Two thousand years ago, the most glorious event in human history occurred. Though we are not sure of the exact date, the Roman empire under Constantine decided to officially celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25th. We now associate that date with festivities, colors, lights, trees and parties. But this date means so much more. It even means more than just a baby in a manger.
Time has been measured by it (it’s where BC ends and AD begins). It is the divine intrusion into history. It is where God invaded time and space in the person of the second member of the Trinity, in order to bring about life and hope and salvation for you and me.
Most people normally don’t view Titus 2 as a Christmas passage, but this chapter is fundamentally a Christmas passage. Verse 11 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.” There it is. That’s Christmas.
Christmas is grace in a nutshell—or, rather, in a manger filled with straw.
Most of us don't appreciate grace because we have forgotten what God has done. We
have forgotten that He gave Himself to redeem us from our sins and purify us for good works. Friend, you don’t do good works to get saved, but you are to do them because you are thankful for the grace of God that has saved you.
This Christmas, you have a decision to make. It’s not about toys or gifts of what you’re going to have under the tree. It’s a decision about God’s grace. What are you going to do with the goodness of God that He bestowed on you this past year and that you look forward to in the year that is to come?
Tony Evans
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