December 19th, 2024
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his 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 God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
During the Christmas season, it's typically very important for us in the western world to make plenty of time for our family gatherings. Very quickly the December schedule becomes filled with going from house to house, and church functions and all other kinds of Christmas celebrations. It's a precious time for most of us and we cherish all of the sweet memories we get to make with our loved ones. I believe that it is within that same vein of "family" that we are enabled to fully celebrate the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ as well.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with treasuring our earthly family and friends, I believe these are only a foretaste of the greater reality. That is, the Most High God has invited each of us to enter into His own home and become His beloved sons and daughters. Maybe you have rarely lingered upon this thought during Christmas but I think it's worth the reflection. This passage is what embodies the full breadth of the Christmas narrative. It's not as if this is a story of the hero, Jesus coming down to save good people, similarly to how all the Christmas movies tend to play out. This is one of the perfect prince of heaven coming down to save sinners, the unholy, and the unworthy. It was for the unclean, the broken and even those who were enemies of God. Christ came to a people who were never first in line to be considered a son or a daughter of the Most High King. And despite that reality, the Lord still chose to leave His throne for us.
Paul paints it this way in Galatians chapter 4. God knew that none of us held any capacity to save ourselves from the terrors of sin and death. In fact, the language Paul uses is one of slavery and bondage. We were held in captivity by the spiritual forces of darkness until the day that we would eventually perish in our sins. But, in the fullness of God's perfect timing, He sent His son to be born of the virgin Mary. He allowed Him to be born under the Law that He might do what no other human being could do. He fulfilled the Law for our sake so that we might receive adoption into the loving arms of the Father. And now because Christ came, we are no longer slaves sitting in darkness; we have been called out and brought into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
It is wonderfully articulated this way in Romans chapter 5:6-8, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us . It's interesting that Christmas tends to bring many people into churches who feel as though they are worthy of the gift of Christ. However, at every corner of the Bible we are reminded that we should never have been chosen.
I am reminded today that I have failed my heavenly father a thousands times over. All of us have. Despite knowing that our sins break His heart, yet we continued to do so. And even with God seeing every failure, every disappointment, every act of sin and unrighteousness, still Jesus came down. It was the Father's highest joy to win back to Himself His lost children. He saw me in the filth of my distress and He called me by name. At that very moment, I was adopted and found a Heavenly Father who loves me. I once was lost in a world of disobedience, seeking my own passions and pleasures. But when the kindness of my Savior appeared, He saved me, not because of any good I have done, but because of His great mercy (Titus 3:3-4). I wonder if your Christmas would be filled with such awe and gratitude for our priceless and heavenly adoption into the Lord's family.