Did You Graduate?
2 Timothy 2:1-9
Sam Palmisano, the chairperson
and CEO of IBM, observed the following principle. The most effective leaders,
CEO's and heads of state, whom he has observed, don't make themselves the
center of attention. They are respectful
and they listen. This makes people
comfortable; they open up and speak up.1
When I was graduating from
the University, our Dean said something I cannot forget. “Today you are receiving a diploma, a piece of
paper, which says you don’t know anything.” You should have seen my face. All those years of hard work, all those nights
of labor were for nothing! He continued, “We equipped you with means to be
able to continue your learning process.”
Hearing these words made me
think. I thought I was the center of the
world. I thought I achieved, I arrived
and I am done. These were good yet deceiving feelings. “The best CEO’s are those who don’t make
themselves the center of attention.”
This morning we are worshiping
God and thanking God for the opportunity to be students. It is graduation Sunday. Students worked hard to reach to this meaningful
day. I would like to focus on what Paul
taught to his student Timothy. In
fact, he gave Timothy three basic pieces of advise
that I would like to share with you, graduates, and congregation (remember we
should always be students): Be
Strong, Suffer Hardship, Remember Jesus Christ. Timothy is entering a new church in the
city of
1. Life is tough, BE
STRONG in the GRACE of JESUS CHRIST.
“Be strong in the grace that
is in Christ Jesus.” You think there is
contradiction. On one hand Timothy
should stand firm on his feet, should be tough, should
be strong. On the other hand he should
do that in the “grace of Christ Jesus.” What
does it mean?
Do you hear these words, “Do
your best.” Well, we should do our best. It is good but not enough. For Christians just doing the best is our side
of the end. We need to learn to do
things with the HELP of the Lord. Timothy
needed to learn to trust utterly on the grace of Jesus.
This is reality not just in Christian
life or Church life; this should be our attitude in our daily life, in school,
university, work place, office, homework, home management. Learn to do your part, but never forget to ask
God in prayer to give you his grace through Jesus Christ.
Augustine said, “Lord,
command what you will, but give what you command.” In other words, tell me what to do, and enable
me through your grace to do things you have called me to do.
I hear from Christians, “The
Lord saved me with His grace; now it is up to me to do the rest.” Bad theology. One can
accomplish nothing without His grace, nothing.
We have many graduates this
year, some from High School and some from college. You are entering to new zone, a new part of
your life. Life is going to be tough. You are prepared to face them. Besides doing your part, give Jesus the best
place in your life. Let Him be the priority
in your life. Experience His grace daily
in your life. Have Christian friends,
read the scripture, pray and meditate on His Word, serve the Lord in the
community.
We will continue in English.
1- eSermon /illustration.com