I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me Galatians 2:20.
John Jasper is a friend and colleague who served as elders board chair during my time as pastor at Mission Creek Alliance in Kelowna (John’s wife Pat is sister to Jon Freeman – one of our CAC elders). Together we met weekly to chart the course of the church. Recently I heard that John is not well. As we went back and forth it was clear that our encounters with the Lord become so valuable when we find ourselves in a time of trouble. John has agreed to write about his spiritual journey at this time, and today I share the first half of what he has written for you.”
I am an 81-year-old man with ALS. I have trouble making people understand me when I talk. Even my wife cannot understand what I say sometimes. I cannot swallow normal foods and they need to be pureed for me to consume them. I have an excess of saliva which constantly has to be wiped from my lips, and I wobble a bit when I walk. I still have a clear mind and know what I would like to communicate and I trust God with my life and my future, if there is any for me. All this to introduce myself and what I want to say. I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart and the following paragraphs will explain when and how all this came to be.
Several years ago I decided I wanted to get closer to my Lord and have Him answer my prayers according to His timing and will. I picked out of my library a small booklet by Andrew Murray entitled “With Christ in the School of Prayer”. It greatly impressed me that God is a God who desires to answer my prayers. I realized too that my life had to be totally His if I expected any answers, so I began surrendering my life, bit by bit to the Lord Jesus. This surrender can be made all at one time but I want to break it down to explain it more, into the surrender of my body, my soul, my spirit, my heart, my mind, and my will.
First I will explain the surrender of my body to Jesus. He made me realize very quickly just what that meant. I would not be in control of my body any more. What went into my eyes and ears was up to Him. I had to keep from watching and hearing things that would not be glorifying to Him. I had to keep my hands and feet as well, within the bounds of His desire for me. I must, as well, be conscious of what God wants me to put into my body as food and drink and to look after it as it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. All this was in His power alone, my own strength was not capable of obeying.
Next, I will explain the surrender of my soul to Christ. All my passions, desires, hopes, dreams, and emotions must be surrendered to Him. I cannot have any idols in my life. My passion for old cars has to be set aside for now, not that it is a bad desire but I was impressed that it could become an idol in my life if I allowed it to be. If I delight myself in the Lord, He will give me the desires of my heart. I must also rely on Him for strength when I feel angry or upset and raise my voice in trying to get my opinions or desires across. My temper must be under His control at all times and I find that it is now possible to not yell at bad drivers that cut me off on the roads. Lord here is my soul.
Then I want to mention the surrender of my spirit to the Lord. That is the part of me that can recognize the Spirit of God that dwells within me ever since I gave my life to Him many years ago. I had for many years asked for the filling of the Spirit but soon came to realize what that actually meant. I must walk in the Spirit, I must live in the Spirit, I must be led by the Spirit of God every moment of every day for everything. I have to trust Him completely that He knows what is best for me. I began to pray to that end. With the Spirit leading in my life, I began to change. My prayers changed from selfish, inward-focused prayers to asking God to fill me with His love and power. Self was to be done away with and replaced with Christ. I learned to love and appreciate my wife and friends more than ever. I began to stop trying to get my own way in everything. I began loving and praying for people I had formerly despised. I prayed for our country, our politicians, the homeless, and realized the terrorists and political agitators, and protesters need Christ in their lives and someone to pray for them.
May John’s thoughts mentor you this week on your walk with the Lord. Next week I will publish the other half of John’s thoughts to you.
Pastor Leon Throness
