Crossway.blog

We learned a piece of sad news today: James MacDonald has cancer.

Our first response is to “weep with those who weep.” We extend our prayers and sympathy to Pastor MacDonald, his family, and all of our friends at Harvest Bible Chapel. We pray that the Lord will sustain them in every way throughout this challenging season.

But God’s grace is so evident in MacDonald’s words. Even as he shares the news of his cancer, he also leads his church in thanksgiving. So we join with them in living out the other half of Romans 12:15–”rejoice with those who rejoice.” MacDonald explains this joy:

I have a tenderness to the pain of others and a deeper burden for those closest to me. I am more acutely aware of my sin and much less willing to weigh it or measure it or manage it. I just want to be clean and close and consecrated in my walk with Christ; and I am, more than ever. Truly!!! And for that I am very thankful. I have experienced an outpouring of love from our congregation and beyond that has made me more appreciative than ever to pastor a church and belong to the body of Christ. God is good, I’m gonna get through this in God’s way and in His time and I love Him more than ever.

Read his full post at the Straight Up ministry blog.