Doing It Right

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11 ESV).

 

I’m sure you have heard the quote: "If you want it done right, do it yourself." It is often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, meaning that if you want a task completed to a high standard, it's best to handle it personally. While there be some doubt about whether he actually said that or not, I know my Dad said it all too often. Usually it was a after he had delegated a task to me and I didn’t do it quite up to his expectations. There were times when I “hit is with a lick and a promise” instead of doing the task with precision.

 

I also think that God was thinking something of this when He sent Jesus to be born that first Christmas. By sending Jesus Christ to the world, God ensured that he would eventually have his beloved creation back in fully restored condition. Christmas, and the recreated, sin-free world that would eventually come through the work of Christ, was God’s gift to himself! And, only He could give that gift!

 

Jesus says that God loved the world so much “that he gave his one and only Son.” We often assume that the love Jesus is talking about here is like the love of a father who wants what is best for his children. But God’s love is all that and more. God also deeply loves and cares for the world he has made, the world he gave us to care for so long ago. And God wants that object of his love to be restored along with us. We are a part of the world God loves, and he wants to rejoin with us in it!