Just in Time

Timing is Everything

ordering gifts - hoping for an on-time arrival

planning food - getting lists together, shopping, going back to the store - time and again

scheduling events with family and friends

this season is fully of time sensitive events

While they are important and fun, there is a sense in which we can miss the importance of why we celebrate this season - why we give gifts - why we go to all the trouble.

The book of Galatians notes:

Galatians 4:4–5 NLT

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Jesus was born at just the right time

Roman rule, roads, environment

Census

400 years of prophetic silence

it’s as though the environment was pregnant with anticipation. Wise people counting years from Daniel’s prophecies - looking forward, hoping, waiting.

And yet not knowing exactly how this would happen.

Jesus was born in just the right way

Son of God - divine, holy, perfect

Son of a woman - human

Jesus was born in just the right environment

Under the law - subject to the legal expectations and standards

Showed what living the law-abiding life really looks like

Jesus was born to redeem us

to redeem us - we can’t live up to that perfect standard - he did - he paid the price for our sin,

Jesus was born to adopt us

to adopt us as sons and daughters - welcoming us into His family -

consider this -

when someone is adopted into a family, they are often adopted because they have a need, they have a void - something has happened leaving them without parents.

Parents who have a calling to adopt will reach out, and jump through many hoops (legal documents, background checks, payments, preparing a room, making things ready)

In a similar way - our sin problem left us spiritually orphaned, without hope, in bondage to a debt that we can’t cover on our own.

And yet Jesus - did that all - making way for us to be adopted as children of God!

Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus didn’t come to be a good example - though He did that. Jesus didn’t come to be a good teacher - though he did that too. Jesus didn’t come to heal - though he did that. He did all of that in fulfillment of the prophecies. Jesus was born to die - so that we might live!

Galatians 4 continues

Galatians 4:6–7 NLT

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

We have a heavenly Father who loves us deeply. He made a way for us to be adopted into His family.

If you’ve not yet been adopted as a child of God, know that your gift is waiting - your gift of God’s grace and mercy, your gift of being part of the family of God - for eternity! You can receive and open this gift by repenting of your sin, believing that Jesus died and rose again to pay for your sin, and then walk with Him in the fellowship of other adopted sons and daughters! It would be a joy to welcome you as a fellow heir!

If you’ve been adopted by Him, then rejoice! Celebrate! There is a weary world around us that needs to know. They need the hope of adoption. They needs the light of Jesus!

Jesus did all that for us. Our job now is to live for Him! Talking about our great Eternal father who has space in His family for ALL who will believe in the babe in a manger who was born at just the right time.

Let’s pray.

Candle lighting.