Thornwell December Devotional – Celebrate God’s Timing
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. – Galatians 4:4-5
Christmas and the Advent season is a celebration of the appearance of the long-promised Messiah in the birth of Jesus. The last prophecies in the Old Testament pointing to Jesus are in Malachi, written down 400 years before being fulfilled. Generations passed in the waiting.
Fathers, sons, daughters, and grandmothers held tightly to the promises of a savior who would finally lift their burdens and lead the people in righteousness. For 399 years, fathers and sons, daughters and grandmothers all died unfulfilled in their hearts. Jesus says as much in Matthew 13:17:
“For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
In most circumstances, an unfulfilled promise inspires bitterness. And if this was another circumstance, our hearts would be aching for the generations of those who seemed to suffer spiritual disappointment. Praise be to God the Most High; Advent is not just another circumstance!
The holy men and women who longed to see the Messiah themselves were content to be discontent for a season. Their hope in God allowed them to be faithful in God’s timing, rather than theirs. They believed that even if they didn’t see Christ in this life, their offspring would be blessed nonetheless. They were happy to be disappointed, because they knew their grandchildren’s grandchildren would eventually experience salvation in the flesh.
As we celebrate God’s good timing this Advent and Christmas season, let’s commit to lending our spiritual hope to our children. The hope we have found in Jesus Christ does not perish when we do. Our faithful hope this Advent season has the potential to fuel the faith of generations to come.
Contributing writer, Adam Hafenbridle