1 Thessalonians 2:8 - The Love of Family

1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We cared so much for you, and you became so dear to us, that we were willing to give our lives for you when we gave you God's message." (CEV)

Growing up, one of eight children, it was often not *if* you were arguing with one of your brothers or sisters, but *who* was the one you were arguing with. Most of the things we debated and/or fought over in hindsight were quite trivial, but at that moment back then if you could listen in on the exchange between one sibling and the other, you would have thought that we were arguing things of high principle. Most of the time, we were complaining that one felt that the other was being treated better than him/her...........got praise from Mom and Dad.......had a new toy that the rest of us wanted to play with...

Back then there were days when I thought one of my siblings was the best thing that ever happened to the family...........the next day......the next moment...........they had changed to the creature from the Black Lagoon. That was life growing up in our family, and now in hindsight, I can see the folly of some of those things I felt passionate about back then.

And even though our disagreements were frequent, I still feel a love for my brothers and sisters that goes beyond the love I have for others. It's the same kind of love I feel for my children, my grandchildren.........my wife. It's a love that reaches out from me to them regardless of what circumstances surround us.............a disagreement..............a laugh shared............a quiet look from across the room...........a grandchild smiling back at me.................or hugging me and saying "I love you, Poppy."

This is the love of family that I recalled when I read the scripture above tonight. This is the love that transcends the many frailties we have as human beings and connects us with a bond as strong as there can be between human beings. It is a love that seems to be hidden when tempers are frayed, but is there instantly when we are called to defend one of us..........to nurture one of us......to comfort one of us.

And I feel this love even more intensely when I think about my relationship with my heavenly Father. I feel a love for Him that goes well beyond me........that's immensely bigger than me.

This, too, is a the Love of Family............the love of my Creator for me.........a love that constantly needs to redefined because it goes literally beyond my meager ability to comprehend it.

I hear of His Love for me when I read His Word............or when I see some awesome creation of His startle me with its brilliance or uniqueness.

I still have to remind myself that I'm from the Family of the King. And His Love will be there for me far beyond the love I will experience in this life. But as I grow in my knowledge of Him, I find myself reminding myself less because He's always so near I don't need to.

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 December 9, 2003 in post #424. 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 April 17, 2006

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