(2 John 1:5 ESV) - Model of Love

(2 John 1:5 ESV) "And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another."

(2 Timothy 1:13 ESV) "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

One of the hardest times in my life was when I had to say goodbye to my father. Dad was always at the center of any family event, but when I came to see him when he was quite sick, I could see the ravages of both the disease he had and the medicine given him to ease the pain.

Dad struggled to be a part of the conversation during our visits with him while I was there..........to stay connected to who was speaking.........what they were saying, but the medicine got the best of him at times.

Toward the end of our visit on one particular day, we children were planning where we would go that night for dinner. Dad chimed in that he wanted to go with us, and it hurt terribly to tell him it just wasn't possible. I didn't sleep well that night just thinking of all that.

Then the inevitable day came when I had to return to my home in Louisiana. I went to see Dad that night in his room. I told him I had to leave the next day. I just couldn't think of what to say............then Dad said, "Well, I guess this is it then." I said, "I love you Dad" and bent over and kissed his forehead. He replied, "I love you Jim." I left the room that night and broke down and cried with my brother in the waiting room.

The greatest gift both my parents gave to me was a model to follow in how one loves as the Lord loves. Dad and Mom loved their children unconditionally.............just as our heavenly Father does through Jesus Christ, His Son. They were tough when they had to be, but they also weren't afraid to share some of the lighter times with us...............and they weren't afraid to show their love for us either............and tell us how much they loved us both in words and through their actions.

And the Lord loves me so much more.................and has shown that love in a number of ways. He also shows His Love for me in a quite public way...............by declaring to all that I am one of His.

I look forward to the day when I'm reunited with both my Heavenly Father and my earthly one. That will be quite a time for me............for all of us.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on September 9, 2004 in post #644. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added July 30, 2005

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