The Established Path of Discipleship

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:1-7)

How would you finish this sentence: Christmas is the time for __________? Perhaps some of you would say Christmas is the time for giving. Christmas is the time for family. Christmas is the time for joy and laughter. Christmas is the time for peace. Christmas is the time for shopping. Christmas is the time for decorating. Christmas is the time for eating lots of good food. The list is probably endless.

For many, Christmas is a time of great sadness. Indeed, our hearts are still reeling from the recent attack on Israel by Hamas and the ongoing war. This tragedy reminds us something is still terribly wrong with our world. On the heels of the first Christmas, Herod had all the male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area murdered. So comes those haunting words of Scripture, “Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted because they are no more.” We must not forget to continue praying for those families in Israel and Gaza.

Christmas is the time we choose to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus. The incarnation is the time when the eternal Son of God, Jesus, came to the world and became a man. We celebrate Jesus entering the world he created for his glory. Galatians 4:1-7 completes the sentence: Christmas is the time for ________ . Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman.” If you will allow the Holy Spirit to apply these words to your heart, I believe a few things will happen. God will comfort you with these words if you are sad and hurting. If you are frustrated and feel trapped, God will set you free. God will make you a new person. If you are happy, God will give you more reasons to rejoice. All time is God’s time. Christmas is no exception. If God does what I know he will do, I’m sure you will conclude with me that God’s time is always the right time.