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Getting Back on Track

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

The Book of Hebrews provides a beautiful picture that describes the nature and activity of Jesus in the world.  The centerpiece of the book is contained in the theme that reveals the identity of Christ as the Great High Priest.  From that posture, Jesus ascends to heaven, connects with our struggles, and walks with us through the temptations of the world.  His High Priest identity is connected to Aaron the brother of Moses and to the somewhat mysterious order of Melchizedek.

In the middle of it all we find a wonderful invitation.  “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (4:16)”

I would like to focus on one word from that invitation: confidence.  Let me ask straight away, do you have confidence in God?  Not, do you believe in God.  But do you have ultimate, sure fire, deep confidence in the mercy and grace of God?

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I think my answer would be very similar to yours.  I would say, “Yes, most of the time.”  Would you qualify your faith commitment in that way?  Have you seen your absolute confidence in God as something that goes up and down a bit?   Are you impacted by the cycle of faith where we draw close and then begin to fall away before we recover and recommit to the Lord?  It happens.

That is why Lent is such a beautiful season.  It is a time for us to get back on track.  We make fresh commitments of obedience and renew our promise of faith.  Lent is a time of allowing God to speak into our lives so we can refresh the confidence of our devotion.  Is there some ‘confidence building’ that God needs to do in your life?  I think today would be a great day to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Amen!

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