The Fullness of Time

           “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

            In the context of the book of Galatians, Paul has been contrasting the Law and faith.  According to the apostle, the Law wasn’t intended by God to be an “end all.”  No, he claims the Law was a guardian charged with leading those under it to Christ (Galatians 3:24).  It was common in Paul’s day for a young child to be put under the charge of a guardian until he matured to the point when he was ready to receive his inheritance -- i.e. the “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:1-2).  The birth of Christ signified that those under the guardianship of the Law had come of age.  It was time for the heir to come into full possession of his inheritance (Galatians 4:3-5).

            Indeed, the Christ child was born in “the fullness of time” with regards to the plans and purposes of God.  But that didn’t mean that the Christmas story was a Hollywood production, full of glitz and glamour.  Rumors swirled as a young betrothed Jewish teenager was found to be with child. Claims of angelic visitations likely did little to calm the gossip.  The Son of God ends up being born in an animal enclosure rather than the corridors of power and influence.  Lowly shepherds are his first visitors rather than heads of state.  In fact, it's the ruling class that seeks to have the child put to death later in the story.

            What’s one lesson we can learn from the birth of Jesus?  That something can be squarely in the middle of God’s plans and purposes (“the fullness of time”) and yet be attended with pain and difficulty.  So our struggles don’t necessarily mean that we are outside of God’s will for our lives as well.  Try to remember that when tough times come.

God loves you!

Mike

Crumbling Under Pressure

“Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”  Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”  Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times” (John 13:36-38).

The Lord had just dropped a bomb in the midst of the final Passover meal he was sharing with the chosen Twelve.  Not only was there a betrayer in their midst but He would also be leaving them soon.  A range of emotions gripped the small band of disciples.  Shock, grief, suspicion.  With regards to the betrayer, Peter speaks up and seeks an answer to the question that had to be in the minds of his cohorts -- who is the traitor?  With regards to the leaving of the Master, once again, Peter has questions.  Perhaps the fisherman sensed that the exit of the Lord was somehow tied to a lack of allegiance on his part or of the group as a whole.  Certainly they had disappointed the Teacher at various times during His work with them. Was that it?  Whatever was going on, Peter felt the need to boldly affirm his loyalty to the Lord.  “I want to follow you now.  I’m even willing to die for You.”  Jesus ends the exchange with a chilling prophetic word: before the night was over, the bold disciple would crumble under the pressure of his own strong words.  And it happened just as Jesus said it would.

It’s so easy to point a judgmental finger at Peter’s failure to live up to his bold proclamation.  But when I’m tempted to do so, I only have to remember my own failures at faithfulness and then I stop.  How often have I made bold declarations of loyalty to my Savior and then crumbled under the pressure?  Far too often to ever be critical of another disciple who does the same.

God loves you!

Mike

The Big Picture

        “Standard Oil was once one of the biggest companies in the world, led by the famous John D Rockefeller. On one occasion a company executive made a bad decision. It cost the firm $2 million. This was the late 1800’s and $2 million was a huge sum. 

        “Edward Bedford, a partner in the company had an appointment to see Rockefeller. When he entered Rockefeller’s office he saw his boss bent over a piece of paper, busily scribbling notes. When Rockefeller finally looked up he said to Bedford,  “I suppose you’ve heard about our loss? I’ve been thinking it over,” Rockefeller said, “and before I ask the man in to discuss the matter, I’ve been making some notes.”

        “Bedford looked across the table and saw the page Rockefeller had been scribbling on. Across the top of the page was the heading, “Points in favour of Mr __________.” Below the heading was a long list of the man’s good qualities, including notes of three occasions where he had made decisions that had earned the company many times more than his error had lost.

        “Bedford later said, “I never forgot that lesson. In later years, whenever I was tempted to rip into anyone, I forced myself first to sit down and thoughtfully compile as long a list of good points as I possibly could. Invariably, by the time I finished my inventory, I would see the matter in its true perspective and keep my temper under control. There is no telling how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of the costliest mistakes any executive can make — losing his temper.”*

        It’s always helpful to remember that we will be judged in the same way we judge others (Matthew 7:1-2).  If we desire to be evaluated fairly, we need to be willing to do the same for others (Luke 6:31).  When we’re tempted to judge someone harshly, it’s always good to pause long enough to take a deep breath and consider the big picture.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://storiesforpreaching.com.au/sermonillustrations/the-good-points/

The Power Of Forgiveness

“When Shannon Ethridge was just sixteen years old, an act of forgiveness and love changed her life forever.  Driving to her high school one morning, Shannon struck and ran over Marjorie Jarstfar, who was riding her bicycle along a country road. Marjorie died, and Shannon was found completely at fault by the authorities. Consumed by intense guilt, she contemplated suicide several times, but she never took her life, because of the healing response of one man: Gary Jarstfar.

“Gary, Marjorie’s husband, forgave the sixteen-year-old and asked the attorney to drop all charges against her. This saved her from an almost certain guilty verdict. Instead, he simply asked Shannon to continue in the godly footsteps that his wife had taken. “You can’t let this ruin your life,” Gary told her more than twenty years ago. “God wants to strengthen you. In fact, I am passing Marjorie’s legacy on to you.”

“Gary’s act of forgiveness showed Shannon the amazing restorative love of God. That act became the foundation of her work seeking to help people overcome guilt-ridden, wounded lives.  Sometimes our greatest misery can become the foundation of our greatest ministry.”*

            As I read this story, I think of the parallels in the life of Saul of Tarsus\Paul the apostle.  Saul the Pharisee committed terrible sins against God and His church.  The Almighty would have been fully justified in bringing swift justice upon him but He didn’t.  Grace and forgiveness were offered to the repentant rebel and the ministry of Paul the apostle was birthed.  The persecutor became the preacher.  The monster became the missionary.  The world was changed and it all began with forgiveness offered and accepted.

            This gives me pause to reflect.  Is there someone I need to forgive?  Is there forgiveness offered that I need to accept and build upon?  How might my world change if I had the courage to do both?  What about you?

 

God loves you!

Mike

*Tom Hughes, Down to Earth: How Jesus’ Stories Can Change Your Everyday Life, NavPress, 2019, p.25.