Beautiful, comforting, and sweet
Here's an excerpt of the speech I gave during the graduation ceremony of Marbel Evangelical Fellowship Christian Academy (MEFCA) last Friday. I spoke to the toughest crowd to engage — elementary pupils — but they're also the most honest and charming. In the middle of my talk, I saw a little boy's head bow in drowsiness, and spotted two girls giggling about (I suspect) an entirely different subject. I also met Ma'am Celina Lemana, my high school biology teacher and second-year high school adviser (II-Venus in KNCHS Special Class); her nephew studies in MEFCA. Nanay and Auntie Cecil are members of the school board and listened to my speech, as well. When I approached her after speaking, my mother said nothing, which means the talk must have gone well.
Photo: lighthouse at Barrenjoey, Sydney, New South Wales.
The topic was, "Filipino graduates: Prepared to lead with competence and godly character," with 2 Timothy 3:16 and Philippians 4:13 as key verses.
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But in order for words to make sense, you must read them. So take time to read your Bible. Make your quiet time the highlight of your day. I know it’s very hard for your generation. Smartphones and the internet are distracting you, shortening your attention spans, and making you less smart. It’s also creating many problems for you, like mental health issues. May I recommend something? Turn off your phones, leave them in the other room, or somewhere else you have no access to. And start and end your day by reading your Bible. Read the words slowly. Memorize the verses. Turn them into song. Think and pray while you do so. Take down notes. Ask God to open your heart to understand His message. Ask God to help you obey Him. His words are beautiful, comforting, and sweet.
I believe we all can learn something important by listening to Paul’s words to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:14-17):
When you start reading, meditating, and applying God’s Word to your life, you will, like Timothy, be prepared to face whatever life has in store for you.
God is so good to us he gave us a book we can read and study. But unlike other books, the Bible is a living thing. God speaks to us when we read it. Our hearts and minds are transformed when we listen to God’s Word. It’s a beautiful, mysterious, marvelous thing–the way God lovingly reveals Himself to ordinary people like us. Whether we are young or old, boy or girl, smart or not so smart, strong or weak, God’s word is for us. The words of the Bible are the words of God Himself. These words teach, discipline, correct, and train us to live worthy of God. These words are complete. We cannot add to them. They are enough to equip us for every good work. The good work can mean our ministry in church, school, jobs, and our families and personal relationships. The good work can mean the chores our parents tell us to finish, or the needy people that God brings on our way.
But in order for words to make sense, you must read them. So take time to read your Bible. Make your quiet time the highlight of your day. I know it’s very hard for your generation. Smartphones and the internet are distracting you, shortening your attention spans, and making you less smart. It’s also creating many problems for you, like mental health issues. May I recommend something? Turn off your phones, leave them in the other room, or somewhere else you have no access to. And start and end your day by reading your Bible. Read the words slowly. Memorize the verses. Turn them into song. Think and pray while you do so. Take down notes. Ask God to open your heart to understand His message. Ask God to help you obey Him. His words are beautiful, comforting, and sweet.
I believe we all can learn something important by listening to Paul’s words to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:14-17):
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
When you start reading, meditating, and applying God’s Word to your life, you will, like Timothy, be prepared to face whatever life has in store for you.
Photo: lighthouse at Barrenjoey, Sydney, New South Wales.
