Evening

November 12

Hebrews 4:14-16 ¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. ¹⁶Let 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.

Why should we endure in this faith that we profess? It's because Jesus has gone through the heavens and into the presence of God to intercede for us. Since He gained such a great victory for us, our part is to endure in faith. What a tragedy if we fall away after all He has done and is doing for us! Cling to your faith.

After all, this faith that we have is like no other. This faith declares a God that feels our suffering with us. Having endured every temptation we face, He can speak to our hearts the solution that He proved works. He can show us the way out of every temptation we face because He found the way Himself. After blazing that sinless trail for us, He gave us His righteousness while taking our sin to the cross.

It is with His righteousness that we can confidently approach the very throne of God. It is a throne of grace to us who have received His mercy through the blood of Christ. There, before the throne, we not only receive grace, that which we do not deserve, but also mercy, which is to pass over the justice we do deserve.

Asking for the gifts we need to endure and to be what we are called to be is to ask for grace. Asking for repeated cleansing for our shortcomings and for gifts in spite of the fact that we did not use them properly when last given is asking for mercy. We can confidently ask for both because of our Great High Priest. There is no need to wallow in condemnation.

Consider: Go to the throne of grace and ask not only to be changed, but for every gift you need.