Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

Galatians 4:21–5:1 (NRSV)

Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,

“Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than the children of the one who is married.”

Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.” So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

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Reflect

“Why can’t every day be like Christmas?” I’ve always wondered why we don’t experience the same joy, excitement, good will, and anticipation that comes with Christmas on the other days of the year. We have the choice to live every day with the joy, excitement, and anticipation of the good things surrounding us. We just have to open our hearts and our minds to look past what is holding us back: “Do not allow yourselves to become slaves!”

We, as a society, tend to focus on the negative things happening in our lives and in our world. When we surround ourselves with negativity, we become “slaves” to it, making it harder for us to enjoy all the good that God has given us. Good always wins—maybe not in our time frame, but God’s love will always conquer the evil. We have the choice to allow God to use us for the good of others. Then we can experience the joy and excitement of Christmas throughout the year.

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Pray

God, free us from the things that threaten to make us slaves to this world. In the difficult times of this day, help us to look for the light of your love that shines in the darkness. Amen.

Go with God.