Titus 3:1-8
"But when God our savior’s kindness and love appeared, he saved us because of his mercy,
not because of righteous things we had done. He did it through the washing of new birth and the renewing
by the Holy Spirit, which God poured out upon us generously through Jesus Christ our savior."
(Titus 3:4-6).
Quoting a politician these days can be risky, however the words of our 30th president, Calvin Coolidge, are worth noting in the context of mercy; "To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." Plenteous in mercy...that's a phrase not always associated with Christmas, but God's redeeming work of salvation through Bethlehem's gift is the ultimate act of mercy. Paul plainly tells Titus that the work of salvation was accomplished because of mercy. The gift couldn't be earned, but instead was the free gift of kindness and love.
We struggle to receive something we don't believe we have earned. "You shouldn't have," we sometimes say in protest when someone offers a gift unexpected. No one could have anticipated the way Almighty God accomplished the work of salvation. It was a gift of mercy for an undeserving people. Thanks be to God for the real Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit of mercy.
Prayer: For the gift of Christmas so undeserved, yet given so freely, we give you thanks, Lord. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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