Mercy and Grace are Yours!
The encouragement for pastors and church leaders from Monday’s post centered around the word grace. Particularly, having grace for yourself. You can read it HERE! As a follow up to Monday’s encouragement, my heart has been in tune with a familiar Bible passage from Hebrews 4 and its implications are nothing short than amazing. Look at these words from Hebrews 4:14-16…
(14) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16
Here are 4 implications from such a marvelous passage…
Jesus is our High Priest!
He is superior to Moses, Aaron, Melchizedek, or Levitical Priests. He surpassed them because He was both God and man and by the shedding of His own blood, dying, rising from the dead, ascending to His Father, and sitting at His right hand at the throne of Heaven. No longer is there any need for an earthly priest to mediate on our behalf or pass through the curtain. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…” — 1 Timothy 2:5-6
Jesus Knows our Struggle!
Not only does Jesus know them, He is intimately familiar with them as He was tempted and tried as much and more as we have been or ever will be. What does that mean? It means that Jesus can empathize with us — He can relate and He understands. He identifies with our struggles and our weaknesses. We need not be ashamed or afraid to go Him because He understands our tears.
We Have Access!
With confidence or boldness, we have access to the Father because Jesus is our High Priest — He is our Mediator — He is our Defender. He takes up our case, stands in our place, and declares us His! Therefore, we can approach the very throne of grace with confidence — not with fear, but as one of God’s children whom the Father longs to extend grace and mercy in our times of needs.
Mercy and Grace are Yours!
As children of God, we need not fear when we approach the throne of grace. We need not fear judgement or rejection, but rather we can come boldly before the throne with confidence and embrace the gifts of mercy and grace which only God can give and He gives us permission to come anytime — in your times of need (which is all the time for me).
Take advantage of the access given to us by Jesus. He lived, died, and rose again FOR YOU! He sits at the right hand of God FOR YOU! He understands and sympathizes WITH YOU! Approach the throne boldly — with confidence knowing that God hears His children and longs to help them. Embrace His grace and mercy! God’s mercy endures forever and they are new every morning. His grace is sufficient for you and He pours it our liberally upon the humble. Rest in God’s comfort and care — there’s no better place to rest. Often in our struggles — especially with sin or when we feel like we have failed, we have this tendency in us to shy away from God as if He bears the looks of disappointment and is waiting to pounce all over us. Friends, IT’S SIMPLY NOT TRUE! It’s the devil who pounces, it is God who embraces! Do not shy away, but rather RUN to Him!
Two quotes and a song came to mind in writing this. One quote is from one of the Early Church Fathers and the other from a Puritan writer. The song is entitled “Good and Gracious King” by CityAlight and I think it’s a great way to close out this post.
To God Be The Glory!
PastorPusch
“Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until we find our rest in Thee.” — St. Augustine of Hippo
“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” — Richard Sibbes
