St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“It is only because of His grace that you have been saved. All you did was to put your faith in His willingness to be merciful and gracious towards you.” (Ephesians 2 v 8 The Truth)

A free, undeserved grace,

This is Christ’s birth at Christmas,

True love is born amongst us.

Love offering mercy’s forgiveness.

Love inviting us to share in all that

The Lord Jesus makes truly glorious.

For He does live to give delight to our Father.

Jesus’ love is righteous, upstanding and godly.

His love is perfect, a full self-giving,

Living to rescue us from sinfulness.

“ ‘...the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming’ says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3 v 1)

It is Jesus in us who is giving all glory to the Lord Almighty.

Jesus accomplishes this through His Holy Spirit.

That is why, graciously, freely,

He offers the Spirit who is holy,

To us, to make us His family.

God then looks at us as brothers and sisters,

Who belong entirely to His beloved Son Christ Jesus.

This is how we are judged as righteous.

This is the gift of Christmas.

Jesus is the heart of Christmas.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation of our sins.” (1 John 4 v 10)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.” (1 John 4 v 7)

Please pray to live in the Lord Jesus daily, for He instructs us by the Holy Spirit, in all the ways of love, mercy and forgiveness. Holy love in all its liberating power is pure gift of God, a grace, a favour. Please pray

in response, our life “...hidden with Christ in God! Because He is our life, we will appear with Him in glory when He comes again,” (based on Colossians 3 v 4 The Truth) coming again in full glory, claiming all believers as His own, His family. How wonderful. Please pray in thanksgiving. Amen.