Galatians 4:4-5
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to son-ship.
During my schooling, I had the great joy of working with foster and adoptive families. As a mother, I’ve also known the joy of bringing my own child into the world. In my experience, the joy a mother feels welcoming her child into the world is nothing compared to the joy a child feels being adopted into the right family; being told after years of waiting and in many unfortunate cases, suffering, that they are wanted, they are loved, and they are worthy.
This is exactly the reminder Paul gives us in this passage. At a time when Gentiles were being given a list of all the acts they must complete to become children of God, Paul instead points only to Christ. It is God’s actions through Christ, not our own, which extend us the invitation to the family of God. The only thing we need to do to obtain that love and belonging is to accept it. And when we do, we receive it fully, receiving God’s love on the same level of his love for Christ.
Jessica Francovitch