Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

THEME OF THE DAY: OUR DAILY SPIRITUAL NEEDS.  Have we recently taken time and pondered what are the greatest spiritual needs we have before the Lord?  They are so great we need them at the start of each day, throughout each day, and at the conclusion of each day.  They are found in the last verse of today’s scripture – mercy and grace.

But before we explore these great needs, we must be convinced God is eager to give them to us in abundance. Don’t be paralyzed with unbelief.  Don’t let doubt cloud our vision of God’s promises of grace and mercy. The writer to the Hebrews states, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace”, and this astounding truth reminds us we are not approaching a reluctant king, an indifferent monarch, or a cruel ruler hostile to the subjects under his authority.  No, we are approaching our reconciled God, our Heavenly Father, and the One who ever delights in bestowing what His children desperately need from Him all the time – His grace and mercy.

First, we need constant grace to overcome all our many weaknesses and failings.  We simply have no capacity to obey God; no ability to defeat sin; and no strength to serve Him with sustained sacrifice and zeal.  We are frail sheep prone to wander. We need amazing grace, not just to save us, but empowering us and that moment-by-moment.  The Apostle Paul confesses all he was and did was in the strength of the grace of God – “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). We must never lose sight of our need, constant need for God’s grace, and praise His Name, He is always ready to bestow it upon us in abundance.

We also need constant outpourings of His mercy to deal with our sins, accusations from the devil, and our condemning consciences.  God’s mercy sees our misery and comes with pity to us.  Even as His children, we sin and as today’s text shows us, we have a High Priest full of mercy offering us forgiveness, cleansing, and His work of praying for us.  That is mercy!!!  Great mercy we desperately rely upon each day.

So, come to the Lord with humble confidence to receive what we need to live for His glory and purposes – great grace and abundant mercy.  He is ready to give them. Let’s be diligent in seeking them.

PRAYER: Father, I praise You for granting me each day, and throughout the day, Your abundant grace and mercy.

REFLECTION: Daily approach our Father for fresh outpourings of what we need most – His grace and mercy.