Five Gold Rings: The Gift of Golden Grace

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree

As we continue through the symbolic journey of the “12 Days of Christmas,” we arrive at a beautiful truth on Day 5: God’s grace, represented by five golden rings, is a gift, not something we can earn.

Up to this point, our journey through the days of Christmas has revealed that God is holy and just (Day 1), and, though humans are fallen, He established a covenant system based on sacrifices (Day 2). His mothering heart desires that we come to Him for shelter (Day 3), and He continues to call us through the voices of judges, priests, kings, and prophets (Day 4). Yet, the law-based covenant was never meant to be the end of the story. Instead, it served to guide us toward our need for Christ, revealing how impossible it is to earn righteousness before God on our own.

Consider Rebekkah’s story in Genesis 24. Abraham’s servant prayed for guidance in finding a wife for Isaac and decided to look for a woman who would give him water and also water his camels — a seemingly impossible task. Yet Rebekkah responded, drawing water tirelessly until the camels were satisfied. After all this work, she was finally given a golden ring, a reminder of how the Old Covenant functioned: blessings were conditional on keeping the Law — an unattainable standard.

But today, the gift of God’s grace, much like the “five gold rings,” is given freely. Jesus didn’t need to perform a grand task to receive the gift of gold from the wise men; He simply had to be born. In the same way, through Jesus, we receive a better covenant, a grace that surpasses works. We don’t have to strive to earn God’s favor or meet impossible standards — grace has been gifted to us, no strings attached.

Over to You:

• Let the “five gold rings” remind you of God’s free gift of grace. Are there areas in your life where you’re striving to earn God’s approval?
• Reflect on the gift of grace through Christ, and rest in the knowledge that His love and acceptance are yours by faith, not by works.

Further Scripture References:

• Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:23-24; Hebrews 8:6; Romans 5:15

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of grace given through Jesus. Help me to rest in this truth and release any striving to earn what You have already freely given. Teach me to live in the joy of Your grace, and may my life reflect gratitude for Your golden favor, unearned and unconditional. In Jesus’ name, Amen.