A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers this week. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin for today. Today is the final Advent sermon where we explore “Christmas” as an adjective instead of a noun.
EPISTLE READING: Titus 3:4-7 (English Standard Version)
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Devotion: Christmas Presents
When we were very young children, Christmas presents made the weeks of Advent a time of wonderful expectation. Receiving gifts was very much on our minds. As we get older, the reaction of someone to our gift that was not only unexpected but was just perfect for the recipient is a thrill to us. In fact, for me, it is way more fun to see that kind of reaction than most anything. Our Christmas gift from our Savior is of course, the Messiah and His abundant Grace and eternal life with Him. We talk about mercy and grace this time of year, what does it all mean? For Christians, mercy is not getting something you really deserve and grace is getting something you don’t really merit. I can imagine how pleasing to God it is when a sinner realizes that His gift of salvation is perfect and accepts it with praise. As an older Christian now, I am actually starting to revert to some of the wonderful anticipation of my childhood when I think of finally “opening” my personal gift from our Savior.
We pray: Lord thank you for Your perfect gift! Amen
Merry Christmas and blessings to you and yours!