Example

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed." (1Peter 2:21-24 NKJ)

Today would have been my father's 91st birthday. He has been enjoying Paradise with the Lord for 31 years, but it doesn't seem that long to me. I'm amazed by how memories transcend time and space.

The Rev. Aubrey L. Smith, my dad, was a Missionary Baptist pastor. When I was born, he was already serving the Lord and obeying his call to minister. So, I have no memory of his "old life." He was a veteran of WW II  and served our country in the defense of Tarawa, the Gilbert Islands, Saipan, Tinian, and the Marianas Islands. He was with the 2nd Marine Division, which received a Presidential Unit Citation: "For outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20 to 24, 1943."

While I am very proud of him and his US military service record, I am more proud of his service record to the Kingdom of God. The legacy he left to his family is better than all the medals and citations found among his memoires.

Today's Scripture passage reminds me of him each time I read it or hear it read because he exemplified following in the Lord's footsteps as taught in this passage. Dad was a mild mannered man. I never heard any deceit from his mouth. I never heard nor saw him react violently against any reproaches that were thrown at him. I never heard any threats come from his mouth. Finally, as he lay suffering during the last days and months of his life, he simply but firmly committed his eternal destiny into the hands of our righteous judge.

Now, if dad could read these words, he would be embarrassed and tell me to glorify only the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is exactly what I am doing by honoring the man who taught me about Christ. I give glory to Christ because he placed me in the home of one of his disciples where I would be taught about him. I give all the glory to Christ because he gave me a dad who taught me that God's Word can be trusted for every answer to every question in life. I glorify Christ because he gave me a dad who pointed me to Christ and showed me how to follow Christ.

Dear Father, thank you for my dad and the example and legacy he left to me. Empower me to follow you as dad taught me. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Look to Christ's example today,