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 4:16
Grace. Even the word is beautiful, but what grace does for us is even more beautiful. Grace is the remedy for the guilt and shame we feel about our sin. Grace is undeserved favor from God. God’s grace is available to each of us but can only be received by a heart that is exposed and open before Him.
The Power of the WordNothing can open up the soul of man like the Word of God, whether spoken, written or seen in the person of Jesus Christ. God’s Word is not prejudiced or in any manner affected by human standards, creeds or circumstances, therefore yielding it honest and sincere. We can debate with others on our differing opinions, but the Word of God is the absolute truth, unchanging and everlasting.
It is the Holy Spirit’s job to bring conviction to our hearts and God’s Word is one way He does that. When presented in the authority of the Holy Spirit, the living Word brings the supernatural power of conviction on our lives. Consequentially, the great need for salvation or transformation is exposed and made known to our condemned hearts.
When God extends His grace to us, He does not sidestep the truth about us. He doesn’t pretend that we have not sinned, nor does He ignore the fact that we have often been selfish and filled with pride. He is totally fair, honest, and just. It would go against His nature to pretend that our sin is okay or that we don’t have any. Grace is separate not punishment and separate from any consequences we might have from our sins. Grace is God’s gift to a hurting and repentant heart.
God’s son came to experience the great power of temptation on mankind yet was able to withstand it to pay for our sin. He knows where you hurt and why you hurt. He knows your insecurities and how you try so hard to cover them up. But God sees everything. Jesus is not like the parent who says, “How could you do this?!” Instead, He says, “I get it.” Our hearts are laid open and bare before the One who made us and loves us.
When we realize that God is for us, not against us, and that Jesus understands our weaknesses and failures, hopefully, we will realize that we no longer need to try and hide those things from God. Nothing is hidden from Him anyway. He knows all about you and loves you completely!
God wants us! He sees us as we are – broken, empty, in need, sinful, with nothing to brag about. But He wants us to see ourselves as we really are and call out to Him to come and help us. The wrath of God against sin is not countered by His love for the sinner but by His amazing grace.
Let us then approach the throne of grace. It is not a throne of judgment or criticism. It is not a throne of punishment for our weaknesses. It is a throne of grace where we can find favor with God because of what Jesus did on the cross. When we come to His throne of grace, we can receive mercy and extreme grace to help us in our time of need.
In our brokenness, as we realize how weak we are, and understand that we cannot help ourselves, God comes close to us with His extreme grace. He offers us the faith to call out to Him, and then invites us to come close, knowing that He will receive us and help us.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
