The Gift of Adoption

 The Fullness of Time

Scripture Reading: Galatians 3:23–4:7

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters." 

Galatians 4:4–5

Two days before the birth of Christ, the dusty road likely brought Mary and Joseph past the towering walls of Jerusalem. They were traveling in the shadow of the Temple—the center of the Law—yet they were carrying the very Grace that would fulfill it. At this point in their journey, exhaustion was a constant companion, a physical reminder of what it felt like to live "under the law," bound by decrees, censuses, and the heavy weight of expectations. They were moving through the "fullness of time," a specific, narrow window in history where the old era of being guarded by rules was about to give way to the new era of being guided by Spirit. Every step closer to Bethlehem was a step away from the spiritual distance of the past and toward a new intimacy with the Father.

The long road from slavery to belovedness is traced in the quiet of these final mile. In the Galatians reading, Paul reminds us that before Christ, we were like children under the care of a guardian, protected but not yet free. But as Joseph guided the donkey and as Mary felt the first stirrings of the birth that would change everything, the "Abba" cry of the universe was drawing nigh. The King they carried did not come to demand more labor from weary souls, but to welcome us home as heirs to the Father’s infinite grace. Christmas is the announcement that the shackles of "doing enough" have been broken. Because of this Child, we are no longer defined by our performance or our pedigree, but by our position as beloved heirs of a Kingdom that knows no end.

As we reach this penultimate stage of our Advent journey, we must confront the ways we still live like spiritual orphans or slaves, frantically trying to earn a love that has already been given. We often treat God like a demanding taskmaster rather than a Father, keeping our distance because we fear our "travel-worn" lives aren't presentable enough for His house. But the road to Bethlehem reminds us that God comes to us in the mess and the weariness of the journey. He does not wait for us to reach perfection; He enters our world to bring us home. Today, may we stop striving to prove our worth and instead rest in the truth that we are already chosen, adopted, and cherished.

Prayer for the Journey

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the grace that makes us Your children. We are tired of trying to earn what You have already given, and we lay down the heavy weight of our own expectations at Your feet. As the road finally leads us to the manger, let us hear Your voice calling us 'Beloved,' and give us the courage to cry 'Abba' with the quiet joy of those who are finally home. Amen.