100 Days With Jesus

I am reading through a devotional called "One on One: 100 days with Jesus" that goes from Advent to Easter this year. On this Sabbath, today's reading was so thought provoking and soul heartening. It's been on my mind all day.

Called "He Could Have Just..." the author writes of things that our Savior could have done. These are a few of her thoughts:

"He could have seen to it that Mary had a clean room for his birth.

He could have chosen a wealthier, more comfortable family."

"He could have created a new heaven and earth right then and skipped running around Galilee.

He could have commanded obedience from everyone he met as easily as he ordered the wind and waves to be quiet.

He could have come down from the cross and saved himself.

But he didn't.

Because he was Emmanuel -- God with us."

"Because although people needed a Messiah to redeem them and a King to rule them, they first needed a Shepherd to walk {their} roads, seeking lost sheep. A tender Savior who didn't mind the smelly straw and silly questions and would love the people who struggled with sin and doubt and strong wills. A Savior who wouldn't trade the lives of those he cherished for Calvary's atrocities.

The question has never been what Jesus could have done.

But instead, what he chose to do. For us." --taken from 100 Days with Jesus, You Version Bible.

Oh in this Advent, as we prepare for our celebration of our Savior who CAME, I love this reminder that he chose to come for me, for you. May that truth be heartening to you today too.