Graduation Speech

I stand before you tonight because of love — love that was given to me and displayed in its purest, sacrificial form. This evening, I would like to share with you how that love has changed my life.

When my parents enrolled me at Milkins Academy 13 years ago, they recognized the fact that the value of a Christian education is far greater than a new house or car. The material possessions that they have forfeited through the years have allowed me to remain in an environment in which I can see Christ lived out every day. For the sacrificial love that my parents have displayed, together with the parents of all my class members, I am exceedingly grateful.

The teachers here at Milkins display love to us students as well. Whether in getting a little extra math help before a test or receiving a needed hug after English class, we experience the love our teachers have for us. Thank you, teachers — all of you. We know that you constantly pray for us, encourage us and reprimand us when we need it. Your love, humility and desire to know Christ have been a brilliant example of what you long to see demonstrated in our lives. God is at work in you, and we pray that everyone here is able to see Christ in us as well.

However, although the love of our parents and teachers has greatly influenced our lives, their love is insignificant compared to the love of the One who first loved us. He is the source of all true love and is the ultimate example of sacrifice. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Romans 5:1-8, which states, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in th...

... middle of paper ...

...blameless died,

And through it all was tested, shunned, and tried.

His life on earth, as all, was but a breath,

Yet lived he true until his awful death

And after, for although he was but man,

He was held in God’s almighty plan,

And was truly God in human form;

By his death the temple veil was torn.

And he calls us all to follow him,

Turning from a life of vile sin

To perfection by a God all pure;

His grace is that of which we can be sure.

Blameless Jesus lived and blameless died,

And he can be forevermore our Guide.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Thank you all for coming tonight, and have a lovely evening.