Sand Mountain Sermonette 60
Romans 5:8
A Father’s Love
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Several years ago, Nancy and I stood alongside my mother and my brother and his wife, for a time of visitation at the local funeral home in Albertville, Alabama, following my father’s death. It was a hard and yet comforting evening as many friends came up to us offering their love and deepest sympathies for our time of loss. I talked to several friends I had not seen in many, many years.
One fellow came through the line known as “Papa” to all the church softball players who played in the 1970’s and 1980’s like I did. Papa played for a Baptist church in town, and I played first base for Hewett Memorial United Methodist Church, my home church. Papa and I stepped over to the side for a moment and he told me something about my father I never knew; something I will never forget, as we remembered our softball days.
It had to do with one Saturday evening during a regular church softball season when my team was playing his. The three games that were being played that night were running behind schedule and our game was the last game to be played. Most of the spectators had left and on top of that, it had begun to rain and rain hard, not long after we began play. It was following this scenario that Papa lovingly pierced my heart with something very dear. He told me my father, Skeeter Mabrey, had been standing out in the rain without an umbrella the entire time, watching us play. He said after the game was over, he walked up to my dad, and my dad said to him with a smile on his face, “Papa, Ol’ Louie was the only one on Hewett who got a hit tonight.” My dad loved me and was so proud of me! I will always treasure those words he spoke to Papa that evening in my heart. And I know that my father would have given his very life for my brother and for me!
The Bible says to know Christ as Savior and Lord is to know God the Father’s love! And the most powerful thing is God showed the world His very own love for each person on the planet by sending His Son to die on a cross for us; not when we had it all together which we never will, but while we were still lost and separated from Him by sin.
Dear one lost and separated from God in sin; God loves you and died for you! He has wonderful plan and purpose for your life! Dear Christian, who is struggling to find your passion and joy in your relationship with Christ once again; take hope for Jesus loves you! God loves you so much that while you and I were still sinners (and that applies to everyone), it was at this time, that Jesus died for you! He died so you could live! He rose so you could face each day with His joy, peace, and presence!
Thank you, Jesus, for dying and for loving a sinner like me! Praise Your Name!
Pastor Louie