Daily Bread 2011 - Hebrews 4
Daily Bread 2011 – Hebrews 4
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Therefore, 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. 15 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 was without sin. 16 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.
What Does This Mean?
As the author encourages the Hebrews to stay strong in their faith and enter the Sabbath rest that has been prepared for them, he closes with these two verses. First, he gives us a classic verse on the “efficacy” of God’s Word. He portrays God’s word as living and active and penetrating our hearts to separate out what is true and untrue. God’s Word uncovers the parts of our lives that not in accordance with God’s will. It exposes our motives and also sin’s deceitfulness. I.e. We can’t fool God!
But then the writer finishes with the grace we have in our high priest, Jesus. Importantly Jesus can identify with our weaknesses, because he too lived a human life and was tempted in every way that we were and yet was without sin. For that reason we can go to Jesus and approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive mercy in our time of need. Wow! These are some amazing words!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Everything! God knows that we will struggle in this life with temptations and circumstances beyond our control, and that is why He sent His only Son not only to identify with our weaknesses, but to conquer them on the cross. So as we fall, as we all do from time to time, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence! And our confidence is in Jesus! We can be confident in whatever life throws at us because of Jesus.
I wonder how many people don’t turn to Jesus when they are in need, because at some point in their lives they either felt like God didn’t care, or would not be there for them. When God sent Jesus He said once and for all, “I care!” No matter what your situation is today you go to Jesus with it and be confident his grace and mercy is sufficient for you. That is why He came and we will need this confidence as life throws its curve balls at us.
Father, thank you for sending a merciful high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses who is interceding for us at the right hand of God. Jesus thank you that we can come to you in our weakness in confidence know we can find grace and mercy any time. Amen.
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Therefore, 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. 15 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 was without sin. 16 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.
What Does This Mean?
As the author encourages the Hebrews to stay strong in their faith and enter the Sabbath rest that has been prepared for them, he closes with these two verses. First, he gives us a classic verse on the “efficacy” of God’s Word. He portrays God’s word as living and active and penetrating our hearts to separate out what is true and untrue. God’s Word uncovers the parts of our lives that not in accordance with God’s will. It exposes our motives and also sin’s deceitfulness. I.e. We can’t fool God!
But then the writer finishes with the grace we have in our high priest, Jesus. Importantly Jesus can identify with our weaknesses, because he too lived a human life and was tempted in every way that we were and yet was without sin. For that reason we can go to Jesus and approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive mercy in our time of need. Wow! These are some amazing words!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Everything! God knows that we will struggle in this life with temptations and circumstances beyond our control, and that is why He sent His only Son not only to identify with our weaknesses, but to conquer them on the cross. So as we fall, as we all do from time to time, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence! And our confidence is in Jesus! We can be confident in whatever life throws at us because of Jesus.
I wonder how many people don’t turn to Jesus when they are in need, because at some point in their lives they either felt like God didn’t care, or would not be there for them. When God sent Jesus He said once and for all, “I care!” No matter what your situation is today you go to Jesus with it and be confident his grace and mercy is sufficient for you. That is why He came and we will need this confidence as life throws its curve balls at us.
Father, thank you for sending a merciful high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses who is interceding for us at the right hand of God. Jesus thank you that we can come to you in our weakness in confidence know we can find grace and mercy any time. Amen.
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