The Fifth Day of Christmas
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
2 Timothy 1:9-10 This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
If four is the number of the creation, then it represents man's weakness, helplessness and vanity. Yet, four plus one (4+1=5) is significant of Divine strength added to and made perfect in that weakness; of omnipotence combined with the impotence of earth; of Divine grace uninfluenced and invincible.
Grace means favor. What kind of favor? Favor comes in many forms. Favor shown to the miserable we call mercy; favor shown to the poor we call pity; favor shown to the suffering we call compassion; favor shown to the obstinate we call patience: but favor shown to the unworthy we call GRACE!
The favor we call grace is truly divine in its source and in its character. Romans 3:24 says that we are, "being justified freely by His grace." The word here translated "freely" occurs again in John 15:25, and is translated "without a cause.” Was there any real cause why they hated the Lord Jesus? No! Nor is there any cause in us why God should ever justify us. We, who are completely unworthy, have been set right freely, undeservedly and unreservedly by the God’s glorious grace.
The fifth book of the Bible is Deuteronomy and is the Book of the Law that magnifies the grace of God. Grace is the theme of Psalm 107 (the first Psalm of the fifth book of Psalms) and declares God’s grace comes in the saving, healing and rescuing of His people. There is also special reference to God’s favor in the fifth Psalm. Psalm 5:12 says, “For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
The five golden rings in our Christmas is easily seen as a picture of God’s grace found in:
· The Priesthood of Aaron. Israel’s first high priest (Aaron) and his priests (Aaron’s four sons).
· The Priestly Garments. Fine linen combined with gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn.
· The Anointing Oil. Olive oil and the four ingredients of calamus, cassia, myrrh and cinnamon.
· The Incense. Salt mixed with opobalsamum, onux, fragrant gum and frankincense.
· Jonathan gave David his robe along with his tunic, his sword, his bow and his belt.
· The first five books of the New Testament. Acts of the Apostles and the four Gospels.
· The five ministry gifts. Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher.
· Paul’s preference. Would rather speak five intelligible words than 10,000 words in a tongue.
The number five shows us that redemption follows creation. Inasmuch as in consequence of the fall of man creation came under the curse and was "made subject to vanity," man and creation is being redeemed, not by works, but by the wonderful free grace of our God.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the marvelous grace You have bestowed upon my life through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Your grace continues to be sufficient in all situations. By grace you have justified me and sanctified me. Remind me that as I have been freely forgiven, I should freely give. Empower me to testify of Your glorious grace this Christmas to all who will hear. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.