Wally Thomas, Man of God and Man of Love 3-5-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You, and I want to be more like You. … "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:12-13). Yesterday we honored the life and ministry of Rev. Wallace E. Thomas, as we entrusted his spirit into the arms of his Father. My pastor and friend of many years spoke tenderly and passionately of his father and mentor and friend. But of the words spoke in memory and honor of this man of God who touched so many lives, these are the words that continue to burn in my soul: "Cut Wally Thomas anywhere, and he bleeds love." Wally Thomas lived his life to be like You. As he grew in age, he grew in the nature of Christ. That's really the standard and the goal for each of us who are called by Your name -- "to press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ" (Philippians 3:14). It's a high call to bless those who curse you, to pray for those who persecute you, to love those who hate you, to bleed love for those who cut you. But we could not be more like You when we do. To love is to willingly lay down your life for the lives of others. This is the sacrifice of love, the willing submission and trusting surrender to the life of God living through us. "If we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit…. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:12-17). As You are, so was Wally Thomas in this world, by Your grace. And by the blood of Christ poured out for the cuts of the sins of the world, Wally had great boldness on the day of his judgment, as a heavenly host of angels carried his spirit into the loving embrace of Your eternal presence. He was a man of God and a man of love. And his life and memory is in inspiration and example to us all of trying to simply live every day in the simple love of Christ. His big smile said it all, except maybe the smiles on the faces of all the lives he touched and loved. "… and the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join with me in keeping Kay Thomas, her daughter Debbie, son David, and all of their family in prayer through these sacred times of both celebration and sadness. I pray the same for you through these painful times of your life of releasing the ones you love from this earthly life. But through the love and grace of God in Christ, "we not grieve as others do who have no hope," for we will see them again; our hope and faith is in the eternal love of God (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God "http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling to the Kingdom of God through Messiah Ministries On-line at http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/