And he died for all, the Mother Theresas and the John Wayne Gacys. He died for all, the thief who accepted him and the thief who rejected him. He died for all, the Albert Schweitzers and the Idi Amins. He died for all, those easy to love and those we find it difficult, if not impossible, to love.

And he died so that we might live not for ourselves, but for Him. And He died so that living for Him, we might then live for others. We might live for all those for whom He was willing to die. There is a kind of circle involved - because we are freed to live for Him, because his sacrificial death and glorious resurrection were for all people, we are called, even impelled, to serve all people.

So the question for each of us becomes: who are the "all" we are called to serve? Maybe a better question is: who do we see in need whom we have the ability and the opportunity to "be Christ to"? Or, more simply, what needs do we see around us that tug at us, that call to us, that refuse to take "no" for an answer?

Perhaps the best answer is to remember how Christ answered the needs around him. Christ reached out to the poor and the sick, ate with those his society considered worthless, spoke out against injustice and hatred, challenged those with more to share with those who had less. Today, we are asked to serve with that same love the people with AIDS, the children born of cocaine- addicted mothers, the homeless and mentally ill people who live in grates under bridges, the people so twisted with hatred that they believe their faith gives them the right to kill those who believe differently, and on and on.

Sometimes the needs seem so great that we believe we cannot begin to make a difference. But then those words come back to us: "And he died for all." If he died for all, can we truly refuse to live for all? One life touched by the love of Christ through our hands is two lives changed - the person touched and we who have done the touching.

About the Author: Cheryl Erdmann is a deaconess student in Crystal Lake, Illinois where, in addition to her studies, she works in Christian Education at Bethany Lutheran Church, and in Public Relations for Lincoln Lutheran of Racine.
 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to remember every day that Jesus Christ died for all. Guide us to see all your children through the eyes of Christ, and to love them as you do. Amen.