Far-Reaching Hope

Today's devotion comes from Michael Hoy's, "Light of Grace: Devotions for Advent."

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. Galatians 4:4-5 NRSV

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Author's Reflection

The light of Christ engages in the conflict with the darkness. This is for our sake, for our redemption, and for our adoption as children of God. So, in the "fullness of time," this grace-filled event came in the birth of a child, Jesus, to a woman, Mary. God sent his son, Jesus Christ. Christ came for us - born for us as a human being, taking his place with us under the law, then dying and rising so that he would complete the promise of saving us.

There is a battle raging between the light and the darkness - between the God of grace and the evil of sin. When we are caught in the evil of sin, Christ is our hope. The light of God in Christ shines upon us and rejects the darkness on our behalf. We are God's own children in the Gospel through Christ's grace, and the darkness does not overtake us. Let us then, with confidence, proclaim today these sure words of "Amazing Grace": "The Lord has promised good to me. His Word my hope secures!"

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Author's Prayer

Father, thank you for sending your Son, and through him, giving us the hope of redemption and adoption as the children of God. Amen