17 lines
4.7 KiB
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17 lines
4.7 KiB
HTML
<html><head><title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">December 27</div></div>
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<h1>An Invitation to Pray at the Throne of Grace</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Let us therefore <b>come boldly</b> to the <b>throne of grace</b>, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 4, '16-16');">Hebrews 4:16</a>)</div>
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<p>If we are going to <b>live</b> by <b>grace</b>, we must relate rightly to the God of all grace: namely, by walking in humble dependence. <b>Continual</b>, <b>Spirit-led prayer</b> is the basic way to express <b>humility</b> and <b>faith</b> to the Lord. How fitting it is, then, to consider God's <b>invitation to pray at the throne of grace</b>.</p><p>The throne to which we are invited is the throne of God, revealed to the Apostle John. <i>"Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a <b>throne</b> set in <b>heaven</b>, and <b>One</b> sat on the <b>throne</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 4, '2-2');">Revelation 4:2</a>). This honored King of the universe is the Creator of everything, exercising His sovereign will by His infinite power. <i>"You are <b>worthy</b>, O Lord, to receive <b>glory</b> and <b>honor</b> and <b>power</b>; for <b>You created all things</b>, and by <b>Your will</b> they exist and were created"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 4, '11-11');">Revelation 4:11</a>). This is a throne of everlasting holiness, as declared constantly by angelic creatures. <i>"And they do not rest day or night, saying: '<b>Holy</b>, <b>holy</b>, <b>holy</b>, Lord God Almighty, Who <b>was</b> and <b>is</b> and <b>is to come</b>!'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 4, '8-8');">Revelation 4:8</a>). For the godless, this will become a throne of judgment. <i>"Then I saw a great white <b>throne</b> and Him who sat on it…And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…And they were <b>judged</b>, each one according to his works…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 20, '11-13');">Revelation 20:11-13</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Rev', 20, '15-15');">15</a>).</p><p>If this throne were only characterized by sovereign power, holiness, and judgment, we could never approach it with any expectation of blessing. Yet, for those who will humbly receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, this is a throne of grace. <i>"Let us therefore <b>come boldly</b> to the <b>throne of grace</b>."</i> We can approach this throne with spiritual confidence, because Jesus is seated there with the Father. <i>"And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the <b>throne</b>…stood a <b>Lamb</b> as though it had been <b>slain</b>…Worthy is the <b>Lamb</b> who was <b>slain</b> to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 5, '6-6');">Revelation 5:6</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Rev', 5, '12-12');">12</a>). The worthy one, who died for our sins, has opened the door to an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. <i>"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, '<b>Abba</b>, <b>Father</b>'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 8, '15-15');">Romans 8:15</a>). Dread of God is replaced with boldness, by the grace of Jesus Christ: <i>"in whom we have <b>boldness</b> and <b>access</b> with <b>confidence</b> through <b>faith</b> in <b>Him</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 3, '12-12');">Ephesians 3:12</a>). Now, this <b>throne</b> is to us an altar of <b>prayer</b> for <b>mercy</b> and <b>grace</b>!</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Abba, Father, I bow before Your throne, acknowledging You
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as the sovereign Creator and the holy Judge. Yet, I boldly
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approach You as my dear, intimate Papa! Although I deserved judgment, now through Jesus, I humbly expect mercy and grace!</div></div></div><div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/12/1226.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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