“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” -Galatians 4:4-5
In the fullness of time, Jesus took the time to grow in Mary’s womb.
9 months, lived a day at a time.
He took the time to develop from infancy to learning his craft as a carpenter.
13 or so years, lived a day at a time.
He took the time to work among people in an ordinary way.
17 or so years, lived a day at a time.
Jesus took the time to disciple 12 men and share the gospel in all sorts of places and ways.
3 or so years, lived a day at a time.
Time after time, Jesus took the time to listen, to pray, to pause important life-saving journeys in order to heal and help in the moment.
Miracle after miracle, one moment at a time.
He gave up his spirit, dying on the cross for us.
3 days dead to give us life again. And not just life, but life everlasting!
This makes me pause, especially with Christmas still fresh on my mind.
I am a person of hurry. No one who knows me hasn’t felt rushed by me at one point or another.
But God takes His time. His plan to save us and adopt us as His own – in the fullness of time long-awaited – took time, humanly speaking.
God can do anything, but what He does, He does patiently, one moment at a time.
In Jesus, the unlimited one embraced limits like needing sleep and food out of love for us. He knows what it is to live within the limits we do, and He doesn’t call us to live beyond them.
God only asks us to live one day at a time. And, as Jesus so incredibly shows us, God is right here with us – one day at a time.
What a patient, peaceful Savior we have present with us!