By Pastor Steve Nickodemus’

God Sent Forth His Son

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 English Standard Version

I want to make one thing perfectly clear.  I have nothing against Santa Claus.  I enjoy Santa and the reindeer and stockings hung by the chimney with care and all the other fun, magical trappings that have come to be associated with the celebration of Christmas.

But almost everyone gets the fact that Christmas is a whole lot more than Santa and gifts and snow.  Saint Paul explained the real meaning of Christmas this way; “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.”  At just the right time God intervened in this sinful world.  He sent His only Son who became a man and suffered and died upon a cross that you and I might have our sins forgiven and that we would be made sons and daughters of the King.

All of our efforts to be “nice and not naughty”, to keep God’s commandments so that we might be on God’s list of those who would receive the gift of salvation, are useless.  Only in the One born in a manger, in the Word who became flesh, only in Him are we redeemed and washed clean.  In Jesus Christ there can be true peace on earth and joy to the world.  In Jesus there is grace and the love of God that brings us from death to life, from condemnation to reconciliation.

Or to put it another way; Santa is fun and jolly, but in Jesus Christ we see God’s plan to save the world.  Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace at Christmas!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado