God created a perfect universe, and it He created a perfect world, and on that He created a perfect couple.  Everything was new and perfect.  For a moment.  Then the couple decided that perfection wasn't good enough, that God's new world and new plan for people didn't give them enough status, enough power. They decided to be God.  But they weren't.  So sin entered the world and with it the end of God's perfect creation.

What next?  If you were God would you have shut down the operation?  Would you have fixed the flaw in the human spirit and forged ahead?  Would you have eliminated the possibility of imperfection by not giving the man and woman the freedom to choose it?  God's response to His new creation's rejection of Him and His plan is nothing short of incredible:  God offered us a new deal.

The deal came in "stages."  God established a specific group of people within all people to become "His" people.  He gave them rules and a system of sacrifices so they could follow Him.  He set these people up for the whole world to "come and see," so they could become God's people, too.  But the people God chose soon acted the same as everyone else.  There was nothing to come and see.

So God, came Himself.  The God of the universe came here to our world.  He was born as one of us.  He lived as we live--except He lived with perfection--no sin, no rejection of God's will or ways.  Then He died in our places.  Why?  To offer us a new deal--a new life, for here and for eternity.  That's this week's focus.  I hope you'll join us at worship this morning to find out more about the New Deal  (at 8:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. at the South Butler Primary School in Saxonburg.)  Then I hope you'll join me each day as we focus on God's New Deal for us!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us so much that You didn't give up when we rejected You.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we'll not only accept Your new deal in our lives, but live it in such a way that others will want it, too!  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.