Christmas Eve Devotion

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 Savior, 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.

We have been waiting for this day for a month. And it still has snuck up on us for some reason. Could it possibly be that we are missing the snow and it does not quite feel like Christmas with all of the rain and 50 degree weather?

We come together this evening, regardless of what the weather may be telling us, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We come to worship and praise God for the gift of Christ being born over 2000 years ago in the most unlikely of places. Today that place may be in the most desolate places in the world. Christ was born to bring hope and a promise of saving grace. This year that hope could be shared in many places throughout the world. In the midst of the violence that is still taking pace in our country and world, God breaks through with the promise of a life that sheds all of the unnecessary things and leaves us simply being in God. May this Christmas Season bring you joy and a passion to go out and share this wonderful news.

Let us pray.

God Incarnate, we give thanks for the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ. May we celebrate this Christmas season by caring for our neighbors and being filled with your love that overflows. AMEN.