Reading 52

Reading 52

Hebrews 1-4

One of my favorite passages of assurance is in today’s reading:

“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. For 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 he did not sin. 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 4:14-16)

The author of Hebrews tells us that since we have a great high priest, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. Now for me, I realize I don’t have a complete understanding of what it meant to the Hebrews to have a high priest. I know that the high priest once a year would enter the Holy of Holies and I know that when Christ conquered death on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two in a sign that the high priests were no longer necessary as intermediaries between God and us.

But it doesn’t end there! We are told to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. What a promise! Not only can we approach without fear, but rather we can approach with certainty and we do so trusting we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I love this promise God has given us regarding his grace and mercy. For the longest time, I had a hard time keeping the definitions straight between grace and mercy. The simplified way for me to remember the difference between mercy and grace is the following: mercy is not getting what you do deserve; grace is getting what you don’t deserve. And this verse tells us when we approach the throne we receive mercy and find grace.

One last thought: the final phrase of this passage – “in our time of need” – is significant to me. That God gives us grace to help us in our time of need is empowering. It’s comforting. It’s assuring. And it’s given to us.

--Cristin

Reading 52 Audio