At Just the Right Time
By
Vernette Kureck
“But
when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law
to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians4:4 (NIV)
What does that mean…the
time had fully come? Another way of saying it is “when the fullness of time had
come.” Okay, that really clarifies it! How about: “at just the right time,” God
sent His Son. According to the dictionary, the fullness of time means
completion of the time during which something has been accomplished or
completed. With the birth of Jesus, all the prophesies of the Old Testament
regarding the Messiah’s birth were fulfilled. So something was definitely being
completed at the right time.
But was it the right
time for Mary to be pregnant? For Joseph? The law would say “no,” because she
was a virgin and betrothed to Joseph. Joseph could have had her stoned to
death. Instead, Mary answers the angel Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant...may
it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). And after Joseph considers quietly
divorcing her, an angel appears in a dream telling him not to be afraid,
that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and he is to name him Jesus
because he will save people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21). From a human
perspective, this was a very difficult situation…a situation that would require
both of them to be strong in their faith.
Every Christmas season,
I rejoice in the birth of our Redeemer-Lord and ponder all that God has
accomplished in His sovereignty. At times in my life, I do question, “What is
He doing now? This isn’t the right time for this to be happening!”
That is when I think
again of Mary and Joseph’s faith. And I return the words of Joseph’s ancestor
King Solomon, who said, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has
also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has
done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Mary and Joseph didn’t
have the full Bible, nor the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide them as we
do. So in faith, I must believe that I am here at just the right time
and, in just the right time, God is accomplishing His work; He will
complete it. May I answer His call with “I am the Lord’s servant.”
GOING DEEPER:
1. In what way and in
what time is the Lord calling you to serve?
2. How are you
answering?
FURTHER READING:
Ecclesiastes
3; Philippians 1:6
Vernette and her husband Ken have been married over 40 years and have two sons. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren. She serves on Oakwood's prayer chain.
Vernette and her husband Ken have been married over 40 years and have two sons. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren. She serves on Oakwood's prayer chain.
