For you ...

By Terry Wardle

The following quote comes from the French Reformed liturgy for baptism. Take note of the “for you” statements regarding the ministry of Christ. They are rich.

“Little child, for you Jesus Christ has come, he has fought, he has suffered. For you he entered the shadow of Gethsemane and the horror of Calvary. For you he uttered the cry, “It is finished!” For you he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and there intercedes ----- for you, little child, even though you do not know it. But in this way the word of the Gospel becomes true. “We love him, because he first loved us.”

So many times we evaluate the Christian life by how we are doing. Are we doing more good things and less bad things? Are we having our devotions, reading our bibles, attending church, being holy? In truth, while such things are not unimportant, they really are not the foundation of our faith or our confidence. The rock upon which we rest is the person of Christ and the fact that he is so “for us.” Jesus came to eliminate all obstacles that stood in the way of us fulfilling the purpose for which the Father laid hold of us before time began. His life, death, resurrection, ascension were all for us, and upon going to heaven, he is yet ministering on our behalf in constant intercession. For us! Amazing!