Friday within the Octave of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Posted on December 31, 2021 by under
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29 (NKJV)
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Devotion
The Advent season before Christmas emphasizes some of the themes that characterized the Old Testament. The Law defined the theme of man’s need for repentance and discipline. God’s people are reminded of our humble state as poor, miserable sinners in need of help, who have also been taught order and faithful observances by the Word. But we also have the theme of God’s promises, which shape our anticipation and zeal for faithful preparation. Both the Old Testament and the Advent season are focused on their fulfillment in Christmas!
Our Lord’s Nativity is also important to the things that come after that glorious event. If the Word were not made flesh, then there wouldn’t have been His public ministry. There wouldn’t have been His Baptism, or the commands He gave to the Apostolic Ministry to continue baptizing the people into Him. There wouldn’t have been the crucifixion, or the resurrection. We would still be waiting, watching, learning, and hoping.
But we have the glorious blessing now to be able to enjoy the Gospel of our crucified and risen Lord. We have received the gift of His birth, after so many others had to wait for it. That does not make us better than they were. Like Paul’s point about the Jews, Greeks, slaves, freemen, men, and women; those who were in the true faith before Christ came are one with us in Him, equal concerning our salvation. But nonetheless, we are still very blessed to be able to point to the clear cross of Jesus as the fulfillment of our salvation!
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Collect for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
