Perspectives

Galatians 4: 4-7 (NIV) … 4) But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5) to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6) Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.” 7) So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. (NIV)

Christmas reminds us of the fact that Jesus came to this Earth at just the right time. In our text today, we are told that when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son. Have you ever thought that there was a right time for Jesus to come? It is an incredible statement. Does this mean to say that there was one time in all human history when all things were perfectly in line for the first coming of Jesus? And that there was no other time when Christ could have come? I believe that is precisely what the text is saying. Our celebration of Christmas highlights that perfect timing of His coming… as our text for this month says, when the right time came, the time that God had declared it would happen; Jesus was born, born of a Jewish woman by the name of Mary.

We know the Christmas story so well, but, how often does that familiarity cause us to forget or over look what happened in the Land of Palestine before Christ was born? I know this is true of me. We get so busy with our own preparations that we lose sight of all the activities and preparations behind the scene in Palestine before the birth of Christ. Just as we prepare for the Christmas season, there were preparations made for this special Child about to come down from heaven to be born in a manger.

There were political preparations for His coming: We learn from Scripture that God directed the necessary events so that all prophesy would be fulfilled. Little did Caesar Augustus know that when he was in power and called for a census, he was in fact doing God’s will? That census required all the people to return to their place of birth to be counted. That meant that an expectant woman and her husband had to make an historic journey to Bethlehem. Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus, was guided by the Holy Spirit of God to the place prophesied in the Old Testament where Christ would be born. Can you see the hand of God at work here? God had planned how this was to happen long before this night in Bethlehem. He had a reason for this event. You can feel the love in the heart of God as He is about to reveal His plan of salvation for all peoples.

This is what the first coming of Christ provided for us. At the right time, God sent His Son. He that is Jesus can be trusted to do things in our lives at the right time as well. We are invited to become Children of God, heirs together with Christ. And He is leading us to reign with Him in eternity. But also to rule in victory in this life. This is what Christmas has done for us.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be the sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12) Thus when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law: Unable to contain heaven’s joy any longer, the angels would explode with the cry of jubilation, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men … (NIV)

Merry Christmas … Have a wonderful New Year!

Would you pray this prayer with me …“Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that Peace, joy and happiness that will fulfill my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name.” Amen