Seeing Christ in All His Splendor, Daniel Acevedo

The Lord Jesus Christ became real and personal to me in October 1995. A brother from the local church in Irvine invited me to read the gospel of John with him. On our third reading appointment this brother was faithful to share the gospel with me and I opened up to receive Christ for the first time. Hymn 1159 says, “ Lord when first I saw Thee in Thy splendor, /All self love and glory sank in shame.” This is truly what I experienced. As I prayed to receive the Lord it was like my eyes were opened. As I walked back to class that day the grass seemed greener and the gentle sound of the wind in the trees was like a confirmation to my regeneration. The prevailing thought in my mind was that I wanted my whole family to receive Christ. That was one of the happiest days of my life.

Various brothers and sisters in the local church in Irvine shepherded me for the next few years, meeting with me on campus, visiting me, and having me over for dinner (John 21:16). One young couple especially took care of me. But it was the small things they did which really attracted me to meet with the local church. In the summer of 1997 I lived one hour away from Irvine and I had an internship in Irvine. Some nights they invited me to spend the night and also drove me to my internship in the morning. In the car one day they taught me a tune for Second Timothy 3:16 and 17, “All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.”

I have grown with the brothers and sisters in the local church in Irvine and I am happy to call the local church my family. Today, I continue to pursue Christ and enjoy Him with brothers and sisters from all over the world in the Full-Time Training in Anaheim. Praising the Lord and living Him with all my heart has become my highest enjoyment. Hymn 1159 sounds sweeter every time I sing it, for it expresses my feeling and experience in the Lord:

“Lord when first I saw Thee in Thy splendor,

All self love and glory sank in shame,

Now my heart its love and praises render,

Tasting all the sweetness of Thy name.”