A Ladder to God

One understanding of the sacraments is that they are God’s accommodation to our weakness. They are meant to be a means of grace for the strengthening of God’s people. 

As Calvin writes in his Institutes, “Because we are unable to fly high enough to draw near to God, He has ordained sacraments for us, like ladders. If a man wishes to leap on high, he will break his neck in the attempt, but if he has steps, he will be able to proceed with confidence.” This sacrament then is like steps on a ladder, it is a help to bring you nearer to God. And what is this sacrament but Christ Himself, offered to you? He is the way to the Father.

In this bread and wine, God’s Word is made visible—a great help to your faith. For when you hear Christ preached in a sermon, you may be tempted to wonder to yourself, is this really for me? Is He really for me? But then each week you arrive at this Table, and like in the preached word, Christ is presented to you again. But here He is made tangible. Christ is passed into your hands and His body is taken into your body. And this is meant to communicate to you—yes, Christ is for you—for look, here you see His body broken and His blood shed for you. 

Until that glorious Day when we see Christ face to face, we are all in need of this help to strengthen our weak faith. And how great is it, then, that God gladly comes to us each week in this way, that we would be lifted up and made strong in Him.

So with believing hearts—come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.