Chosen

Mayor used to be one of my kids’ favorite games.  They created an imaginary world, complete with jobs, families and community responsibilities.  They staked out areas of the basement as their homes and businesses. They cut up hundreds of slips of paper as currency.  It was a glorious, wonderful mess.

You’ve probably known kids to play let’s pretend, making up scenarios and responses as they go along.  Sometimes it’s a pretty accurate reflection of “real” life, and sometimes it’s complete nonsense.  But at the beginning of the adventure, there’s always some divvying up of roles.  You were the mom last time; it’s my turn. Or I have a store and I have to work a lot.

Now imagine for a minute that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in heaven, before the grand adventure of the world began, had a conversation about who would do what.  And Jesus said, “I’ll be the Savior.”  

Jesus chose to be the Savior.  Now, I don’t really understand how omniscience works.  At no point is God unaware of some piece of knowledge or information and that’s more than I can wrap my head around.  But I do know that Jesus chose His role – it wasn’t forced on Him.  In full knowledge of what it would entail – accusation, betrayal, crucifixion – He chose love for you at great cost, even before He chose to make you.

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” 
Ephesians 1:4 MSG

God is not at the mercy of our actions or our circumstances.  He’s not scrambling to adjust or pivoting to respond.  He is steadfast.  His plans and purposes are eternal – from before the beginning He loved us and desired good things for us and chose to do all that would be necessary to make it happen.  It pleases Him to be the Savior because He wants us to be saved.

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There’s a tree next to our porch that’s home to a mama robin and her little ones. The other day I sat outside and listened to her calling.  It was so persistent, I eventually looked up to see what all the fuss was about.  She sat on a branch with a bit of bug hanging from her beak and calling to her little ones – Here I am; come to me!

Earlier this spring, we had the opportunity to watch up close as a different mama bird built her nest.  She chose a wreath against a window for her new home, which meant we could peek in and keep tabs on her little ones. It wasn’t the quietest place; whenever we opened the door, or turned on the light, or entered the room, she flew away.  

Here’s the thing.  If a bird, who will abandon her nest at the slightest threat, will patiently and persistently call her children to her, how much more is our Father patiently calling to us?  Here I am; come to me!  I have something good for you.  

He will not abandon us.  He will not forsake us.  He has already endured great danger and defeated every enemy in order to rescue us.  He has something good “in His beak” – ready to give to us, if we will only come to Him to receive it.

God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.  
2 Timothy 1:9