THE TIME THAT GOD HAS APPOINTED
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. (Galatians 4:4-5)
God Himself determined the time when Jesus would be born. He sent His Son who had no sin, into
the sinful world to make it possible for sinners to be His children. Before this it was impossible to
obey the law of God. Because Jesus was without sin, He, through His dearth on the cross, paid the
ransom for our dept of sin so that there would no longer be a deep gully between sinful people and
a holy God. By bearing the punishment for our sins, He made it possible for God to forgive our sins.
It is easy to become sentimental about Christmas. This is a trap into which we often fall when
we look at Christmas decorations and listen to Christmas music. We run ragged buying and
wrapping presents and getting Christmas dinner on the table. But Paul writes to the Romans
in (Romans 16:25-26) Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the
proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages
past, but now revealed by command of eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey
Him.
These final words of Paul in his letter points us to a direction of how we should really understand the
Christmas message: It includes a surprising secret for every believer. A secret that should make
hearts glad. A secret that needs to be proclaimed to the church and the world. This secret that once
lay in a manger as a little child, now lies in the hearts and mouths of believers. Every ear must hear
Him, every eye must see Him, including the eyes and ears of little children. If this does not happen,
the mystery of Christmas will remain a secret.
The birth of Jesus Christ means that you are set free from your sins. He redeemed you when His
blood flowed on the cross just as slaves were set free in the old days by having a freedom price paid
for them, so that you can now be the child of God. God also appointed the time when you would
accept Jesus as your Savior. If you belong to God, you are already experiencing that freedom in your
own life and you are no longer a slave to sin. If not, do not wait any longer to respond to God’s time.
Jesus came so that you could be free.
Let us thank our Heavenly Father for His appointed, specific time to send His Son into the world and
that He also appointed the time when we could acknowledge Him as our Savior who brings peace,
joy, mercy and truth to us and to the world.
May the joy and freedom of the season extend into the new year, and His love surround you all.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed Happy New Year.
Sipiwe Chisvo
World President
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