“How Great Is His Love”

TITLE: “How Great Is His Love”
DATE:  September 22. 2019
TEXT:. : Romans 5:7-9 – ESV -7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Most people are unacquainted with Dr, Eleanor Chestnut.

If you are one of them, please, permit me to tell you a thing or two about the good Doctor.
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The American Presbyterian Mission Board sent Eleanor to China in 1893. Upon arrival she saw the need for a medical missionary was so immediate that she began performing surgery in her bathroom.

Eventually a hospital was constructed; but it was paid for with Eleanor’s own money.

Up to this point, Eleanor had only given in a way that ten-thousand other missionaries have given. But Eleanor was special. One day she performed an operation which amputated the leg of a common laborer. Complications arose and it became necessary to do some skin grafts.

A few days later, another physician asked Doctor Eleanor why she was limping. Her reply, saying the subject was closed to future question was a simple, "Oh, it's nothing."

Only later did a nurse share that the skin graft for the laborer had come from Eleanor’s own leg. But there was more. Since Eleanor had to do surgery on both the laborer and herself, she had only been able to use a local anesthetic to numb her pain.
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Eleanor’s giving to the people of China continued on until the Boxer Rebellion of 1905. In that year, Dr. Eleanor, and four other missionaries, were killed by a mob that stormed the hospital.

Greater love hath no man, or woman.

Which leads me to ask: How many times would you, have been ready to give your life to others as did Doctor Eleanor? Her sacrifice was too much, and too unappreciated, for most of us to copy.

Yet, that is the kind of love to which Christians are called. It is the life that Jesus led for you and I.

He sacrificed Himself when He turned down the devil’s offer of the world’s kingdoms.

He sacrificed Himself when He gave up home and family to go about and preach. He sacrificed Himself when He allowed my sins to be placed upon Him.

He sacrificed Himself when He willingly hung upon the cross, pouring out His life'’ blood.

The kind of sacrifice shown by the Savior, and reflected by Doctor Eleanor is beyond the grasp for many of us. That doesn’t mean that we should not try. The Savior said to us: , “Are you ready to glorify me by laying down your life for your friends?” To His question, I can only say, “Lord give me strength.”

THE PRAYER; Dear Lord, caring for others seems to be the kind of job I am ready to let others do. May I be filled with a new commitment to You that will be seen in my devotion to others. In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html