On the 11th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

I wrote this on the 11th day of Christmas, Monday, January 4th.

“What,” you say, “I thought Christmas was on the 25th of December?” One day and it’s done.

How sad! Some even experience the Christmas blues. All the hype, a family get-together ,  gifts opened, fleeting joy, then the emptiness of our life returns.

Christians throughout history celebrated Christmas for 12 days straight. Now that’s a celebration fit for a King, don’t you think!

One day isn’t  enough to celebrate the God’s birth! All time belongs to God; he grants us use of it. By our use of it, God expects us to honor him. All the time. 

So what gift should I receive on the 11th day of Christmas. 

God’s life saves us!

My Bible reading plan took me to Titus 3:4-7. Four verses. One sentence. I encourage you, read it every day this week. It will bless you lots, more than you can imagine! You’ll get happy in Jesus.

Now, a few thoughts on this amazing 11th day of Christmas gift.

Verse 4: When the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared… Usually we zone in on the saving and sacrificial love at Easter. Remember, the death of Christ saves us, and more! His life, according to Paul, has also saving power (see what he says in Romans 5:9-10).

Our salvation did not happen in one moment of history. God often came to deliver his people or save them. This salvation we celebrate on the 11th day of Christmas. 

God’s Mercy saves us!

Verse 5: He saved us by his mercy… The deliverance we desperately needed came on the basis of mercy. Mercy is a constant disposition of God toward his creation. From the garden on it’s God’s MO. His mercies are new every morning, Jeremiah reminds us.

Mercy is kindness and underserved love combined. This too we celebrate on the 11th day of Christmas.

God’s rebirthing us saves us!

Verse 6: Through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the poured out Holy Spirit… through Christ. Ever noticed how God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit worked together to make our salvation happen? Jesus saves. Yes! Holy Spirit saves too. Yes! The Father saves. Yes!

On the 11th day of Christmas we remember that God poured out his generous Holy Spirit on humanity. That’s a gift really worth celebrating!

God’s grace saves us! 

Verse 7: “His grace justifies” and infuses deep hope in us. It’s life eternal. Yes, all creatures of our God and king will live eternally. Some with God. Some without.

Hang on to this inherited treasure. Hide it in your heart. Nurture it. It will spring into eternal life now and always. This is worth celebrating on the 11th day of Christmas.