Specifically for You

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

“For God so loved the world…” The well-known words of John 3:16 make the love of God sound so far-reaching, so big, so world-sized. Yet Jesus did not die “generally” for the “general” sins of the world. He died for you. He died for me. The early witnesses who suffered most for being Christians took the act of Christ’s sacrifice very personally. They were captivated by the startling truth of today’s Scripture reading: “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Jesus died specifically for your sins and mine. Jesus doesn’t wave His hand over the entire earth, brush-stroking everyone with His love. No, He loved me and gave Himself for me. This is the way we should look at the sufferings of Christ. It wasn’t just some historical event millennia ago that changed the world. It was for you. He died for you. He gave Himself for you. Because He loves you.

My heart is yours, Savior, and I am overwhelmed by Your great love for me. I love the fact that You died and gave Your blood for the whole world. I love it that the door is open for anyone, anywhere, anytime, to believe and find eternal life, but today I am moved that You did it for me.