The greatness of God
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Majority of people that pray are asking God on behalf of their families, friends and their own personal problems. The list included praising God’s greatness but seldom that people acknowledges this truth. From the text, the author emphasized that it was because of God’s action on behalf of those who acknowledged Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as the only means to be saved, that made it possible for them to come humbly before the throne of His grace. Christians are not to come presumptuously or arrogantly to God in prayer. Access is not based on our meritorious acts or virtue but on what Christ has done on our behalf. He opened the way through His death on the cross. “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 4:19-20). He made it possible to those who believed in Him to come boldly in His throne of grace and present to Him their petitions. “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence” (Ephesians 3:12). This is what will help the child of God gain confidence in life. No matter what life brings, the believer has the assurance that God is there to stand right beside them. Man’s inadequacy was met by God’s sufficiency. God in the flesh can identify with our weaknesses and had shown that we can overcome through Him who is the High Priest who had never sinned. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Let us always be reminded that when we pray, we will include an acknowledgement of the greatness of God. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray He told them to acknowledge God’s greatness; “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). It is in His greatness that we come humbly and confidently that He will hear us.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
