“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!'” Gal. 4:4-6
Devotional Thought For The Day
There is an old adage in business and finance that “timing is everything.” The same is true for a number of human activities and ventures – sports, hiking, relationships, romance, driving safely – the list is endless. So it is only natural that people are interested in God’s timing, especially as it applies to current affairs. The spate of natural disasters hitting parts of America over the past few years has increased this interest among Christians – who have noted with sadness the increased aggressiveness of those seeking to justify and socially legitimate immoral and destructive behavior. Comparison drives such interest and certain conclusions about what “God is trying to tell us.” We compare current times with the fairly recent past – say fifty or sixty years ago. We could also compare our times with the rampant immorality of past civilizations and cultures and come to a more favorable evaluation of America even today. Attempting to ferret out and discern what God is doing in the present is a rather precarious business – just ask Job’s friends.
God’s timing is more easily understandable when it comes to the past, especially when His Word explicitly identifies His timing and His purposes. What would be far more productive is for us to devote ourselves to considering what is clear and well known about God’s timing – especially in the birth, life, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection of His eternal and “only-begotten” Son, Who became flesh for us some 2,000 years ago, “born of a woman.” All that we need to know, all that brings us greatest blessedness is clearly revealed – “born under the law to redeem those who were under the law,” to redeem us, we who were condemned to eternal death and hell by the law because of our great sin. All who are curious and inquisitive about God’s timing should first immerse themselves in this blessed manifestation of God’s love for us [1 Jn. 4:9,10,14], and ponder how God so loved the world and how He continues to will for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
In contemplating the blessedness of God’s timing in giving us His Son as our Savior, we are blessed with faith in Jesus and “receive adoption as sons” – we are passive as God does His work in us, giving us rebirth to faith and new life . Then He gives us His Spirit, the Spirit of His Son, sending Him into our hearts so that we know and believe God’s love for us, and we know Him as our kind, gentle and loving Heavenly Father. We cry out to Him for help, for our needs, for forgiveness, for peace, for joy, for strength, courage, and confidence, and for guidance and instruction. We trust and rely upon Him for everything – knowing His great love for us. Looking to understand His timing for current events is tenuous and frustrating; looking at His timing as revealed in Holy Scripture brings every blessing into our lives. Which focus do you think we should have?
Tonight most Christian congregations will gather for worship, to contemplate the wondrous gift God has given to us and all the world in His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The greatest sadness is not that so few people consider God’s timing today, but that so many people either neglect or refuse to consider the “fullness of time” that came so long ago, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. May we not be among them, but rather among those whose hearts contemplate the wonders of God’s love and salvation, and who continually cry out “Abba, Father!” Then we will be constantly prepared and ready for whatever God ordains and brings to pass, including the events of the Last Day. We have been redeemed, and we have received adoption as God’s dear children – He will certainly not allow anything to bring us substantial or lasting harm. May the bright joy of His eternal love bring light and happiness to you no matter what your circumstances may be!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, make this day a time of special remembrance for us, a day of contemplating the fullness of time, of dwelling on Your great love for us and the blessings of Your incarnation for our redemption. May we listen to Your Spirit within our hearts, and rejoice in the Father’s love, trusting Him for all blessedness. May the love, peace, and joy that You instill within us cause others to contemplate Your great love – that they too might receive adoption as Your children. Thank You for a joyous and merry time of celebrating Your love. Amen.