Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Has there ever been a time when you were in need or want of something and the opportunity was right in front of you but you didn't have the nerve to ask for it? Then, someone else walk's right up, asks and it is given to them? That is the picture here as portrayed in The Message paraphrase below.
In John Piper's daily devotional this morning he writes, "I need help to live my life and to handle death and to cope with eternity - help with my family, my spouse, my children, my loneliness, my job, my health, my finances. I need help. But I don't deserve the help that I need." That is where today's verse comes in. We aren't looking for what we deserve, we are looking for God's mercy, His grace to "meet the need". The Message in verse 16 challenges us not only to seek, to ask for this mercy but to take it, to accept the help.
This morning, my daily reading in Psalms brought me to chapter 51 where David's first words are "have mercy on me Lord according to your steadfast love". No matter what situation we face today, no matter what the need, may that be the attitude of our hearts. If we need to get our act, get our life "together" may we also pray like David and receive mercy and fresh wind in our sails.
Psalm 51:7-11 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails! The Message (MSG)
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails! The Message (MSG)
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Hebrews 4:14-16
The Message (MSG)
The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain
14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
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