BUT how am I to know that when Jesus died He died for me?”
This question was asked by a little boy named Freddie.
“Supposing God had written a text in the Bible which said that Jesus died for Freddie, would you know then?” was the reply.
“O yes, Miss R—, I should, I wish that He had done so,” Freddie answered, with a very bright look.
“But there are many other Freddies in the world, how would you know that God was speaking of you?”
The bright look faded and tears filled his eyes as he answered, “O, so there are many other Freddies, how can I know then?”
The earnestness of the manner in which the question was asked, made his nursery governess look up silently to the Lord for special wisdom before answering little Freddie’s question. “Well, Freddie,” she said, “God has called us all by one name, and those who are really willing to take that name before Him, He has said that Jesus died for those people.”
“What is that name, Miss R—?”
“Sinners, Freddie,” was the reply. “You are only a child, yet you have done many things that God calls sins, and therefore you are a sinner, and need to be washed from those sins by Jesus before He can have you in heaven with Him. The great Apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners, yet he could say that Jesus loved him and gave Himself for him. Shall I tell you a little verse about this? He said, “The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
Who was it that Paul said loved him and gave Himself for him? It was Jesus the Son of God, He was God, as well as man, and was perfect and holy, so had no sins to die for of His own. I could not die for you, Freddie, because I am a sinner too and deserve to be punished for my own sins. But if we go to God and ask Him to save us for Jesus’ sake, He will tell you that Jesus has died instead of you.”
“Yes, I will,” said Freddie, “and I am going to say that text to God to night that “Jesus loved me, and, gave Himself for me!” I wish you would print that text for me, Miss R—; will you, please?” So while little Freddie was peacefully sleeping, the text was roughly printed on a piece of cardboard and hung beside his bed.
The Son of God Who Loved Me and Gave Himself for Me.
From that day Freddie constantly spoke of the verse as “his text.”
Perhaps some little reader of this incident may have often thought,
“Yes, I know that Jesus died, but I am not so sure that He died for me.” Will you not put your finger by faith on “Freddie’s text,” and say, “I know I am a sinful child, but Jesus the Son of God loved sinners, and gave Himself for them, therefore for me.”
He knew how wicked man had been,
And knew that God must punish sin,
So out of pity Jesus said,
“I’ll bear the punishment instead.”
ML 01/20/1924