Home for Christmas – of course!
“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 – ESV
It’s a mix, a mélange, a powerful combination of eternal import, hope, and life! What am I talking about!? The birth of Christ, of course! I mean, just look at the Galatians passage above. Take just a couple seconds to re-read it; let it soak in…
“…the fullness of time…” Whose time? God’s time, of course! From the heavenly halls of His home, Jesus was sent forth. According to the gracious timing and eternal plan of God! His very first “home”—a manger, in a stable. At once a place to lie and a lesson to learn: This Jesus, this Son sent from the Father in the fullness of time, came for all. The notable and the notorious. You and me.
For all, of course! And that is why I am here and you are here and we are coming into the season of the celebration of Christ’s birth for the approximately 2021st time. Because Jesus has come and given us a home in heaven. And because of His first coming—we are impelled and propelled into the anticipation-filled expectation and celebration of His coming again!
My sincere prayer for everyone reading this is that you will know beyond any doubt that in Jesus you have a home for Christmas. It’s a heavenly home that is set, sure, and as solid as the death and resurrection of Christ—the Son sent in the fullness of time “so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
What we also know beyond any doubt is that we aren’t there yet, of course! And so—into our homes—comes Christmas once again. And I pray that you will know joy and peace and Christ’s presence—even if/as you are stuck at home and not able to be with loved ones, be at a Worship Service at church, and so on. Even if there is a profound and palpable absence in your home for Christmas, know this, in your home and in your heart:
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ has died!
Christ has risen!
Christ is coming again!
And, of course, from my family to yours, we wish and pray for you a merry and blessed Christmas time and celebration…and all our love in Jesus, Who makes us one. Pastor Don & Sharon Fraker
