THE GRADUATE'S FOOTSTEPS

TEXT- 1 PETER 2:21-23

INTRODUCTION

IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS FIVE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OUR CHURCH ARE GOING TO GRADUATE EITHER FROM JUNIOR HIGH OR HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN THEIR EDUCATION.

IN FACT THE WORD "GRADUATE OR GRADUATION" COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD "GRADUS" WHICH LITERALLY MEANS, "STEP."

THIS MORNING THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE GRADUATE'S FOOTSTEPS" AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 PETER 2:21-23.

A FATHER WAS SPEAKING WITH HIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND THE CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT HIS SON IN COLLEGE.  "I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR SON IS NOW A SENIOR IN COLLEGE." SAID THE NEIGHBOR.  "IS HE GOING TO BE A LAWYER, DOCTOR, OR PERHAPS AN ENGINEER?"  "I'M NOT REALLY SURE." REPLIED THE FATHER.  "THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS WILL HE GRADUATE?"

IN GRADUATING FROM JUNIOR HIGH INTO HIGH SCHOOL OR FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN COLLEGE YOU ARE TAKING A STEP UP OR FORWARD IN YOUR EDUCATION.

AS IMPORTANT AS THAT STEP IS IN YOUR SECULAR EDUCATION, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE STEPS YOU TAKE IN YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN.

IN ORDER TO GRADUATE FROM JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE CERTAIN STEPS.

YOU CAN NOT BECOME A DOCTOR OR LAWYER UNLESS YOU HAVE TAKEN THE PROPER STEPS.

AS CHRISTIANS WE CAN NOT ADVANCE IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND BECOME WHAT GOD WOULD WANT US TO BE UNLESS WE TOO TAKE THE PROPER STEPS.

MOST STUDENTS IN PURSUING A CAREER OR MAJOR IN COLLEGE DON'T KNOW WHAT STEPS THEY NEED TO TAKE AND THEREFORE MUST BE TOLD, BY THEIR PARENTS, A FRIEND OR A COUNSELOR.

HERE IN OUR TEXT GOD TELLS US THAT IF WE WANT TO ADVANCE IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND BECOME WHAT HE WOULD WANT US TO BE THAT WE MUST FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

IN DOING THIS WE FIND JESUS GIVING US AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW IN FIVE AREAS OF OUR LIFE.