Making the Grade

The first semester of the school year is behind and semester exams are over. So, how did it go? Are you ready to enter the second semester strong and finish the school year on top? 

Like it or not, your grades measure your comprehension or achievement in a particular subject and what you’ve learned on a scale of A-F (“A” meaning excellent and “F” representing failure). Percentages are used to calculate and determine your grade point average.

No matter what your report card states when you open it up, God accepts you just as you are. Yes, we should attempt to do our best and study. Yes, we should try to stay out of trouble. But, sometimes things happen that bring our personal achievement down.

When difficulties happen to you, remember how God assesses you. He values you. He places immeasurable worth on you. He looks at you with acceptance and love every time. He doesn’t turn his face with disdain or write you off as unacceptable.   

God takes our failures or transgressions in His sight and He turns them into “A’s”, as we receive His grace. He no longer looks upon our “F”, but He sees our “A” when we accept His salvation.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (NIV).

We all need improvement. But being a perfect student (or person) isn’t a requirement with God. No one lived a totally “A+” life but Jesus.

The primary lesson we should learn in school (and life) is to receive God’s love. In Jeremiah 31:3, God says, “"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

When we stop struggling for success on our own, we can grasp God’s grace and achieve the ultimate 4.0 (God + Jesus + Holy Spirit + You = 4.0).

What are your goals for the second semester? Are you taking any interesting new classes?

~ Jackie O.