Zechariah 5

Titus 2:11-13

Guess Roger wouldn't like living in this house! Peggy! http://youtube.com/watch?v=rRvzcs3gQYk

I’m not big on a great deal of holiday decorations. I like things relatively simple. When I see extravagant decorations and lights on a house over the holidays I often think it odd to invest that much money and storage space on something you can only use for a little while.

In this letter to Titus, a fellow believer, we have a comment on grace. What has the grace of God done? What does grace teach us? What is the “blessed hope?”

While it is important to keep our hearts, minds and souls focused on the goal, the end, our reward in heaven, it is unfortunate that many Christians are so focused on eternity that they have lost sight of today. Their faith is a lot like the decorations – it is all focused on a very limited time.

The celebration and commemoration of Christmas and the Christmas story is not limited to a few weeks in December. This is a gift that covers a lifetime. And the love from God to us should be shared with others.

God’s grace, His love and tenderness, His caring for us, has appeared to all men in the form of Jesus. And Jesus offers us salvation. But we are not simply to hoard this grace from God, clinging to the blessed hope of Christ’s return.

This grace from God goes beyond just our own salvation. It covers all time, and helps us to live good and godly lives. God’s grace, especially in the form of Christ, teaches us how to turn away from ungodliness and worldly passions. By following the example of Jesus, we can live self-controlled and upright lives here and now.

And, just as was mentioned in the Hebrews 11:1 reading, when we live this type of life, we are living examples for those who are not familiar with Jesus. And living as an example to others is a way of passing on the gift of hope and God’s grace to others.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Share the blessed hope with someone new this Christmas.

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