God's Timing

Christian churches around the world began the season of Advent this past Sunday. For those who came in late :), Advent is the 40 day period prior to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It's usually celebrated with Advent wreaths and with readings each day of the prophecies and events leading up to Jesus' birth.

We celebrate in abundance.

But the event we celebrate was set among the poorest and most marginalized of people.

We open our Bibles knowing the full revelation of the Messiah's life and work both on earth and among us through the Holy Spirit.

But they only had the promises of ancient prophets and their hope.

Each godly Jew prayed daily for the coming of Messiah, hoping against hope that this would be the year. Yet years came and went, entire generations passing away. Reading the Old Testament, you'll come across people crying out to God, "How long, O Lord? How long?"

The apostle Paul must have been thrilled to put quill to parchment and write this:

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. (NLT)

"When the right time came..."

No one on earth could see what God saw - a common language among most of the people (koine Greek); a road system better than ever before (Roman Roads); and a people who turned back toward God - not religion, but God (Israel in Jesus' day).

The time for their release from bondage had come.

Friend, maybe you've been crying out to God about a hurt or a need in your life. Don't give up! God hears your hurts and even now is "working all things together for your good."

That's God's timing. And when He delivers His promises - they are awesome indeed.

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org