“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him???
(Philippians 3:10)
Lately, I have been thinking about Jerry McGrath.? He was a marvellous singer and performed at many of our staff conferences (Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada).? He had been in the secular entertainment industry when he was struck down with leukemia and was no longer able to sing.? He yielded his life to the Lord and the Lord touched and healed him.? After that he used his marvellous voice to serve God.
During every performance, he told the story of his miraculous healing and then would sing, “Lord, I want to know You.? Deep within my soul, I want to know You more.???? When he was finished singing, there was not a dry eye in the audience.
Jerry had experienced the power of Christ’s resurrection, but he had also experienced suffering.? I wonder, sometimes, why we so often pray and sing for the Lord’s power, but abhor the suffering?? We need both to make us like Jesus.? How have we bought into the philosophy that life should be soft and easy?? Christ’s life certainly wasn’t.?
~Father, You know what cowards we are.? We want the soft and easy road.? Help us to get real, Lord.? Enable us not to be surprised when troubles come our way.? After all, Jesus did say that in this world we would have troubles.? How quickly we forget, Lord!? We need you to remind us.? Amen.
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This article was written by Katherine Kehler. You can read more about this author by clicking this link:
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Katherine, this devotional touched my heart today – some three years after you wrote it. I found it when searching the internet for news about Jerry McGrath. We met him at Mt. Paran Church of God in Atlanta, GA in the 1990’s. He would also move a congregation of several thousand to tears and to their feet when he sang “I Want to See Jesus”. Though I have lost touch with Jerry, I never think about the first time I will see Jesus without hearing Jerry’s voice stir my soul all over again.
Thank you for sharing your memories, but especially your insight about suffering.