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“A new commandment I give to you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
I know that each of you reading this devotion can find ways you have lived out this command of our Lord. Sometimes that love is shown to others through wisdom, wealth, or compassion.
Recently I was able to share with another person something very precious. I donated one of my healthy kidneys to a parishioner whose kidneys had failed him. Yes, that’s a remarkable gift, and I want to share some of the process with you.
It is obvious that Janet and I spent a great deal of time praying and considering all the angles of what such an operation would mean. I have never had surgery so this was a big step for me. But very early in the decision process, we had a sense of peace and confidence in this choice. When we decided it was time to tell the recipient (a member of our congregation), he was truly amazed that we would even give this consideration.
I believe the Lord led me to several insights during this time. First, we know that at least 14 churches across the U.S. were praying for the surgery and its success. Lee (the recipient) and I were very relaxed the day of the surgery, and we knew we were being upheld by God’s strong hands.
The second help I received came as I was making my decision. I was reading a novel by Tom Clancy (Call to Treason, 2004) where he wrote about “the Cornerstone.” In the story Colonel Rogers (the hero) had to make a decision, and it was a key one. That’s when we hear about “the Cornerstone.” According to Clancy, the Cornerstone comes into play when a person has to make a decision based on principle rather than personal security. It then becomes a building block that shapes the rest of one’s life. Clancy’s writing touched me and helped me make my decision.
Third, one morning, about a month before the surgery, the Holy Spirit reminded me of something Jesus told the disciples. In Matthew 16:21ff Jesus told the disciples that he would be arrested, tried, and convicted. He was telling them that he was going to die. The disciples don’t like that message at all! Jesus goes on to explain why this was going to happen. Verse 25 is basically where he tells the disciples that he is “offering” his life--it will not be taken from him. And if you do that, then you will find life! That message encouraged me. If there were doubts in my mind about the dangers of the surgery, I was to face them with confidence and not be afraid!
There’s one more thing I want to share with you: it’s humbling to know that you can have such an immediate and positive impact on another. Before the surgery, my friend had to submit to dialysis three times a week. He doesn’t have to do that anymore. Before surgery, he also needed to be very careful with his diet. There were several of his favorite foods he could not eat. Now he’s free to eat those foods again! What a privilege to be able to help free someone from the bondage of his own body!
It’s been almost three months since the surgery and both of us are doing very well. I have been thrilled to see Lee’s smile return (in the last couple of years he had lost that bright smile).
Prayer: Father, we ask you to walk closely beside those who are on dialysis or facing other kinds of long-term health needs. Encourage them daily as they face the therapies and procedures that give them life but kept them from feeling “normal.” Thank you Lord, for the gift of medicine that helps bring normalcy to so many people. We praise you for the privilege of being part of the miracle of healing. Amen.
Jim Simon
Pastor
Aurora Hills
Baptist Church
Aurora, CO 80112
pictured with Lee,
(far right) the recipient
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