Joy is experienced in the ordinary.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on 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,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.”  
Galatians 4:4-5 English Standard Version

No one understands the fullness of time like a pregnant woman. We guys don’t have a clue what it’s like to have our bodies consumed by another person growing inside of us. (The grossest movie I have ever seen is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Junior.”  DON’T watch it.  It’s just not right.)

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I’m sure that Mary was ready to give birth when the time came for Jesus to be born (and Joseph was probably ready for her to give birth too). What an amazing way for the Son of God to enter human history. He came through a mother who felt the full effect of labor. He had an umbilical cord that had to be cut, a body that needed to be washed and a stomach that needed to be nourished by his mother’s milk.

This is how we came into the world whether we lived with our birth parents or were adopted into a loving family. Even if the circumstances of our birth were less than what we expect, we all were dependent on someone to care for us. And our God understands this human condition because this is how he chose to be born.

We have received a new birth. In the same way that Jesus’ birth was in a rather earthy way, so is our new birth. It comes in water splashed on us and words spoken.  We are now the children of God as a result of this new birth; this adoption into the family of God.

There is joy in birth.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner