Time

Time

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.

Galatians 4:4-7

When our oldest son, Chad, was a senior in high school, he applied to several colleges and universities. Eventually he decided to attend Grove City College in western Pennsylvania. To be admitted into their engineering school, he needed to take an entrance exam. The top three scorers would receive the equivalent of one year of college free of charge. After taking the test in March, Chad learned that he had placed fourth out of about one hundred. We were excited that he had done so well, yet sad that he had missed the scholarship by such a close margin.

At dinnertime the night before Chad’s high school graduation, our telephone rang. It was the head of the engineering department from Grove City College. “One of the three finalists chose to attend another college,” he said, “so Chad will now receive one of the scholarships.” The timing of that “graduation gift” was incredible!

Galatians 4:4 reminds us that God sent the gift of his Son to this earth at just the right time. It was through the gift of Jesus that we became God’s children, no longer obliged to live in slavery to the law. We can’t yet comprehend what all that means. But we have the assurance that as God’s children, our Father will not only meet our needs but will some day give to us our full spiritual inheritance, which is priceless!

Father,

Thank you that your timing is perfect, and that you have all the events of our lives under control. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be your children. In the name of Jesus, amen.