Friday, January 3, 2020  

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Galatians 4:4–7    
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. (NRSV)

Reflection
What if Jesus had not been born? What would our notion or understanding of the nature of God be without the humanness of Jesus?

And what actually is humanness? The ability to think, process, and reflect is at the core of my humanness. Isn’t part of our humanness our ability to contemplate our life by tapping into our memories and imagining our possible future? Only humans can project into the future and aspire to connect with something greater than ourselves.

Hope is essentially human. Hope can lift us and propel us forward through the fears and obstacles of life. Hope defines our struggles, successes, setbacks, and strengths in overcoming our doubts and fears. Our hopes are the strands that permeate our lives and help keep it deeply meaningful.

Since Jesus the human experienced temptation, doubt, and fear, he related to us as our sympathetic savior throughout his life. Jesus’ humanness has provided us with living examples of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, humility, and unconditional love in the face of the most unimaginable situations. These are powerful virtues that make us human.

We each, from our unique lens, create our own narratives in life. When you take the time to reflect what your heart and soul is yearning and hoping for, what do you hear? What is your narrative saying to you that might get refreshed?

Jesus showed how we flawed humans can access the grace and kingdom of his father by living as he lived—in love and faithfulness. Jesus claims us as God’s adopted children, and we each can experience the hope to access God’s salvation and eternal grace.

Prayer
Dear Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for adopting me into your family. Humble me, lead me, make me realize with ever-increasing gratitude, day by day, what it means to be your child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Cris Ohr, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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