Grace
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 4:16
The Bible says: ‘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. 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’ (vv. 15-16). Dr. Tony Evans says that God’s grace is like an ambulance coming to treat you when you’ve a medical emergency. First, it dispenses immediate grace to your most serious symptoms. Then they slide you into the ambulance, which is equipped with more grace – more medical facilities to deal with your problem. Then the ambulance races to the hospital where even more grace awaits. And once you’re admitted, the hospital keeps dispensing grace until your need has been addressed and you can go home again. In the words of John Newton’s beloved hymn: ‘‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home’. One day Jesus heard our emergency call: ‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner’. He came to earth, found us dying in sin, and reached down to save us. And as our High Priest, He transported us from where we were to a place that has all the grace we’ll ever need until we go home with Him. One day God will sit on a throne of judgement where there’ll be no more grace, but until that day He’s seated on a throne of grace. So anytime you fail or falter, you can ‘approach the throne of grace with confidence’ and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for your GRACE that sustains me every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
It should be noted that Dr. Evans has served as the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 40 years, and has the respect of many pastors as a father in the faith. However, his approach on “Grace” does come from that of an “Evangelical/Reformed” perspective, which differs slightly from a Lutheran understanding of Grace.
Grace, in the Lutheran understanding, being God’s Favor that is NOT Deserved. As this is a QUALITY and NATURE of God, rather than a quantifiable thing, when it is given, it is given as LOVE.
Perhaps a slight modification of today’s devotion might better suit the Lutheran palate… Let us add the prefix “the Means of…” to “… God’s Grace”, and then the “ambulance” analogy works well. What is dispensed, however, is not grace, per se, but rather FORGIVENESS. Thus the following mentions of Grace as Forgiveness fits the scriptural account quite well. Forgiveness is what cleanses the wounds and allows for healing. The “means of grace” carry that forgiveness to us in a very tangible manner that we can sense, in physical way, what the Holy Spirit is doing to nurture our faith (another non-quantifiable).
So, a couple of “minor substitutions” and the above devotion flows much closer to a Lutheran Perspective