Good morning…
On the first Christmas morn, what was born? Our personal adoption into the family of God.
“Think of it this way,” explains Galatians 4:1-7 (NLT). “If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.
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. 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.”
As we prepare for Christ to be born anew in our ordinary lives, we trust the LORD to buy us freedom from places we are still enslaved. Through Jesus’ birth and life, death and resurrection we are adopted as God’s own children. We know that we are members of God’s family, because Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into our hearts, prompting us to run into our Father’s arms, “Abba, Daddy!” We are no longer slaves to the basic principles of this world, “Stress more. Impress more. Digress more.” No longer slaves to the ways of this world, we are freed to enjoy life as God’s own heirs. Everything our Father possesses is ours, God’s love, God’s wisdom, God’s eternal promises, today and every day.
This Christmas season, will we joyfully unwrap all of God’s great gifts?
…Sue…
