“Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
In Christ anytime is the right time.
“What do you need from Me?”
That’s the question Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus that day as He walked along the road, headed out of Jericho (Mk. 10:51). At first glance, this is an interesting question to ask someone who’s obviously blind (vv.46-47). But, so often Jesus asks the obvious in order to reveal what’s really there—such as God’s question of “Where are you?” to Adam while hiding in the bushes (Gen. 3:9).
He knew where Adam was; He wanted to see if Adam knew where Adam was.
And, so it is with us when we present our petitions to the Heavenly Father.
He’s invited us to “come boldly”—without hesitation or reservation; yet, in so doing, we should always remember it’s His “Throne of Grace” and what we really need from Him are His “Mercy and Grace.”
For sure, we need other things.
Material things. Clothes to wear. A car to drive. Money to pay our bills. Multiple types of insurance.
But, in reality, when it all boils down to it, we really just need His “Mercy and Grace”—for “it’s by His Mercies that we’re not consumed” (Lam. 3:21-23). And, it’s in our “weakness that we learn His Grace is sufficient for our needs and the forum through which His Strength is made complete” (II Cor. 12:9-10).
Think of it:
Too often we more resemble the proud Pharisee than we do the penitent publican (Lk. 18:9-14). The Pharisee was haughty and “thanked the Lord he wasn’t like ‘other folks’,” basically referring to the despised tax collector who stood nearby (vv.11-12). He was more impressed with himself than God was.
But, not so with the publican.
Instead of reminding God of his spiritual pedigree and deeds, he simply prayed “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (v.13c). In fact, he “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote his breast instead” as a sign of brokenhearted contrition as he prayed (v.13b).
And, dear Pilgrim, if we never strayed from this position of heartfelt humility, it’s likely our requests would be answered more often than they are. Again, “coming boldly” isn’t coming brashly in a proud, presumptuous way. Truly, it’s only by His Grace that we enter in.
May the Holy Spirit help us today to be filled with Jesus’ Presence. In so doing we’ll be filled with His “Life and Light, Grace and Truth” (Jn. 1:4, 16-17). Only then can we “walk in His Spirit” (Rom.8:1) and “bear His fruit” (Gal. 5:22-23).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated January 25, 2011