Graduation

As graduates receive the final accolades of their collegiate or high school years, there is always plenty of advice to go around. Advice from old sages to modern hip hop; practical to visionary; corporate to country; spiritual to physical; subjective to objective; simple to complex. So much advice one might ask why the need to publish anything else in this field. This is nothing new, simply a reminder of that which has driven nations since the beginning.

Consider the advice given by one teacher to his student:

1. Let no man despise thy youth (1 Tim. 4:12);
2. Neglect not the gift that is in thee ( 1 Tim. 4:14);
3. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Tim. 6:11);
4. Fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12);
5. Keep what has been committed to thy trust (1 Tim. 6:20);
6. Be not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord (2 Tim. 1:8);
7. Hold fast the form of sound words (2 Tim. 1:13);
8. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus ( 2 Tim. 2:1);
9. Endure hardship (2 Tim. 2:3);
10. Strive lawfully (2 Tim. 2:4);
11. Study to show thyself approved (2 Tim. 2:15a);
12. Rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15b);
13. Flee youthful lust (2 Tim. 2:22a);
14. Follow after righteousness, faith, charity, peace (2 Tim. 2:22b);
15. Do not strive but be gentle (2 Tim. 2:24);
16. Continue in the things that thou hast learned (2 Tim. 3:14).

Rather than seeking to "be like Mike" why not be like Jesus:

1. Jesus increased in wisdom - He developed intellectually;
2. Jesus increased in stature - He developed physically;
3. Jesus increased in favor with God - He developed spiritually;
4. Jesus increased in favor with man - He developed socially.

You cannot walk in the steps of Jesus (1 Pet. 2:21; Jho. 13:15; Eph. 5:2; 1 Jho. 2:6) unless you continue to grow (2 Pet. 3:18). Following after this kind of advice will take you well beyond the stars.

-rick popejoy