2024 Advent Devotion: Day 24

Tuesday, December 24

Psalm 96; Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14; (15-20)

The Christmas season is a time for our souls to find rhythm again. Specifically, this time of year tunes our hearts to the rhythm of grace around us. During this season we look back and we look ahead, and our hearts and minds awaken from the spiritual amnesia that may have set in over the course of the year. We remember what God has done for us in the past and look forward with hope to what He will do in the future.

Our lectionary texts for today remove the spiritual cobwebs and help us find the rhythm of grace.

Paul’s words to Titus are especially powerful. In Titus 2:11-14 we find a beautifully succinct and theologically rich summary of the life of Jesus. Here we find His incarnation, death and resurrection, and anticipated return.

In this passage, Paul informs us that “the grace of God has appeared” (v. 11). This grace is named Jesus, and the Father has sent Him to us. The Son brings light to our path, and He is the revelation of God Himself. He steps toward us in love; He brings light to the darkness, peace where there is chaos, life where there is death, and He shatters the oppressive yoke of sin (Isaiah 9:2, 4). He “gives Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works” (v. 14).

As we respond by faith to the grace of God, our lives are changed for the better (v. 12), and we can declare His salvation, His glory, and His marvelous grace to all people and to the nations from day to day (Psalm 96:2-3).

This Christmas Eve let’s find rhythm by individually and collectively remembering God’s grace in the past. Let’s consider His grace for us today. And let’s look with eager expectation to His grace in the future. Let’s look forward, like Simeon (Luke 2:25-32), to the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

Josh Parrott
Vice President and University Chaplain for Christian Life and Service