Daily devotion – A faithful servant
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Helen and I received news that Pastor Thom Whitaker had gone to be with our Lord this last Sunday, the 21st of May.
We were both saddened by the news but also filled with the peace of God that Thom now was before Jesus, whom he had faithfully and lovingly served so well.
As I write this devotion, my first thoughts were to go into some detail about Pastor Thom, of how he was such a man of God and a wonderful pastor to us as a family and personally to me as the most significant role model of a godly father and pastor. However, my words, no matter how much I write, will be able to describe enough Thom’s life and witness. They would fall well short!
We had arranged to catch up a while back, but illness prohibited this, and now all the things we had planned to share will wait until we are all together in glory, which won’t be too far away.
Helen and I and those in CCSH who had the privilege of hearing Pastor Thom speak when we were in Israel now pray God’s comfort and grace to be with Thom’s family, his wife Gwen, son Derek and daughter Dana and their extended family.
Heaven has become closer again for us today, and I look forward with joy to catching up with Thom, of sharing how we have each had the privilege to serve our Lord. Much of my conversation will be about thanking Thom for his example and patience with someone whom others would not have had the persistence or grace to stay the course.
Pastor Thom’s life is a tremendous example of a life lived totally for Jesus Christ, and he leaves an indelible imprint of God’s grace and love on so many lives who had the privilege to know him.