“Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
[The following is taken from the devotional book Heaven and Nature Sing, August 16]
Our family has had a lease campsite at a wilderness ministry in northern Minnesota for many years.
We keep our small camper there through the summer and into the fall and get up there from the city whenever we can.
One of the many blessings about it is the wildlife we’ve gotten to see over the years.
The Canada Jay
Of all the birds up there, there’s one that’s unique. The Canada jay, also known locally as the whiskey jack.
This bird doesn’t have the same fear of people the others do. We’ve been able to feed them out of our hands many times.
In fact, as I’m writing this devotional I’m sitting here at the camper and have been feeding bits of pecans to one of the jays.
What a delight to have him land on my hand, grab the pecan, look me in the eye, sit there for a few seconds and then fly off. He’s come back probably a dozen times, at least.
“Draw near with boldness…”
That’s how our Heavenly Father wants us to approach Him!
Expectant. Confident. Repeatedly. “Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace…”
What gives us that confidence?
The author of Hebrews has been telling us in the verses leading up to this one: Jesus our High Priest (verse 14).
Verse 15 says: “For we don’t have a High Priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but One who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let’s therefore…”
It’s not that we deserve to come to that throne of grace, or have done anything to earn it. No, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe”… as the old hymn says.
Because of His willingness to be that once-and-for-all sacrifice, we can come before the Father boldly for the mercy and grace we need.
Hallelujah! What an amazing gift.
Will you draw near with confidence today?
Each devotional in Heaven and Nature Sing suggests a few Bible verses for you to “dig deeper” on that day’s topic. Here are the scriptures for this devo:
“A certain father had two sons…”
The story in Luke 15:11-24 could be called The Prodigal Son, as it usually is. It could also be called The Waiting Father.
The nutshell version is that a self-centered younger son was bored with life and wanted excitement. He asked his dad for his inheritance right away, went away and squandered it.
Eventually that caught up with him. He ended up slaving away at a pig farm where even the pigs ate better than he did.
He decided to humble himself and go work for his dad instead. So he made his way home, intending to beg his dad’s forgiveness.
“But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (verse 20)
His dad proceeded to throw him a welcome home party.
That’s grace! “Come near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy [like this prodigal son did] and find grace to help in time of need.”
“He who is thirsty, let him come…”
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ He who hears, let him say, ‘Come!’ He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
What an invitation! Will you take Him up on it today?
Here’s more…
- Is “Enter Through the Narrow Gate” Offensive to You?
- How God Designed Healing Differently
- God’s Presence “in the Cloud by Day”
- 20 Meaningful Bible Verses about Nature - March 18, 2024
- Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure - February 17, 2024
- Hearing God Speak in the Outdoors - February 9, 2024