Perspectives

Galatians 4: 4-7… 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)

Every Christmas you and I must come to terms with the birth and nature of Jesus Christ. Christians make incredible, wonderful, and miraculous claims about the birth of Jesus… and we should because in our text today we read about 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 that there was only one time in all human history when everything was perfectly in line for the first coming of Jesus? That there was no other time when Christ could have come? We believe that is precisely what the Bible is saying. It tells us that Jesus Christ came at just the right time. 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 of a Jewish woman by the name of Mary.

We know the Christmas story so well, but how often does that understanding cause us not to remember or overlook what happened in the Land of Palestine before Christ was born? I know this is true of me. We get so excited with our own planning that we lose sight of all the preparations and activities behind the scenes in Palestine before the birth of Christ. Just as we organize and plan, our Christmas activities there were preparations made for this special event. The Christ Child from heaven was about to be born in a manger.

There were legislative preparations for His coming. Scripture teaches that God directed the crucial events so that all prophesies would be fulfilled. Little did Caesar Augustus know when he was in power and called for a census, he was doing God’s will? That census required all the people to return to their place of birth to be counted. That meant that a pregnant woman and her husband had to make a 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 purpose for this event. You can feel the love and compassion in the heart of God as His plan of salvation is revealed to all peoples.

By faith, we remember the first coming of Christ. At the right time, God sent His Son, and He… that is Jesus, can be faithful to do things in my life and your life 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, to be victorious in this life. Christmas brought a new beginning, a reminder of that special event at just the right time.

11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12 (NIV) 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, goodwill toward men…” To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done

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.