Friday, December 8, 2017

In Perfect Time

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Galatians 4:4-5

God is never late. He never misses a deadline. If Christmas is about anything, Christmas is about God’s sovereign timing in the lives of mankind. Jesus came at precisely the right time.  As God’s timing was perfect in the coming of Jesus, His timing is perfect in our lives as well. 
·      He sent His son into the world right on time. God’s timetable is always perfect.
·      Our timetable and God’s timetable are not always the same. There are times when we want God to act right now. We pray "God give me this promotion right now… God get me out of debt right now!" We understand that in His great wisdom, God does not always answer those prayers immediately or the way we want Him to.
·      The One who created everything from nothing, who sees the end from the beginning, who embodies all wisdom and knowledge is never late. He’s right on time. It may not be our time, but is always His time.
In the Christmas season, we see a great reminder of the fact that God acted in just the right time when He sent His Son to the earth.  As God’s timing was perfect in the coming of Jesus, His timing is perfect in your life.  Just as the people of Jesus’ day didn’t understand God’s timing then, you may not understand it now, nonetheless, it’s perfect.
Preparation
There were many prophecies about Jesus’ birth long before it happened.  There were prophesies about Him being born to a virgin and in Bethlehem.  God pulled all things together for the first coming of Christ and for the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel.  People watched and waited for years for the messiah to be born.  Today, we need to prepare for that same Messiah to come back again.  There are prophecies of His second coming and we should be waiting and watching for His return, and preparing the way both in our hearts and in the world around us.
Purpose –
Jesus came in the "fullness of time” to fulfill the work of the Father.  Jesus had more in mind in His coming to this Earth than giving us a holiday. God had a great purpose for Christ’s coming. God had planned this event before the Earth was formed. On that special night in Bethlehem, the time was right. And Christ came.  Jesus not only came to "fulfill" the law and prophets, He came "to redeem those who were under the law."  Without redemption provided by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, we can never receive our inheritance as God’s children.  We can never be good enough to earn it.  Only His redeeming grace and love makes us worthy.  This gift was given to us through the life and death of that tiny baby.
Almost 2,000 years ago, there came a night when "the fullness of the time" had come. The angels appeared over the portals of heaven in expectancy. The plan of God through the ages was beginning to unfold. It would be only moments before they announced it to the shepherds, So, when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth 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." The fullness of time had come. Maybe it has come in your life today.

Scripture to Claim:
…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Luke 2:11-12

Devotional Archive