Final Goodbye
May 21
I just got done reading an email I wrote during my junior year of high school. In my 18 years of life, this was one of the most important emails I have ever written. I was writing to share with Debbie Siebert and Todd Bennett something that had been on my heart. You see, I felt like God had placed a certain desire inside of me. I felt like he was calling me to step out and serve FC in a way that hadn’t been done before. The subject of the email was entitled: “Weekly Devotions For Next Year.”
Fast forward 12 months and I find myself trying to finish my last devotion as a FC student. To be honest, I’ve spent a great deal of time wrestling with what I should write about. Over the last school year I have penned 34 devotions to encourage you in your walk with God. I’ve shared from my heart and asked God to use each of the devotions for His glory. If I could leave you with one last charge it would be this:
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” (Philippians 1:27 ESV)
My friends, when I’m off at college I want to hear how God is working through you. When I come and visit I want to see that you are standing side by side with one mind and one spirit. 18th century evangelist John Wesley once said:
“Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.”
That’s my desire for this school. I want FC to grow in its unity so that God would be clearly seen in our words and actions. People will know we are Christians by how we love one another (John 13:35). Let’s strive for the unselfish love that looks after the interests of others.
Know that the devil will try and cause division among you. He will try and tear apart the unity of believers at FC. But also know that our God triumphed over Satan on the cross. Since the Spirit of God dwells in us, we can stand firm as one. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
In closing, I want you to know how thankful I am for the opportunity to be used by God to write devotions this school year. It’s been an amazing adventure for me. Though it’s sad to leave Fresno Christian, I’m excited to see what God has in store for the future. This coming fall I will be attending Biola University where I will major in Christian Ministries. I really appreciate your prayers as I enter into this new chapter of life. I care for you and I will miss you.
Dear Brady,
Thank you for your service to the Lord in encouraging people to walk by faith and live for God. Keep up the good work of seeking to know God through His word and living it out by faith. Blessings to all, Greg Mark