If you guys remember, I had a pretty profound experience last year at this time with the realization that all of 2016 I knew exactly where I would be. I'd be preaching and sharing and serving here in Paraguay. I was so excited with the time I would have in coming to know Christ through sharing about Him with others, and working and focusing on getting to know Him through studying His life, teachings, and example. Thanks to His atonement which was made for us, I have been able to change some fundamental things of who I was and the desires I had, and was able to come to know Christ through trying to be more like Him.
Here in the mission we do one simple thing. We invite people to come unto Christ. To know His love, and know that they really can grow to have not only a relationship with Christ, but that they can completely TRUST in Christ. We come to that knowledge as we live the teachings he taught us. It's like a little experiment. If we live His teachings we learn to trust him. As we learn to trust Him, we grow to LOVE Him. And as we LOVE Christ, we have the desire to grow closer to him, and God provided a way to do that through things called covenants. A way to have a closer relationship with God and Christ, where they set the terms and we PUT SOMETHING ON THE ALTAR. We sacrifice something for something greater. Through baptism, we promise to take upon us His name and always keep his commandments and God then promises us that we will be clean of sin. They are strong promises, that allow us to love and trust in the Lord to a greater degree.
I have made every holy and official covenant that a single male can make with God. And He has blessed me incredibly. I have spent all of 2016 "seeking this Jesus whom the prophets and apostles have testified," and I have come to know Him. And now, I FEEL PERSONALLY (this isn't church doctrine), but i feel as if I have reached a point, and come to the realization that I can not grow to know him better and more intimately where I currently am, who I currently am. It does not matter the things I DO if I never become who HE WANTS me to BECOME.
I have come to the conclusion, that I can not comfortably go to God and ask him to change me and transform me into the missionary and person I want to be, if i am not willing to put my personal desires, imperfections, and habits on the altar of sacrifice. 2016 was coming to know him, 2017 is coming to be like Him. Looking deeply within myself and putting my own desires on the altar and making my side of the promise, sacrificing, so he will be able to keep his side.
I feel motivated to do this due to the example of Jesus Christ who so perfectly laid everything on the altar and gave the glory to the Father. Without complaint, without looking for recognition, he laid EVERYTHING on the altar of sacrifice, he did those things which pleased the Father. and then He did what was impossible. In a time of incredible struggle and grief, my face, my name, and my sins came into His mind, and he willingly and loving placed on that sacrificial altar MY sins and my imperfections and he paid that all consuming cost and made that all exhausting sacrifice. And in that moment, with many other hosts of heaven, I truly stood all amazed.
Christ has become a good, good friend to me, and that's because He knows me. And as I learn to willing place things on my own altar, I hope that I can not only come to know Him as well, but allow him to make me more like Him too.
2016 was a year of learning
2017 is a year of application
The start of a life at the altar.
We suppose that this is my last week here in Oviedo. We have had a lot of fun, Elder C and I. Looks like I'm ending my last week here with 3 divisions so it should fly by with interviews on Saturday.
I love this work and these people. I hope all of you are well and learning better how to come to know and become more like your Savior, as well.
Have a great 2017.
Elder Parker John Yocum
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