Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC
Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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.
When I was a teenager my mom would take some friends and I to a water park in North Alabama called Point Mallard. Point Mallard is located in Decatur, Alabama, and one of the main attractions at the park then was the diving platform. There were actually three of them, the tallest one being at the actual Olympic height of 10 Meters (32 feet). One day at the park I decided to jump off of the shortest of the 3, which was still about 15 feet or so in the air. While on the ground I told my friends it was a piece of cake, anybody could do it, and talked up a real big game. Then when I climbed that ladder and actually walked to the end of that platform I almost wet my swimming trunks! Needless to say, I closed my eyes jumped off in the tightest form of a pencil I could muster, then swam as fast as I could to get out of the water. Real tough guy!
Life can be a little scary. It’s easy to talk about living for Jesus when everything is comfortable, but it’s a totally different thing to boldly live for him when hardship or anxiety is present. The Lord wants us to serve Him with confidence, but how can we do that when we are so inadequate and the world is so scary?
In Hebrews 4 the writer tells us we can be confident, not in ourselves, but in Christ. He says first that our confidence is in our confession. Our confession as Children of God is that Jesus is Lord and His promises are true! He is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, the Savior of the world, and the Lover of our Souls! He has promised to save us, deliver us, heal us, provide for us, and strengthen us. Confidence comes when we simply confess that the promises of God are yes and amen! Second, he says we can be confident because Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses. Jesus was tempted in all things that we are tempted with while He was in the flesh yet He never sinned. He understands that we are weak and sinful and need His grace. You can be confident today that although you are weak He is strong! Just confess your need of Him. Lastly, He writes that we can find our confidence in prayer. God can do more in a moment than we can do in a lifetime, so call on His name. It’s amazing how the things of earth grow strangely dim as we gaze on the Son. My worries and anxieties quickly fade when I rest in His Presence.
Today, do you feel confident? The truth is none of us feels confident all the time. Find your confidence in Christ, not in your education, accomplishments, or experience. Rest in His grace, His power, and His provision. He will help you through this. He will give you victory. He will use you for His glory. Just come to His throne of grace and find confidence in your time of need.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, forgive me for trying to find confidence in myself and not in You. Lord, today I call on Your name and trust in Your faithfulness. I come to Your throne of grace with confidence in who you are and what You have done. Thank you Jesus! Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 145:2-3
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.