Verse of the Day 12/18

 

Verse of the Day 12/18

 

Galatians 4:4-5  But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, ⁵ so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children.  Contemporary English Version (CEV)

 

Many of the older translations state in verse 4 "when the fullness of time had come".  The CEV above puts it a little differently, it doesn't change the meaning but it is easy to grasp.  God's timing is always right and when the time was right He sent Jesus into the world, or as Eugene Peterson translates John 1:14 "he moved into the neighborhood".

 

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is "O Holy Night" in which we sing "the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices".  This year more than most, with the pandemic, we can relate to "the weary world".  In the last week or so there has been much rejoicing about a vaccine that is bringing hope to many that have been shut in.  We are thrilled about this, but it is not something that will cure all ills.  Jesus is the answer for the world today, above Him there is no other greater hope.

 

In the Christmas season we celebrate His coming over 2000 years ago, but for us as believers we still hold the thrill of hope now as we anticipate Him coming again to bring His children home.

 

Oh holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error, pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'

Fall on your knees, oh, hear the Angels' voices
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh night divine

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'

Fall on your knees, oh, hear, hear the Angels' voices
Oh, night divine, yeah, oh, night when Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh night divine

 

My hope and prayer is that you and your loved ones will be well this Christmas and will experience the thrill of hope in this weary world.

 

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

 

Galatians 4:1-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[a] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles^[b] of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.