Throne of Grace – Time to Visit It?
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Ouch. Ugh. Argh. Oh no. Whine. Whimper. Moan. Not again. I was down on my face again. Not before the Lord. Flat smack dab on the pavement, the hot searing black asphalt, the kind of cement on a hot summer day that doesn’t just burn when you fall on it, but stings as the little rubble piece scrape into your knees – and face. That’s where I had fallen for the umpteenth time into the screaming sting of sin as I faced the all too familiar prospect of my now ex-husband reading me the riot act over the telephone about how I had opened my big fat trap of a mouth and blurted out a host of utter, not to mention wicked, garbage, that had spilled out of a heart once again filled with judgment and condemnation despite how phenomenally hard I have tried for some years now to do right instead of wrong. Ouch is an understatement. The only saving grace in it all, and I shouldn’t say only because the grace that came pouring down from the heavens was anything but only grace. It was astounding, awesome, yes, totally amazing grace.
Grace? Not only did my ex-husband share his heart with me about how I had hurt him rather than fling curse words at me and hang up the phone and disappear from my life yet again, but he lovingly, and yes, strongly, explained to me what exactly I had done. Little did he know only that very morning I had been studying in the Bible about the evil the tongue is capable of, and how I must watch my mouth – not to mention my heart – at all times. Grace? Not only did he forgive me, but he led us both to the Lord, helped us to see how we needed to forgive one another, and concluded our conversation in prayer. Grace? The Lord forgave me when I repented because of the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross when he died for our sins. Grace? I am learning that I do fall, and I will fall, and I am not perfect, and I will never be perfect as a human on this earth, and that God’s grace is available to me if I choose to humble myself with godly sorrow and true repentance and receive what He offers me as He sits in all His sovereignty on His magnificent throne of grace.
Grace? Unmerited. Undeserved. Undeniable. Summed up in too most precious words. Jesus Christ. I am learning all about it, for no matter how long I have known the Lord, I have never truly and utterly received and walked in what He has for me. His love. His mercy. His forgiveness. His grace. Not because I deserve it. Or can earn it. But because Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins. How beautiful that God would use my ex-husband’s heart to not only convict and chasten me, but to help me to learn to receive this priceless gift. Grace.
When was the last time you bowed down with true remorse and in genuine repentance at God’s throne of grace, pouring out your heart to Him and receiving by faith the unmerited favor, the forgiveness, He has for you? Is He tugging on your heartstrings even now?