God's Gift

"It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this."  Titus 3:3-8 (MSG)


Paul here is again writing a pastoral letter to one of his colleagues who along with him founded, ministered to and led the first churches outside of Jerusalem. This passage is taken from Paul's letter to Titus who he mentions often in his letters to the other churches they started.

These pastoral letters were intended to help the recipients to handle the often difficult task of leading a church. And we praise God that these instructions still survives up to today. Here Paul is emphasizing that God's gift which He gave to us on Christmas Day in the form of the Baby Jesus born in a manger has restored our relationship to Him, our Abba Father.

And though we were once ignoramuses, prodigals, nomads and exiles -- fools, hard-headed, stone-hearted, deceived by sin, living according to our fleshly desires, holding on to grudges, easily provoked, hated by others, hating others and totally undeserving of Jesus... it didn't stop God from generously washing us inside and out by so lavishly giving us the best Christmas gift we could ever receive.

Christ is the reason for the season. And the only reason why we are called Christians.

Merry Christmas!