Exactly one week from today, I will finally graduate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with my Masters of Divinity degree. After countless hours of hitting the books, writing papers, pulling all-nighters, drinking lots and lots of coffee, and lots and lots of loans, I can't hardly believe that this day is finally here. And for some reason, as I sit to write tonight, I can't help but be reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Philippi: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14) With all the emotions that I feel as I eagerly anticipate my graduation, and finally getting the diploma, I really can't even begin to imagine what Paul must have felt as he wrote these words. What did he see? What did he hear? What compells this man to run this race? And to seek the prize that he sees at the end?

As I sit to write tonight, I am humbled by the knowledge that this degree that I am getting really doesn't mean a whole lot in the big scheme of things. Let me write that again (for my sake!). This degree that I am getting really doesn't mean a whole lot in the big scheme of things. That's not what drove Paul. That's not what drove Peter. Or Stephen. Or Timothy. Or Titus. Or Moses. Or Abraham. Or Isaiah. Or Jeremiah. Or Martin Luther. Or Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Or Corrie Ten Bloom. Or D.L. Moody. Or John Calvin. Or John Wesley. Or John of the Cross. They were all confronted by the Truth, the person and the deity of Jesus. And they could not help but respond by offering nothing less than their entire life! First to die with Him, so that they may truly live for and in Him.

Dying to live... That sounds so weird but rings so true.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." (Philippians 3:10)