Scripture Reading(s)
Galatians 4:4-7
4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
4:5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
4:6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Reflections
Throughout the course of history, slavery was a rampant and ever growing reality in many cultures. A slave was essentially stripped away from their home, lifestyle, and identity. A slave was often forced to do things against their will and were brutally punished for disobeying or attempting to escape. By very definition, a slave is “one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence.” That is the condition a person who is not living as a member of the redeemed, through Jesus Christ. However, there is a message of hope that awaits for all of us.
From the beginning of time God had a master plan to save the world. The portion of scripture above describes the climax of the biblical saga, in which we see God’s plan of Salvation being put into place. The timing by which God set his plan into motion is not an accident as the religious, cultural, and political conditions had called for a Savior to come and erase the sins of the world once and for all. Sin was increasing and God saw fit to extend His hand of Grace and save us from our own demise. Galatians 4:4-7 gives us a hope that is beyond anything that we can ever imagine.
Unlike a slave, verse 7 of Galatians 4 tells that we are officially set free from any form of bondage to sin. Sin no longer has a hold on us. Paul perfectly describes this in Romans, chapter 6.
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:15-17)
Verse 5 tells that we are now part of God’s family. Furthermore, God has formulated a remedy for sins enslavement and through the power and saving work of the cross, we are set free and are now under the loving care of our heavenly Father.
I believe this passage is fitting considering the advent season. Verse 4 describes the precursor by which Jesus had been born into the world, “when the fullness of time had come.” I think this is often overlooked but it is important. God was not sitting idly by as the world descended into chaos. Rather, he had already decided how and when he was going to save the world. Never mistake God’s patience for God’s absence.
This verse also reminded us that we need to continue to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. It is the spirit of God that writes the word of God in our hearts and caused our hearts to cry out “Abba, Father.” Are you walking in the spirit? Paul has a simple way to know if you are; your fruit. If you are not exhibiting the fruits of the spirit then take a few moments and reflect just a bit on them. Pray for God’s guidance and then try again. Just a few verses past today’s verse in Galatians, Pauls lists some of the fruit of the spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Pray daily for the fruit of the spirit to be manifested in you and you can bring others to know this God that we serve, who calls us his children.