Wednesday 25th December Manifestation of God’s Glory
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Reflection
May I wish our Daily Devotion readers a very Happy Christmas!
Take a moment to dwell on that opening: ‘For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all’.
This is true every day, but on this day it sings with special resonance.
Whatever we are facing, however hard or joyful, there is hope in Christ.
I can’t help but hear Isaiah’s words set to Handel’s glorious music: ‘And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’
The hearing and experiencing of this glorious truth is wonderful.
How we go on to live it and share it ‘in this present age’ is what Titus is concerned with.
He is of his own age, which goes some way to explaining his exhortation, in previous verses, for women to be reverent, chaste and submissive; for slaves to ‘give satisfaction’ and not talk back.
How might we live in our age as a result of God’s grace appearing?
Today – Christmas meals will be shared with the lonely.
Today – someone will visit family and talk about the Christmas Services they’ve attended.
Today – somewhere a Christmas candle will lighten the darkness of human suffering.
Today and everyday – God’s grace will be revealed in our age. Alleluia!
Prayer
God with us,
on this day of wonder,
we pray in deep thanksgiving
for your hope
for your light
for your salvation.
May it show in our lives
and transform this age.
With the cries of Christ-Child we pray. Amen