John 15:13 ‘ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ‘
I am laying in a hospital bed in Iowa City, an incredibly blessed and grateful man. Today, Nov 21st is the day a dear friend gave me back my life, by donating a kidney to me.
When he first called me and told me the news, I was immediately plagued by a sense of guilt. I felt guilty that he would have to endure quite a good deal of pain and feeling poorly for some time. The sense of guilt has risen up in me over and over again for these past couple months.
Guilt is a powerful tool that satan uses very effectively. I know he did in this case. The bottom line is, I have no right to feel guilty. My friend choose to give me a gift, to literally give of himself, so that I might live. He gave me a new lease on life, the ultimate gift. What he did for me is representative of the sacrificial gift Jesus gave each and every one of us when He went to the cross. Therefore, I have no right to feel guilty for receiving this gift from my friend. To feel guilty for this, would be to feel guilty for the gift Jesus gave at Calvary. The gift was their’s to give and they did. Satan would try to diminish that with feelings of guilt. Their love provides new life, and therefore I will forever appreciate and honor it. Have a blessed weekend.
‘Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ‘ 2 Corinthians 5:17
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
