The Fullness Of The Time

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4,5).

Do you have a hard time waiting? Are delays difficult to deal with causing you stress and anxiety? For most of us the answer is "yes." God had first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve's transgression in the garden. Over the next several millenniums there was a growing body of Messianic promises that the Jewish people were given. At the time of Christ's birth two elderly Jewish people are mentioned in Luke who had longed for the Messiah's coming. Simeon had been "waiting for the consolation of Israel", and Anna "spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

In the daily text the Apostle Paul is reflecting on the events of Christ's incarnation. He uses an intriguing phrase "when the fullness of the time came" to describe that wonderful moment in space and time when God acted on our behalf in sending His Son for our redemption. The long wait was over. The faith of devout people like Simeon and Anna and others like them was now reality. God kept His promise.

And God still keeps His promises. He always will. He'll keep everyone of them. We have the perspective of looking back and seeing the fulfillment of the greatest of God's promises. This occurred after a long wait and in "the fullness of the time."

I believe I come to an understanding of this verse better when I recognize that it's the fullness of God's time, not ours. Many of us are waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled in our lives. The wait can be very trying. Many are living with an ongoing burden for spiritually wayward family members, others have long-standing physical ailments in their lives or in someone they love. And on my heart this morning are so many of our dear brothers and sisters living in very oppressive conditions. And we all wait for that next great cosmic event when Jesus again keeps His last word to us when He declared, "Yes, I am coming soon."

God has fulfilled the biggest promise. Let us wait with faith and assurance that "in His time" He will also take care of the scores of other matters we all deal with. He is faithful!

In His time, in His time;
He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lord, please show me every day
As You're teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say in Your time.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we know that Your time table is pre-ordained in the events that make an eternal difference in our lives. A thousand years is as a day and a day as a thousand years. Help us to patiently wait for Your will to be fulfilled in our personal lives, in the lives of our loved ones, and in the world around us. May we be found steadfast, sober, expectant and alert awaiting the day of your promised return. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers