We’re on the road to our salvation story in the Shaken & Stirred blog series. Last week Chelynn talked about how
“all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”,
Romans 3:23.
Today I am here to talk about Romans 5:8,
“But God demonstrates his love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
I have been thinking and praying about what to write. It would be easy to give you a laundry list of my greatest sins….lies, rebellion, deceit, disrespect, etc. But God reminded me this morning that I am not the main character in my salvation story. I am not the most important part. He is. My salvation story is not so much about what I’ve done in my life that needs forgiveness, but what Christ has done for me. He is the main character in my salvation story. My restoration story.
So I want to tell you more about Him.
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law”
Galatians 4:4
God’s timing is so incredible, too. Every day is a great day to tell you about Jesus, but what better time than during the Christmas season we are in? As we’ll talk about, God is never late. He is never early. He is always right on time.
It was not the birth itself that was special. Or the location of a cowshed or manger. Nor were the shepherds that came to see. It was the Son of God that made this birth miraculous. Jesus, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Such a humble and lowly beginning. Yet God was prepared to go to extraordinary lengths in order to reach us. To reach me. To reach you too.
This was not the likely beginnings of a worldly king, but of a God who brings salvation, everlasting life, to his people. His creation. Whom He loves. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
God’s people turned their backs on Him. Over and over again. So he sent His son Jesus. Born of the virgin Mary. He lived a perfect, sinless life here on earth. But we despised and rejected him.
“He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed…..Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”
Isaiah 53:5-6
The Lord laid on him the sins of us all. There is a lot of weight in those words. I have a lot of sin.
“He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
1 Timothy 2:6
Everyone. That’s you. That’s me. That’s every person that has ever been. Past. Present and future. It was our sin, our wrongdoing, our wanderings away from God that He paid for. We accumulated the bill and He was the one that paid the price, bringing peace, healing, and salvation with it.
The good news is that Christ didn’t stay dead. Humanity put him in the grave, but the love of God, raised him to life eternal where He sits at the right hand of God for all eternity. The good news is that Jesus offers us this same life. A life with him forever.
This offer is the greatest one that has ever been given. It is the reason we live. To say “yes” to Him is to receive the greatest joy and fulfillment one can obtain.
There is something incredibly special about the birth of a baby in a manger after all. There in the midst of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find the hope of our hearts. It might not look like much to some, but to those who have knelt before the Lord, who have confessed their sin and accepted His forgiveness, it is more precious and powerful than any earthly king or power or force before or since.
“For God says, At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed the right time is now. Today is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2
Today, Jesus is asking if you will trust Him. He is inviting you to experience Him and His love for you. Will you say “yes” to Jesus?
Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.
Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash