A letter to you, our High School Graduate:
I am so thankful and proud that you chose to take your high school years seriously. I’m also very thankful for the great and wonderful teachers and mentors you’ve worked with along the way.
As words from the Book of Proverbs proclaims: “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance . . .” (Proverbs 1:5).
And Proverbs 12:1 makes a contrast: “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge; but he that hates reproof is brutish.”
But son, I want to remind you what God’s Word says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7.
You see, words and voices are at your finger-tips. Opinions, facts, judgements, complaints, entertainment, and hate-speeches, but son, what comes in is very important.
We hear the word “Change” like a charge. Change is good. But I plead with you, Please make that “change” be to seek the Lord, more each day.
Each day, be “careful—full of care,” to read His Word and grow in who He is and what He has to say.
God knows what we need. He instructs. He is protects. He speaks:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 warns us. Put a guard around your heart.
Make a distinct decision to be apart for God.
Be sold-out for Jesus. If He would feel uncomfortable standing around the words of thought and conduct, then so should you.
How do we gain and increase in wisdom? God doesn’t leave His children in the dark:
The Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:6-8.
It is always right to trust God. He is able.
You’ve grown up in a house where there is nothing we can stand on except God to get us through. He has given exceptional gifts in each one of us and He is available to lavishly pour out His Spirit.
Keep the rivers flowing.
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7.
Turn daily to seek the Lord’s face. And you will continually be able to have within you this glorious prize,
“I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.” Psalm 119:99.
This world is conditional. On condition of this, you can do that. On condition of that, you can have this.
Well, Jesus is love, unconditional. Today, tomorrow, never changing. He will not turn His back. I pray that each and every day, His face is what you seek.
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26.
Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been made near by the blood of Christ.”
Picture by Jonathan Rypkema. God’s Hand.
And what’s crazy about it all, is, it seems that we don’t even experience God’s hand , and don’t grow in discovering that we are actually held in His hand, until after we have been at our lowest, after times of great pain, after suffering, heartache and loss.