No Greater Love
Greater
love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.1
Maxwell Maltz tells the story of a man who had been severely injured while
attempting to rescue his parents from a fire. His heroic efforts proved to be
in vain, though. His mom and dad died in the burning house.
During his rescue attempt the fire badly scorched his face and disfigured it.
He was so ashamed of his appearance that he refused to allow anyone—including
his wife—to see his face.
For help, his wife went to Maltz, a plastic surgeon. "Not to worry,"
he assured her, "I can restore his face."
Despite the good news, the wife still felt disheartened. Her husband had always
refused any medical treatment. Assuming he would not change his mind, she said
to Maltz, "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."
Maltz tried to mask his horror at the request. He refused to perform the
operation, but was so moved by this woman's love for her husband that he went
to visit her husband. Through closed door, he yelled, "I am a plastic
surgeon. I want you to know that I can restore your face."
No reply.
"Please, will you come out? At least let me see your face. At least talk
to me."
Silence.
Still speaking through a door, Maltz told the man of his wife's request. "She wants me to mutilate her face in order to make her face like yours.
She hopes that you will then let her back into your life. That is how much she
loves you."
Ever so slowly the doorknob turned.2
True, it can be extremely painful to feel as though no one will ever accept you
because of your physical appearances. But just as the great love this wife felt
for her husband slowly opened his heart, may we also be a constant channel of
God's love and acceptance to others, especially those who feel alone.
Our sinfulness was truly something that God could not see, and there was
nothing we could possibly do to change that on our own. But because of his
unconditional love for us, and his desire to spend eternity with us, God sent
Jesus to die on the cross to make us clean and give us new life. If you have
not already done so, my prayer is that you would open the door of your heart to
Jesus and allow him to love you and wash your sins away for good!
Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank You for loving me despite being sinful and
unworthy. Help me to truly accept what You have done for me and live a life
that will bring honor to Your name. I want to love you and others, just as you
have loved me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
1. John 15:13 (NIV).
2. Maxie Dunnam, "This Is Christianity"
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994), pp. 60-61.
Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.