In 1839 Edward Denny wrote the hymn “What Grace, O Lord, and Beauty Shone.”
Stanza four reads, “O give us hearts to love like thee, Like thee, O Lord, to grieve Far more for others’ sins, than all The wrongs that we receive.” Until I read this line, I am ashamed to say, that it never occurred to me to grieve the sin in others.
Jesus grieved for our sinful souls. When our trespasses nailed Him to the cross, He mourned our sinfulness more than the wrongs we committed against Him. As His perfect soul was contaminated with our transgressions, He did not cry out against the wrong but was deeply saddened and sorrowed at the strangling hold that sin had on our fallen souls. He was not “counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19) but unleashing almighty love to shatter sin and save the sinner.
For all who believe, sin’s dominion has been destroyed in our lives through Christ’s infinite love. Jesus calls His disciples to a new command, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
We must exemplify our Savior and grieve the sin in others. We must place a sinner’s salvation above any wrongdoing inflicted upon us. No matter how big or small the trespass against us, we must grieve the sin and love the sinner. It is Christ’s almighty love abiding in us that makes this compassion possible.
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
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Godnesia: Keeping God in Mind Each Day http://amzn.to/2GSquOD
Ordinary Days With an Extraordinary Savior – http://amzn.to/2mFGASBLife Is a Metaphor: Recognizing God in the Everyday – http://amzn.to/2De1rU2