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…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…

~ Hebrews 12:1-2



Good morning dear Sister!

It’s graduation season! In fact, we’ve just returned from our adorable 6 year old granddaughter’s kindergarten ‘moving up’. Although the ceremony had some cringe-worthy moments, I thought it insightful of the administration to declare them ‘moving up’ instead of ‘graduating’.

The Collins dictionary defines graduation like this: “A graduation is a special ceremony at university, college, or school, at which degrees and diplomas are given to students who have successfully completed their studies.” Graduation, in this sense, implies completion, an end of studying a particular topic. 

Moving up, on the other hand, gives a sense of moving forward or upward. The Collins dictionary defines moving up in these words: "If someone or something moves up, they go to a higher level, grade or class” This is a definition we would expect, moving up implies moving in a positive direction.

Collins' definition #2 blew my mind! It states, “If you move up, you change your position, especially in order to be nearer someone or to make room for someone else.” Hmmmm…… who could we possibly be motivated to be nearer to? Who would we want to make room for?

Of course, the scripture written above gives us a big hint! The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, is encouraging us to move closer to Jesus by putting aside every weight and encumbrance that so easily slows us down! 

We are running a race, not of speed, but endurance! The first one to get to Jesus is not the winner, with the rest of us coming in second, third or billionth. Everyone who gets to the Author and Finisher of our faith is the winner! 

Speed is not a fruit of the Spirit, but faithfulness is! We can call upon God to help us to remain steadfast in our (walking) race toward Him. How do we do that? By always moving up, moving in a positive direction toward our God. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will not be distracted by all the temptations and things that so easily ensnare us!

If we move up by making room for Jesus, we learn that it is He indeed who is the author of our faith! It is He who will bring us to completion of the race because He is also the finisher of our faith! In other words, our faith in Jesus grows and is ever growing as we keep our eyes on Him and keep moving up toward Him!

There is no graduation! Promotion perhaps, but we will never achieve completion in ‘divinity studies’ as long as we dwell in this flesh. We can never possibly learn everything there is to know about our Father! Moving toward Him and making room for Him is a lifelong process, not a class we graduate from. Isn’t that wonderful? I remember that I couldn’t wait until I graduated from school so I could get on with life. Moving up with Jesus IS life and I never want to stop!

Parents at my granddaughter’s school pay a very high tuition. Each one of the children, to their credit, gave thanks to their parents for giving them such an opportunity. Jesus has already paid for our application fees, tuition and degrees in God’s moving up program with His own blood. Ought we not take hold of His provision for us to move up next to Him with thanksgiving and awe?

My dear sister, I pray you will join with me in laying aside whatever encumbers you in this race. Confess what is keeping you from moving closer to Him and give it to Him to carry. Remember, we move toward Him in His strength, not our own. He is indeed the author and finisher of our faith! Make room for Him in every aspect of your life and then, let us encourage one another with our testimonies of God’s faithfulness. 

He loves you!

With love, your sister, Celeste