Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Shout out freedom

Sunday, January 1, 2006

Galatians 4:3-6
When we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 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."

Eve and then Adam were the first humans to jump the gun. "No time like the present!" If there's sometimes wisdom in seizing the day, I can also be impatient and foolish. Since leaving the Garden we are captives to time. We resent the constraints of the clock and push them too hard or draw back from them too far.

God doesn't do things that way. He does his business when the time has fully come. And then he waits for the next time to fully come. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. When the time comes God acts. There is no hurrying Him.

Jesus gave his listeners, and gives us, freedom from the law of Time. "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). In the kingdom of God already come, coming, and not yet come, eternity too has already come, is coming, and has not yet come. This co-fusion of past, present and future lets me rejoice about my future, which is here and now.

My body is wearing down. I expect the buds of spring, the heat of summer, the fall of the leaves and snow flying just like last year and last year and last year. When I shut my spirit up and close my life to God's gift I am kept by the old day, held by time, no release. My body calls the shots.

Listen, body! Hear my spirit call out, "Abba, Father." Shout out loud. Receive your redemption. Know God's nearness and this freedom. There are no more shackles.

You burst into my life, Lord, day after day. I learn to know your voice, your touch, and live free with you forever.

Devotions Archive

Shout out freedom

Sunday, January 1, 2006