Rights, Responsibilities, and Privileges

I love Pomp and Circumstance; I love Commencement. The end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

As a parent, I've attended my share of these, and each one is special. We celebrate each other by acknowledging our student's achievements combined with heightened expectations.

As degrees are conferred, we often hear that in addition to that degree, the graduate is now granted all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges that come with their degree. I heard this phrase repeatedly uttered at a college graduation I attended. Repetition, among other things, signals emphasis; it was as if the school administrators wanted each graduate to leave that ceremony with the tangible and intangible benefits of graduating (just in case they don't hear this message enough). 

As a graduate, there is an unspoken agreement that you can benefit from all your institution offers - its programs, people, and reputation. Sometimes just by mentioning you're a graduate of your institution, there's a connection, and doors (that you were unaware of) are opened. My daughter recently joined a sorority. One of the premises of joining such an organization is sisterhood and connection. Once you are a member, you are often referred to as "my soror" simply because of the connection; others are willing to go out on a limb for you. There's a mindset that each of you has the other's back through college and beyond. 

It turns out, your degree means something similar to being a member of any organization. It matters who you are affiliated with.

Believers in Christ also have rights, responsibilities, and privileges that they are entitled to. 

We are made alive in Christ.

We are no longer outsiders.

We are citizens of heaven.

We are no longer foreigners.

We are joint heirs with Christ.

We are not condemned.

We are responsible for loving, serving, being kind, exhibiting grace, showing mercy, exercising wisdom.

All this and more are our rights, responsibilities, and privileges for being a child of God. Unlike college or any other organization, we didn't have to go through four years of schooling before we were granted these rights. We didn't have to go through a pre-selection process. We didn't have to pay a membership fee. 

By simply believing, we are granted all He has for us. It should make us live and act differently, but sometimes we don't realize what we're a part of. It happens to everyone until someone gently whispers are you my soror? Are you a child of the King? You have unimaginable resources that are available to you and others.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1,2.

Let us all walk worthy of our calling.

--Nylse


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