Counting Our Blessings: A Prayer about Christ the Mediator
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This is the eighth installment in a series of prayers based on the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647). To learn more about the history of the Westminster Standards, please click here.
The Westminster Confession of Faith—Of Christ the Mediator
It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified. — Westminster Confession of Faith 8.1
Out of love you were pleased to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus.
Father in heaven,
I praise you for your great love for your people. Out of love you were pleased to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, your only begotten Son, to be the mediator between you and man. Thank you, for I could not have salvation without him.
Jesus, you are the only Mediator between God and man.
Lord Jesus, I praise you, for no one else is like you. There is only one mediator between God and man, and it is you, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). No one else has the authority or ability to mediate between God and man as you do. You are God’s chosen servant whom he upholds, in whom his soul delights. God put his Spirit upon you, and you alone will bring justice to the nations (Isa. 42:1).
I have countless reasons to have confidence in you.
You hold such an important role that in some ways, I am amazed that I can even talk to you. I can’t talk to important people like the President. But I can talk to you, the judge of all nations, because you are my mediator. I have countless reasons to have confidence in you.
You are the head and savior of your church.
I praise you, Jesus, for your full and sufficient ministry as mediator. You have left no stone unturned. You are prophet, priest, and king, the head and savior of your church (Eph. 5:23), the heir of all things (Heb. 1:2), and judge of the world (Acts 17:31). You meet needs that I am only beginning to recognize and each in a way that no one else could.
As a prophet, you are greater than Moses.
As a prophet, you are greater than Moses (Acts 3:22). Through your preachers and through your word, you continue to teach me the will of God. Thank you for not leaving me in the dark to only guess what pleases you. Like any good teacher, you have made your expectations clear.
You lived a perfect life and died a painful death in my place.
As an eternal high priest, you offered up the one sacrifice to do away with all of my sin for all time (Heb. 5:5-6). Thank you for living a perfect life and dying a painful death in my place. And thank you for continuing to intercede for me now (Heb. 7:25). You represent me in ways better than I could ask or imagine. When I sin, the Father forgives me and sees me covered in your righteousness because my life is hidden in yours (Col. 3:3). You deserve all of the glory and praise.
Your kingdom has no end.
As a king, you rule over and defend me, and you restrain and conquer all your enemies. (Westminster Shorter Catechism 26). Your kingdom has no end. You comfort me with the knowledge that no threat can come my way that you will not work for my good and your glory.
You teach us how you want to be worshipped.
As Head and Savior of your church, you rule over your people with a particular order. Forgive me for times I simply consider my way of approaching a matter without seeking and prioritizing your way. You teach us how you want to be worshipped. You tell us how we are to honor and serve one another. You have given us order in the church and in our families, and you are the head of them all (Eph. 5:23). Help me to study this order and support it as far as it depends on me.
You were the first gift to us.
As Heir of all things, you receive us, surprisingly, as a gift from all eternity (John 17:6). You were the first gift to us. Now it is our highest privilege that we, by your grace, have been declared worthy to be a gift from the Father back to you. Thank you for treasuring us among all of your possessions.
One day you will judge the world in righteousness.
As Judge of the world, you will righteously punish every evil and reward every good. Though evil seems to reign in this present world (1 John 5:19), your resurrection assures us that one day you will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). Thank you for this certain hope.
Your people will be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
Father, thank you that through Jesus, we your people will in time be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified (1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 8:30). Help me know each of these blessings better, that I may speak of them for your glory and savor them through all my days.
In the name of my matchless mediator, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
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