Drawing near to the throne of Grace!
Then having a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession. For we do not have a
high priest not being able to sympathize with our weaknesses but One having been
tried in all respects according to our likeness, apart from sin. Therefore,
LET US DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCE TO THE THRONE OF GRACE THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY, AND WE MAY FIND GRACE FOR TIMELY HELP.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Approaching any kind of throne may be a scary or a dangerous endeavor. For example; in the Old Testament no one could approach the throne of the king unless they were called or if they had an audience with him. If someone approached the throne without invitation, they could be put to death at the king’s order, unless they found favor in the king’s eyes. But this is called the throne of Grace, where God the Father gives his Grace to his people. We can draw near to this throne of Grace with confidence. There is a simple reason why we can draw near with confidence; it is because we have a mediator, a high priest; Jesus Christ the Righteous, who lives to always make intercession for us. In the first place, why do people approach thrones? Because they need something; have a petition, a request; they want the king to do something for them. A throne being a symbol of authority and power; therefore how must someone be that approaches the throne? Must they not be humble? If anyone approaches proudly or arrogantly what can they expect to get? Can they expect to receive what they are after? How will the King look upon a proud or an arrogant person? Will he grant them their request? Someone approaching the throne, don’t they bow down in front of it in homage to the king? Don’t they plead their case, ask sincerely, and don’t they hope that the king will grant their request? So you see, there is no room for any pride or arrogance here. Pride, arrogance or haughtiness really are opposites of Grace and Mercy. Any time God’s children approach the throne of Grace humbly and sincerely, God welcomes them, not because of anything of ourselves, but because he loves us and it gives God pleasure to be gracious to his own. Also because of our mediator; Jesus Christ who intercedes for us and therefore we receive mercy and find timely Grace to help us! We have many invitations from God the Father and his son Jesus Christ to come. God says in Isaiah; COME now let us reason together. Jesus said in Matthew; COME to me all who labor and are heavy laden and many such invitations are throughout the scriptures. God gives us enough Grace for today; therefore let us draw near to the throne of Grace often and much, because of our need for help, and our need for more Grace from our heavenly father! The way to approach the throne of grace is through prayer. Pray constantly, God encourages us through the scriptures. We should always desire more Grace, because we are weak followers totally dependent on our Heavenly Father for everything.
Then my child, you be empowered by grace in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1
God’s grace empowers us to be who God wants us to be and to do what by nature we will not do. Of ourselves we do not possess the power or the desire to do what’s right. All of us human beings by nature tend toward evil and not toward good. The fool has said in his heart, there is no God! They acted corruptly; they did hatefully in deeds; there is none doing good.
The Lord looked down from Heaven on the sons of mankind, to see if there were any discerning and seeking God: they have all turned aside; together they have become filthy; there is none doing good, not even one! (Psalms 14:1-3)
Paul said; I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. (Romans 7:18)
We need God’s Spirit and God’s Grace to empower us to do what we know is right anyway and to be the kind of person God has intended us to be. Thankfully, God promises to give each of us all the Grace necessary to overcome sin, the devil, the world and our own flesh. God gives us grace to abide in him and to follow him and by his grace attain to the resurrection of the just and be with him forever.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name, Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God. John 1:12&13