A Prayer About the Perfect Birthing Experience
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. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4:4-7 Dear Lord Jesus, like others, I often sentimentalize the circumstances of your birth, judging Jerusalem for missing “her moment,” inn-keepers for gross inhospitality, and pitying Joseph and Mary for the birthing room they had to endure. Yet everything happened just as you, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit planned. “Doing all things well” didn’t just start to happen after your resurrection.
“When the time had fully come” you came, not a day early, and not a day late. As humbling as it was to be born under the ceiling of a stable, being born under the weight of the law was a far greater burden. Yet, that’s exactly why you came into the world-to be born under God’s law, to redeem us… to redeem me from my sin and my rebellion, from my unwillingness and my inability, to love and obey God as he deserves. There’s no way in the world I could have ever fulfilled the demands of God’s righteous, perfect and holy law. But you alone could, and you alone did. Be praised, adored and worshipped, Lord Jesus!
Because you lived in my place and died in my place, Lord Jesus, I’m no longer a slave, but a full-righted son of the living and loving God. Abba, Father has robed this prodigal with your righteousness and has sent his Spirit to live in my heart. My future looks pretty good too, as I will co-inherit the new heaven and new earth with you! Oh my… what can I say but “Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation!”
I don’t judge inn-keepers, I rejoice in the God of my salvation! So very Amen, I pray, in your matchless name.
