Quote for the Day
“…approach the throne of grace with confidence…”
Today's Prayer
This week pray for those traveling that they will see both God’s forgiveness and mercy in their lives. Pray that they will rest in God’s grace alone and not in the pleasures of this world.
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Hebrews 4:14-5:10 (NIV)Hebrews 414 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 51 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Message
The verse last week ended with a reminder that we must give account to God for our every action. This can be a very frustrating and depressing verse, were it not for our relationship with Christ. Look closely at verse 16, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Just like rest, mercy and grace have multiple meanings or applications. The first is the initial relationship with Christ. It is God’s mercy and grace found though Christ Jesus that places us in the and gives us the ability to approach the Throne of Grace (God Himself). How do we do it? It is accomplished by way of our relationship with Christ, who, as the next several verses point out, is our High Priest. He is the one and only High Priest who has been given His position by God and has delivered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins so that God sees us just as he sees Christ: one of His very own. Additionally, mercy and grace are given to us in our daily lives to live out on earth what Christ has promised us. He is our provider and we come to Him for forgiveness, grace and mercy. So the fear of scrutiny in chapter 4, verse 13 is fully covered by the mercy, grace and forgiveness shown here. This week thank God for His mercy.