Maxie D. Dunnam, a United Methodist Church minister, evangelist, Bible commentator and writer tells a story about a man who tried to save his parents from a burning building. The man could not get to his parents in time. In trying to save them, he himself was badly injured and his face badly disfigured so much that he would not even allow his wife to see him or be with him, and he pretty much gave up on his life.
The wife went to see a famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Maxwell Maltz. Dr. Maltz was sure that he could restore the man's face with the advances that had been made in plastic surgery. But the woman knew her husband wouldn't even let the doctor see him. So, she made a strange request. She told the doctor, "I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If I can share in his pain, then maybe he will let me back into his life. I love him so much; I want to be with him. And if that is what it takes; then that is what I want to do."
You know that the doctor would never do what the wife requested. But to make a long story short, the doctor did go to the husband. The man would not open his door until the doctor shared with him what his wife had requested. When the husband heard her request, the disfigured man came out of his room to make a new beginning and to find a new life. He was set free, brought out of hiding, given a new start by his wife's love.
We spoke about the Freedom of the Gospel today. Galatians 5:13-14 (AMP) says this:
13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]."
This story is a dramatic expression of human love. The wife was willing to go to extremes because of the love she had for her husband. The husband sacrificed his embarrassment to be with his wife again, because of her love and because of his love for her. This story gives us a picture of the saving love of Jesus Christ. He sacrificed his life for us, because of His love for us.
As followers of Jesus, we are "free." Christ has set us free indeed by His love. Freedom for us needs to be about loving neighbor as ourselves, even when it may be hard and even when we can choose a different way. We are called to The Way, the loving way of Christ.
Grace and hope to you.
Pastor Doug
