December 18

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But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

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🔊 The “fullness of the time” refers to the point in human history when everything was ripe for the appearance of God’s Son on the stage of world history.  His life is the centre of all history, yet there was nothing in His earthly life of the kind of ‘greatness’ that fascinates historians.  He commanded no armies, and aspired to no throne on earth.  He never fought anyone, and never led any movement for social or political reform.  His heart and mind were full of compelling focus, but that focus was on redeeming individuals.  He was a good listener, and answered questions with keen interest in the motive and inner thoughts of the questioner.  The great and famous personalities of history were often concerned with occupying the centre of power in nations; but Christ is interested in the ‘little’ people, and the details of people’s lives.  He is interested in shaping and building our individual lives into the pattern that pleases God and brings blessing to us.  God in Christ is about the business of making us into His sons.  This is the detail that goes unnoticed by historians, but will one day be revealed as the only really important matter in everyone’s life.  All of us will answer to God for what we have built in our character.  Christ has come to adopt us into His family so that we might bear His family likeness.  We human beings are ruined by sin, but Christ takes us up and slowly and carefully restores us into the image of God.  He came to impart the glory of His life.