A beautiful love story

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “What the world needs now”

Our Bible verse for today: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her … In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies.” Ephesians 5:25;28 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “A beautiful love story”

Last month I was on a mission trip in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Our mission team consisted of Christians from several different regions of the east coast, including a few from North Carolina. One day, during a break from our work, I had a fascinating and heart-touching conversation with one of those men from North Carolina whom I was meeting for the first time.

We were talking about our lives, our families, and special experiences. He told me a story about his wife that I will never forget. First, more than just being his spouse, his wife was his soulmate (There’s a difference between having a spouse and having a soulmate). Second, she was dying from kidney failure and her only chance of survival was to receive a kidney transplant. However, kidneys for transplant are in short supply, and finding a donated kidney that matches your body and which can therefore be transplanted into you is difficult. Not only does there have to be a kidney, but for the best chance of long-term survival, it has to match.

This husband knew that statistically there was little chance his kidney would be a good match for his wife, but he did volunteer to donate his kidney to someone else who was high on the transplant list if that would allow his wife to take that person’s place at the top of the list. However, before that transplant was approved, the medical team decided to test his kidney for compatibility with his wife. And incredibly, against the odds, it was a perfect match. So, his kidney was transplanted into his wife. That was years ago and she is alive and well today – with his kidney living inside of her and keeping her alive.

That husband and wife were close before the transplant (soulmates), but they have been even closer ever since. And as he told me that story, he had tears in his eyes and he was a little choked up with emotion. His love for his wife and the tenderness in his voice when he spoke of her were palpable. What a beautiful love story!

As we approach Good Friday and then Resurrection Sunday, we will be celebrating the greatest loves story of all time. Jesus died so you could live. Jesus took the punishment for your sins and then He defeated death and rose from the grave so that you can spend eternity in heaven with the Father.

It’s a beautiful love story. The greatest love story ever. Celebrate it. Tell others about it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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