by Rev Steve Nickodemus

In the Fullness of Time.

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

“But when the 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 the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4

“Is it Christmas yet?” This is a child’s refrain every day from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve.

Oh, the anticipation of that time of excitement, parties, and gifts!  Oh, if only the calendar would move faster to the day of Christmas, but part of the message of Advent is that the time must “fully come” before the Christ comes.   The journey around the candles of the Advent wreath seem ever so slow when you are a child, but God is not slow about His plan of saving the world.

All the characters must be in place, all the prophecies must be foretold, and all other earthly plans must be discarded.  Then, and only then, will “God send forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law.” This was true of the first Christmas, and it is so very true in each of our faith journeys.

We must come to the end of our own wretched little plans of saving ourselves…to the end of our pride, our self seeking, and the foolishness of our rebellion, and then, and only then, can the Christ child enter in.  If we are to come as the shepherds to the manger, we must accept the Gift of God’s sending and the timing of that sending.

If we think we have waited so long on God’s plan, how much longer has He waited in His suffering for us to receive Him?  Praise God for the infinite patience, wisdom, and mercy of God come down to us in Bethlehem!  In the fullness of time…

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado