A Season of Lights - Day 3 - Grace and Peace to You

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah-how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:1-6

A key to us entering into the rest that is needed for our journey into the Promised Land is for us to receive a greater revelation of His grace. When you say the word “grace” people have many different ideas and reactions. Some think of grace as a “get out of jail free” card, a license to live carelessly as if there are no consequences for sin. Still others think of grace only as a part of their salvation experience.

But true grace is neither a one-time phenomenon at salvation nor an excuse to live unwisely. True grace is a foundational law of the kingdom of God.

When we have done all we know to do in obedience to the Lord and still we fall short, grace is force that makes up the difference and helps us to reach the goal the Lord intended.

The miracle of the oil that is commemorated in Chanukah is a picture of just such divine grace. The Macabees had done all they could do, battling against the corrupt Greek empire, to win back the temple. But when they went to rededicate the temple, they found there was only enough oil to light the menorah for 1 night. But it would take 8 days to prepare new consecrated oil. Having come so far it seemed they were about to fall short of their goal by a few days and there was nothing they could do, in the natural, to change it.

Many of us can relate to how the Macabees felt. The battle in which we have been engaged in the past season has been long and brutal. God has sustained us and by His power He has given us the victory over our enemies. But as we look inwards at our own temple, we find that our oil is waning very low.

So while we rejoice that the day of victory has come and we are excited to see the new season approaching, deep in our hearts lurks a hidden fear that we don’t have enough oil left to last until the new day, when the new oil is ready.

That’s why the message of Chanukah is a message of great hope! As the Lord wrought a miracle for the Macabees, He will do it for us as well. As we lean on Him and rest in His grace, He will multiply the oil that we do have and make if sufficient to last until the new day and the new oil comes.

God is able to make all grace abound to us so that at all times and in all things, we will have all that we need. 2 Corinthians 9:8

The apostle Paul had a simple but powerful greeting He used in many of his letters to the early Church: “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. 2000 years later we hear the Spirit echoing these words over the body of Christ as His special gift to us in this holiday season: “Grace and peace to you.”
Tonite let us light a candle as a prophetic sign of the new season as we make this declaration together.

Lord I thank you that Your word promises that to each of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. God by faith I choose to receive the portion of grace that you have provided for my life in this season so that in every area of my life I may function out of the revelation of grace. Lord I know that in whatever area of my life I need it, you are able to miraculous multiply the “oil” that I have and sustain me through to the next season. Thank you for Your faithfulness to me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Grace and peace to you!

The Watchmen Team