But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Gal. 4:4-7 (NIV)
Dear Lord Jesus, though the immediate circumstances surrounding your birthing experience were less than ideal, everything happened just as you, our Father, and the Holy Spirit planned. “Doing all things well” didn’t just start happening after your resurrection.
“When the time had fully come” you came—not day early and not a day late. As humbling as it was to be born under the ceiling of a stable, being born under the weight of the law was an incomparably greater burden. Yet that’s exactly why you came into the world—to fulfill every demand of the law for us, by your life of perfect obedience; and to exhaust it’s judgment against us, by your death for us upon the cross. You are our substitute to trust long before you are our model to follow. Hallelujah, so many times over!
Because you lived and died in our place, we’re no longer slaves, but beloved daughters and sons of the living and loving God. We’ve been completely forgiven and are now robed in your righteousness; we’ve been sealed with the Spirit and given a new family; we’re prayed for every moment and are heirs of the new heaven earth. And one Day—one blessed coming Day, we will see you as you are, and we will be made like you. No abacus, group of accountants, or room full of computers can possibly calculate the riches of grace that we’ve been given in you.
Forgive us when our whining trumps our worship; our grumbling is more pronounced than our gratitude; and when our awareness of what we don’t have in the world is more compelling than what we do have in you. During the remainder of Advent, free us to love as we are loved and forgive as we’ve been forgiven; and to welcome the outsider and serve our families with your servant love. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.
