1-30-2016

 Good Morning All!!   

        Hebrews 4:16; “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

   I remember a discussion with a mother of a teen-aged girl.  The girl was a “free spirit” or maybe a “wild child” or something along that line of thinking.  She tested her parents greatly.  Once her mother joked that the other two didn’t give me any gray hair but this one has me pulling it out.  Yet in a quiet conversation the mother meekly asked, “Will she make it to heaven?”  “She seems so out of control; I gave my mom fits but not like this; I worry about her a lot.  The other two will make it but I worry about her.”

   A mom who worries; not exactly a unique experience.  Even dads worry; about their family, their income, their college choices, their friends; parents worry about their children.  Then sometimes, these folks get to be part of the “Oreo” generation.  These are the people who are now the caregivers for their children or grandchildren and their parents.  They worry about multi-generations with different problems, different expectations but worry and concern flows freely in their lives and in their thoughts.  Worry can cause stress which can wield its ugly head in our behavior and attitude toward those around us.  People in this situation often feel the weight of the world crushing them down.  They see little light and not much hope.

   Our verse addresses this.  We are a people of hope.  We have hope because of God and what he has done.  Our hope does not depend on our own merits or value.  Our true hope rests entirely on God, his promises, his love, and his actions.  Christ is our merit; he is the one who has completed what the Law requires.  He is the one who has satisfied the need.  Because of what Jesus has done, his death and resurrection, the throne room of God is open.  You and I can go to the very throne of God and seek his mercy; seek the assurance that everything is safely in God’s loving arms.  We can and should always find our comfort in the truth that God’s love has overcome the world and its troubles and pain.

   So God calls us to come to Him and to bring all of our fears and worries to him and he will give us the strength to trust in his wonderful promises. We can have comfort in the certainty of the hope we have.  We have access to God at any time we need or what.  We can come to him seeking his grace to bring healing to our souls and peace to our heart in any sorrow, need or fear.  God hears our cry and gives us peace.

Gracious Father, because of Jesus we have the certainty of comfort in you.  We know the peace that you give us.  We can come to you and seek your grace knowing that you will freely give us your love and grace.  Even before we ask you are sending your Spirit to comfort us and to sustain us through all of our struggles.  Be with those who are especially in need of your mercy.  Heal them and give them the certainty of your love.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret