Hebrews 4:16
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.
Confidence to Approach
We can have confidence to approach the
throne room of heaven by the grace given to us by God (Hebrews 4:16),
and the Great Mediator, Jesus Christ, our High Priest, has allowed us to
have access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:18) through the shedding of
His own blood. It is through Jesus Christ that we have now gained access
by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:2). It is
through him and through faith in him that we can approach God with
freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). No other religion in the world
is like that, even though Christianity is not really a religion–it is a
relationship, a relationship with the Lord of Glory.
Our High Priest
Jesus Christ is not only our High
Priest, but He is also the King of kings and Lord of lords. Shouldn’t we
take advantage of that beneficial privilege? Jesus is the way, the
truth, and the life (John 14:6a), not one of many ways, not one of many
truths, and not one of many lives. Everybody’s entitled to their own
opinion–nobody’s entitled to their own truth. Nobody goes to the Father
except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6b). What was once forbidden and
only accessible once a year and only by the high priest of Israel, we
can now enter the Holy of Holies but only by the blood of Jesus Christ
(Hebrews 10:19). If anyone tried to enter the Holy of Holies without
such authorization, it would mean instant death!
Access to the King
If you were a relative of the king of
ancient Israel, you still had to secure permission to see the king. If
you just walked in on your own to see the king without permission, it
could be instant execution. But if you were a son or a daughter of the
king, you could approach the king’s throne without fear of death. If you
have been born again, then you are already a child of God, and as a
child of God, you have direct access to the King. Of course, you should
still approach the King in deep, abiding reverence and respect, but you
have access to the King if you are His child. Since you and I have
direct and instant access to the King of kings, are we taking full
advantage of it? If not, why?
A Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for allowing me, an
unworthy bond slave, to approach You by the precious blood of Your Son,
shed for me, who is most undeserving. That’s why Your grace is so
amazing and You are so good to me, better than I deserve. In Jesus’ name
I thank You and pray.
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