Sacrificial Love

I would like to talk to you today about the

sacrificial love of God. A story is told of a

woman, terribly burned who was brought

into the hospital one night. Physicians at

once realized that there was no hope for

her recovery. Attendants immediately

discovered that her husband had come

home drunk, throwing a paraffin lamp

over her. Police were summoned and

when they arrived, they had with them

the half-sobered husband. They leaned

closely and listened, insisting that she tell

exactly what had happened. It was

important to tell the truth since she had

only about an hour to live. Her eyes

turned toward her husband, a miserable,

frightened creature, resting on trembling

hands, slowly raising them to his face.

The look of suffering disappeared from

her face. In its place, came one of

tenderness, compassion, and love. She

looked back at the magistrate and

whispered, ” It was an accident.”

This was like God. God is like that. His

love sees through our sin and says, “I

forgive.” Romans 5:20 promises, “For

where sins abound, Grace did much more

abound.”

“There is hope in the cross, Hope for me.

God’s head bowed low;

God’s arms outstretched.

God’s heart accepting me, even me.”

Father, thank you for your forgiveness

and for your unchanging Grace.

Amen.