December 11, 2020
The Fullness of Time
Lisa Morrone
Today’s Truth
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4, ESV).
Friend to Friend
Some women enjoy the experience of being pregnant—the “glow,” the added attention, the belly pats, the pampering from others, and the unexpected kicks from the inside out. Me, not so much.
Don’t get me wrong, I did marvel at how the Lord was growing another human being inside of my body and I was truly grateful for the gift of motherhood. It’s just that my frame is quite petite. The expansion of my belly during my two pregnancies quickly overwhelmed all 5’2” of me! As my stomach grew, so did my ankles and my feet. Breathing became difficult as the months passed and my diaphragm became increasingly pressed up against my lungs. By the time the ninth month of my pregnancies would roll around, I was always quite FULL!
Relief from my overcrowded situation had me singularly focused on my calculated due date, which in the case of both of my children, came and went without either child in utero paying much attention.
It wasn’t until the fullness of the Lord’s intended time that my labor pains began and my children were birthed—my daughter, nine days after her expected due date and my son, four days beyond his.
It’s these pregnancy experiences which come to mind when I read Today’s Truth:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4, ESV).
You see, the nation of Israel was pregnant with anticipation for a coming Messiah. The voice of God had been silent for nearly 400 years when Mary gave birth to Jesus. In fact, without their knowing, all of humanity was ripe for redemption—unable to redeem themselves from wrongdoing or from the guilt which plagued them in the aftermath of their sin. And just as most pregnancies come to fruition in their own fullness of time, the Lord’s redemptive plans for the world came to pass at just the right time.
The Apostle Paul expounds on this concept when he shares these insights about the timing of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6, NIV).
Depending upon your version of the Bible, the phrase “the fullness of time,” “at just the right time,” or “at the appointed time” occurs over 20 times. This tells us something important about the Lord: He’s patient, purposeful, and well-planned.
We can take great comfort from this when we find ourselves waiting for something to birthed—a new job opportunity, a house sale, a release from debt, a prodigal child to return to his faith, a marriage to be healed, a friendship to be restored. Beth Moore, Bible teacher, says it well: God is the God of time and timing!
God the Father had a perfect plan in mind and He used His perfect son, Jesus, to deliver it.
On time.
Not a day too soon.
Not a year too late.
Likewise, at the appointed time, Jesus will return to unite all things in Him, in heaven and on the earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10).
So, the next time you find yourself worrying about the timing of something you’ve been praying about, maybe even worrying that the Lord has missed His opportunity to act, just remind yourself of this:
Jesus has ALWAYS been on time throughout history and because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He will continue to be ON TIME EVERY TIME in your life.
Let’s Pray
Lord, you created time, so I believe you are also the Master of it. Help me to remember that just as Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, so Your timing is better than my timing.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It's Your Turn:
Can you recall the time in your life when you were pregnant with longing to be loved, to be forgiven, or to be restored? Was there a time when the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to you and your new life in Christ was born?
If so, savor the memory of when your fullness of time to receive Jesus Christ as Lord came to pass. Spend a moment re-living your new birth experience and then ask God if there is someone He wants you to share your story with this Christmas season.
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© 2020 by Lisa Morrone. All rights reserved.
