Grace and Mercy

-


Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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.

Devotion:

            As we navigate this world with all its trials and tribulations the words above give us great comfort and strength to face our challenges whatever they may be. In them we learn that we have Jesus for a priest who intercedes on our behalf in heaven. Therefore, we must grab on to and hold on to him that we may receive help at all times.

            Jesus is our special high priest because while he was with us here on earth he was tempted in every way. He suffered the same physical weaknesses that we do. He had the same aches and pains but met them all without sinning. Unlike us he was able to overcome everything that the world, the flesh, and the devil were able to throw at him and he did not sin.

            So then, we can have assurance that whatever trial or temptation we are going through he will be with us to comfort and help us. We will encounter no need so great that Jesus is not able to meet our need if we will ask him. Jesus delights in meeting our needs so we should not hesitate to ask him for whatever we need. We know that he will be there to bear our burdens and calm our fears.

            In this season of lent, let us meditate on how God saved us through Jesus and his suffering and death on the cross. We will not likely suffer anything near what Jesus went through, so we can know that Jesus will understand whatever pain and heartache we may suffer. Jesus will walk with us even if we tread the valley of the shadow of death. He can be relied upon to meet our deepest and most profound needs. Let us praise God for providing his son Jesus to be our savior and ask him to meet us in our moment of need.

Prayer:

            Lord, we lift your name on high. You have provided a way of salvation for us in our trials and temptations here on the earth. May we give you all the glory and honor due you at all times and in all circumstances. We are grateful that you have provided for us such a wonderful gift. We ask you to be with us as we walk daily in the way you have mapped out for us to walk. Help us to trust in you at all times and in all circumstances. Amen. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more

We Will Wait for the Lord

-
  Scripture: Psalm 33:20-24 (NIV) 20  We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. 21  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22  May your unfailing love be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you. Devotion: The words of Psalm 33:20-22 resonate deeply with anyone who has ever found themselves in a position of waiting, hoping, and trusting in the Lord. "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him, our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you." These verses encapsulate a profound truth about the nature of our relationship with God and our hearts' posture as we navigate life's uncertainties. The concept of waiting in hope is not passive resignation but an active, expectant stance. It signifies a deep trust in God's timing and His perfect plan for our lives. As we wait, we do so with the assurance that God ...
Read more

Bold Testimony

-
  Scripture: Acts 4:8-12 (ESV) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9  if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Devotion: In this passage from Acts 4:8-12, we witness a decisive moment where Peter, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, addresses the rulers and elders of the people. His bold testimony is not just a defense of miraculous healing but a proclamation of the central truth of the Christian faith. ...
Read more