TALK LESS! PRAY MORE! The Throne By Dr. Gary Miller “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 For the first four years of my educational experience at O.M. Roberts Elementary School, Mr. Glazener was my principal. In spite of its humble furnishings, even a child entering his Spartan office could not miss the unmistakable air of authority. To me he looked like a force of nature seated behind his desk, in his freshly pressed suit, no nonsense tie, and starched shirt. Entering the principal’s presence could be either humbling or humiliating. The choice was mine to make. Standing in front of him was never my choice. I was sent there for judgment. His decision would be final. I still carry fond memories of this fine man’s amazing grace. Thanks Mr. Glazener for turning boys into men, long before it was cool. “Come boldly…” - There is a difference between arrogance and boldness. Being impressed with the sound of your own voice, when speaking eloquently for God, is not the same thing as praying boldly to Him, in the name of Jesus. Prayer is an invitation to get over yourself and to get with God. The prideful don’t pray because they are afraid it will cost them something. The bold come to the throne of grace and pray with a spirit of abandonment, not arrogance. They know they have nothing to lose, and nowhere else to go. Prayer is not their last hope, but their first response. They understand their helpless condition, and they know prayer leads them to The Source of their only remedy. Praying, they race boldly to grace. “ Unto the throne…” - When you come to The Father in prayer, in the name of Jesus, you have access to Him through obedience to His word, not by the eloquence of your words. The Father’s Son is seated at His right hand, and lives to make intercession for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and come boldly before The Father, but kneel humbly in His Presence. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who…has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 “…Of grace…” - The throne of grace is not a place for the privileged to make their claim for a seat on the throne. It is a place of privileged communion with God, The Father, before the throne. Access to God is not granted based upon merit. Prayer is the fundamental expression of The Father’s unmerited favor, poured out upon His children, through His Son, Jesus. Without grace, no matter how eloquent a prayer may be, it grants no access to The Father. Only Jesus can do this. Pray in the name of Jesus, and take a knee before the throne. Don’t strive or connive for a seat on it. “That we may obtain mercy…” - Criminals deserve judgment because they have broken the law. Mercy requires a rebel to admit he is wrong, and in need of something the law does not provide, grace. Coming under judgment often brings a condemned man to his knees, driving him to throw himself on the mercy of the court. Law-breakers are healed by mercy. Judgment can harden the untamed rebel’s heart, enraging him to thumb his nose in the face of the judge. Regardless of the decision of the jury, or the pain brought to the victims of his crimes, the rebel refuses to yield to the verdict of the court. The man in need of grace throws himself on the mercy of the court. Healing mercy is obtained by the humble in heart. When they pray for forgiveness, they embrace The Father’s judgment of their sin, but receive His mercy for it. “…And find grace to help in time of need…” - Prayer is the junction between man’s need and God’s unmerited favor. There is little motivation to pray until there is an admission of your need for God’s help. Grace is available, and may be found in prayer, but as long as you keep failing the same course over and over again in The School of Self Help, you will never enroll in the School of Prayer. Class is in session, and your lessons begin the moment you admit to yourself that God doesn’t need your advice, and you admit to God you are in need of His help. NOTE TO SELF. Don’t be a prayerless rebel blasting through life politely ignoring God’s direction, or aggressively resisting His correction. Your prayerless words and deeds make you look like a rebellious child yanking away from the protection of a parent’s guiding hand, screaming, “I do it myself.” This never ends well. Race to grace on your knees. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:13:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015