Pray With Boldness

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Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Devotion:

            How can we believe that our prayers will be answered? This scripture from Hebrews answers that question. The author of Hebrews gives us several reasons to trust that no matter what we pray, or how we pray it, God is always listening to our requests.

            First, we have Jesus the very Son of God who has ascended to the very throne of God. Jesus there acts as our high priest bringing all our requests to God the Father. We know that Jesus will intercede for us because we are his children. We were won by him through the shedding of his blood at Calvary. Because we have believed in Jesus, we know that whatever we ask of him he is willing to do for us.

            Jesus is trustworthy because he came to earth and lived among us. He experienced all the temptations that the world, the flesh, and the devil threw at him. Yet he never sinned. Therefore, he alone can forgive all our sins. He understands human weakness. But he knows his Father’s blessing because he lived us a sinless and blameless life on this earth. Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us on the cross and we have triumphed with him in his death and resurrection.

            Because of the victory that Jesus won at the cross and in the empty tomb of Easter we can be bold to approach the very throne of God with our petitions and requests. There at the very throne of God we will not find a distant and aloof God, but one who is interested in us in our poor humanity. With all our sin and human frailty God will dispense mercy and grace that will meet our every need. As Charles Wesley wrote in his great hymn, And Can it Be that I Should Gain “Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown through Christ my own.” There is truly no other way in heaven or on earth that we could be so bold, but through Jesus our Lord.

Prayer:

            Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent your son to die for us. We know that whatever we ask through your Son, you will grant us by your love, mercy, and grace. Thank you for all your good gifts to us. Teach us to always be bold to go before your throne and receive your help in our time of need. Amen.

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