Check out all the previous Christmas readings here.
Christmas Reading Plan | Week 2 | Day 3
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.
Bible Reading: Galatians 4:4-6
Read these verses three times slowly.
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Reflection & Questions
Today’s reading is an astounding summary of the Christmas story. In fact in just two sentences the Apostle Paul summarizes the whole salvation story.
There is wonder and awe in each phrase of the first verse:
- “When the set time had fully come”: Christmas was all planned out; the time was set out long before. This wasn’t a whim of God. It was a long planned and long looked forward to event!
- “God sent his Son”: Amazingly, this child born is God’s Son, sent on a mission. God the Father sent Him to rescue us.
- “Born of a woman”: Jesus had to become like us to rescue us, but He didn’t just turn up fully grown. God’s son was fit into a womb, taking on flesh and grew up as a child into an adult.
- “Born under law”: Jesus submitted Himself to the law He himself had written. It was the only way to live a perfect life that could take our place. This is the ultimate act of submission and obedience.
- “To redeem those under the law”: We were under a law that condemned us, and there was no way we could undo it. We needed saving.
- “That we might receive adoption to sonship”: Jesus didn’t just come to rescue, He came to make us a part of His family. We didn’t deserve it. But He signed the adoption papers with His blood. We are God’s children.
This is the meaning of Christmas. A plan set out long ago, for Jesus, God’s Son, to take on flesh, to rescue us so that we might be children of God.
- Is there a phrase that Paul uses to describe the story of Christmas that sparks awe of wonder in you today? Why?
- Jesus humbled himself in several ways: He agreed to be sent on a mission by His Father. He humbled himself to take on human flesh. He humbled himself to be under the law. Is there a way you need to humble yourself today or in this season?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
