next should look a lot like what has already been! That is the prayer of every parent, mentor, youth leader, etc. for our students. Paul had the same prayer for the Philippians. It’s YOUR TIME! Go MAKE IT COUNT for Jesus Christ!
It seems like yesterday that my parents took me to Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin. Now, in the middle of farm country, I had left the big city for higher education. As my parents finally gathered in their car to go back home with eyes filled with tears (every parent knows that feeling in some way), I was thrilled to “become an adult.” I was on my own. It was “my time” to learn and grow. Freedom!!!! Well, kind of...that is until the responsibility of schoolwork began! Now, I was faced with the all-important question: HAD I LEARNED ENOUGH FROM MY PARENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
This is exactly the context of Paul’s next admonition to the Philippians. By way of review – he is in a Roman prison under house arrest. While he can have visitors and continue writing his letters to the churches, he is confined to the house, not able to go anywhere else. He’s not physically available to the Philippians, and he may never be physically available to them again. So, he challenges them to “work out their salvation” meaning that he is expecting them to attempt to grow in their faith.
What happens when our mentors and teachers are taken from us? Are we ready to “stand on our own” for Christ? For our high school graduates that time has come. They are not going to be able to take their parents, grandparents, coaches, teachers, and youth workers to college with them. If they are going to stay home and work, it’s still true that they are now at a place where what they have been taught is going to be truly tested! As a child, their faith was their parents’ faith. As a teenager, their faith was their coaches’ or youth workers’ faith. Now, the “great transfer” must fully take place. It is time for them to OWN THEIR FAITH – to make it theirs for when the challenges come...which will come!
The Apostle Paul gave the Philippians the “key” to spiritual longevity. They must pursue knowing God with a humble and aware focus. What were they to be aware of in Paul’s mind? The answer is the devastation of poor choices. They should “fear” God which combines the idea of fright and reverence leading to wisdom. What is wisdom? It can be defined as moral skill. In other words, it’s taking the knowledge that you have and making wise choices.
When the pressures would come, instead of blaming God or getting bitter under the circumstances, Paul challenged the Philippians to trust him maintaining their profession of faith. Ultimately, if they prioritized their spiritual growth it would lead to Gospel impact as they shined like bright lights in the sky.
I couldn’t wait to be on my own. I know most of our high school graduates feel the same way. With freedom comes great responsibility! When I was at my high school graduation, the valedictorian of our class (yes, I was not that smart ?) spoke of how it was now “our time” to lead. In that moment, it was funny because many of the adults in the room that night felt as if she was discrediting them. While I can understand the angst of some people, I think a lot of what she said was true. I’m going to be 52 years old in October, while I still have “fuel in the tank” for God, there’s no doubt that we need the younger generation to “step up” in the days to come. Paul knew that his days were numbered. He knew that the Philippians needed to not use him as a “crutch!” His heart was that they would take this admonition to heart. Own. Your. Faith.
In May of 1992, I graduated from high school. The following fall, I went away to college...and so it began. All the time, energy, love, and assistance that I had been given from so many was now put to the test. I pray that over these last 30+ years I have honored God and influenced as many people as I could. Ultimately, it’s all for the glory of God! There’s been mistakes along the way for sure too. Through it all, what’s next should look a lot like what has already been! That is the prayer of every parent, mentor, youth leader, etc. for our students. Paul had the same prayer for the Philippians. It’s YOUR TIME! Go MAKE IT COUNT for Jesus Christ!