Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus

Yesterday I was privileged to accompany the Rossville High School select choirs as they did a mini-concert at the Rossville Brethren Church. The Christmas music was incredible and they did a wonderful job. I was especially proud of my daughter, Kimberly, who had a solo and did it well!

When the choirs were finished, the pastor gave his sermon from Galatians 4 - why Jesus came at Christmas. "But when the time had fully come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." Galatians 4: 4-5

What a wonderful reminder - that from before creation, God had everything planned and He set everything in motion to happen at just the right time. That in the fullness of time He would send His Son to REDEEM us - to buy us back and then to give us the privilege and rights of being His child. Wow!

And not only did God have redemption planned, but every little detail of my life. He uses everything that happens, no matter what I may think of it, to be for good in my life - all to make me more like His Son. I think that gets another Wow!

All of this reminds me of the song "Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus", which we sang yesterday. I love it when phrases from songs stick in my head and make me think of God. There are two in this song that make me pause. The first one in this song says very plainly what Jesus' mission was:

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free

The other phrase is this:

Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art

Yes, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to set us free - and because of that, He is the hope of the world!