Pastoral Page

Today we celebrate the graduates amongst us. We are proud of their achievements; we rejoice with them on this important milestone of their lives; and we wish them God's blessing for a bright and promising future.

My favorite verse for the graduates is from Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope." This is also my daughter Priscilla's "personal verse." This verse has encouraged her through all the circumstances of life and has enabled her to face its challenges with confidence in God's loving plans for her.

This verse also reminds me of the graduation requirements in the School of Christ. As we may recall, there are required courses in school that one must learn and pass before one can be considered for graduation. So there are life lessons that God wants us to learn and excel in. The challenging circumstances that we have to face, the difficult persons that we have to endure, the trials and tribulations of this life, the valley of tears that we have to prod through, these are all part of the graduation requirements that our loving Heavenly Father has specially designed for our spiritual and emotional maturity.

During lives trialing times and challenging circumstances, our only hope comes from our unwavering faith in our Heavenly Father, who "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." (Romans 8:28, NLT)

Graduation will come sooner than you think. In the mean time, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay." (Hebrews 10:36-37 NIV)

Happy Graduation!

In the Love of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Ling