In listening to a message recently the last part of verse 16 grabbed me. ... "to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help." whenever we need help.
We need help continually. Sometimes we are more aware than usual that our heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and that outside of Christ, no truly good thing dwells in us. Oh, but we so hope we actually deserve kindness! The closer we draw to the Light, the more we see, and are horrified, by our own wickedness. The more we fail, the more we see our need . We can try to ignore it or cover it up. Then we do not increase in godliness, we are not more like Him, we are simply better actors. But when, by God's grace we persist in acknowledging the awful truth. we find, truly, we need Him every hour, every minute, every second, every circumstance.
The help does not come grudgingly. The verses before this tell us our great High Priest has been tempted in every way and sympathizes with us! The definition of "every way" means "some of every kind". He gets it. He's been there, done that. He remembers we are but dust. While the Lord Jesus Christ is King of the Universe, He feels sympathy for us. Not only does He experience sympathy for us, but He grants grace, whenever we need it (continually). He does not give grudgingly, but eagerly.
Oh that our failings, or even our desires to do good would drive us to dwell in his unfailing, unending mercy. And thankfully experiencing that mercy, we may rejoice in Him!
s://net.bible.org/#!bible/Hebrews+4:14
1) grace 1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech 2) good will, loving-kindness, favour 2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues 3) what is due to grace 3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace 3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit 3b1) a gift of grace 3b2) benefit, bounty 4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):-acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy). see GREEK for 5463
Mercy and grace...what we need everyday. Monique, thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I always so appreciate an encouraging word. I know the feeling of "homeschooling" two decades. I only had two, but they were 7 yrs apart and I felt like I schooled for a long time. All grown up now.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Coleen in Ukraine