
Hebrews 4:16 "Approach the throne of grace with confidence."
Sooner or later, perhaps sooner than we realize, we come face to face with moments of desperation. We like to boast of our accomplishments, our successes, our personal triumphs, and the like. Then suddenly and unexpectedly the Lord lays us low on a bed of sickness, permits some unexplainable calamity to happen to us, sends some heavy cross to bear, or confronts us with dire need.
The immediate impulse of human nature is to murmur and complain, to fault God, to accuse Him of being unfaithful to His promises. But also in such moments of weak faith we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. He is "at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Romans 8:34).
How important that we daily rethink our lives and the purpose God has for us in His divine plan! When we experience hardships and distress, let us remember that only God can help. Christ, our High Priest, who "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows" (Isaiah 53:4) and who took away our sins on Calvary's cross, invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace with all concerns. God assures us that "before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).
PRAYER: O Jesus, grant that we accept Your will in all our needs. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 7-9 Luke 18:24-43
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