For Our Sake

This past week, I’ve come upon the phrase, “for the children’s sake,” in several different conversations and contexts. This phrase has been a recurring theme in discussions about the Charlotte Mason philosophy and our instructional practices. However, as I have also been reflecting on this Advent season, 2 Corinthians 5:21 came to mind:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew now sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

That led me to do a deeper scriptural dive into the phrase “for our sake.” The AMP version says, “on our behalf,” and the Greek word for the phrase is “ὑπέρ” (hyper). This is related to the Latin “pro,” which means for one’s safety, for one’s advantage or benefit and, I love what Strong’s Concordance says:

… One who does a thing for another, is conceived of as standing or bending ‘over’ the one whom he would shield or defend.

Jesus Christ emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8), FOR OUR SAKE. Not because we deserved it, but because of God’s grace, knowing we could never become righteous in our own works. Jesus Christ shielded and defended us from death, and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, dwells with each of us.

Each time we say “for the children’s sake,” whether in our classrooms or our homes, we can be reminded that our real and meaningful sacrifices are small in comparison to the gift we celebrate in this Advent season. As we wait and prepare our hearts, may our acts of service for the children entrusted to us deepen our gratitude and wonder at Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, given once and for all, for our sake.

May His great love for us overflow through us in love for others!