Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Just before this verse, the writer reminds us that Jesus is our High Priest and that He understood what it meant to be human, and to be tempted but yet He did not sin. It is the grace of God through His Son’s life, death and resurrection was given to us.
The writer continues by saying to those of us who read this verse to come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we can find grace in time of need. Those Christians in those days had to be bold and be confident in God’s grace and in their faith. They lived in dangerous times.
During the Reformation and the protestant movement began, those Christian had to be brave. They were not allowed to have a Bible in the tongue they spoke. They were not allowed to practice their faith as they believed it should have been Many left Europe so that they could practice their faith as they believed it should be practiced. They had witnessed many of their fellow believers burned to death because of their faith. Still, they were bold in their faith.
There are Christians in Muslim countries today who face death for practicing their Christian faith. But we do not have those issues. Many Christians are no longer bold in their faith. Many Christians pass judgements on others without practicing love. We have in some ways put our faith under a bushel basket so no one can see it in fear we be condemned.
We are called be confident in our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. We are called to be bold in the face of ridicule. We are called to be loving and forgiving. Back in the seventies I remember a question a preacher asked, “If they came to arrest Christians today, would there be enough evidence to arrest them? Would there be enough evidence to arrest you?”
The thing we have forgotten is that Jesus will be there with us through whatever comes out way…. I have had my own struggles with this over the years and back in 2001 I wrote a poem to this effect….
Were You there…
“Were you there…”*
I was told that I needed to take up my cross and carry it.
It didn’t worry me.
What trouble could that be?
I had seen crosses made of brass hanging on the walls
Of small country churches.
I had been amazed at the majesty and workmanship
Of gold crosses encrusted with pearls and rubies.
I had seen small white crosses
Standing on the roadsides,
And I had worn a tiny gold cross.
I could do that…pick up my cross and walk.
But the Cross I was given wasn’t one of those I had seen.
It was rough new timber.
I lifted it to my shoulder and it was heavy and damp.
I said no problem…still sure of myself.
The first few days,
I called out and said look at me.
But then, I had to say no when I wanted to say yes.
The cross became heavier and heavier;
My hands were sweating and it would slip from my shoulder.
Splinters cut into my hands.
I picked it up over and over again.
I tried again to pick it up…just had to find the trick of carrying it.
I found that I tripped over the small stones.
My feet could not lift over them.
I thought how easy it had been.
I thought about all the reasons I picked up the cross;
No one told me how heavy it would be.
I was ready to ditch it…no one would ever notice.
I had seen others go to churches and smile
Sing songs of praise and go out the doors
To say yes to things they shouldn’t.
No one said to them, “Where was their cross?”
I wondered if it was that or they never really heard the question.
I laid the cross down gently…I could not walk away.
I sat down by the roadside.
My back hurt from the weight.
My hands bleeding from the splinters and cuts,
My feet were stone bruised and tired.
I buried my face in my hands.
Then I heard Jesus, as he washed my wounds and hurts,
“Why did you think you must do this alone?
I said I would be with you.”
He pulled the splinters from my hands and they healed as he said,
“Here, let me help you carry this.
I have been there and know the way.”
He wiped the tears from my eyes, and said,
“Come and rejoice; it is a beautiful day.”
He smiled and I smiled.
We picked up the cross…I knew I would follow Him anywhere.
“When they crucified my Lord?”*
Mary Elizabeth Todd
January 28, 2001
*Traditional African-American spiritual can be sung.
Today’s Question:
Have you had a point where you had to be bold in your faith in Christ and what did you do?
Ever in Christ’s love,
Mary Elizabeth Todd
March 29, 2024 & October 15, 2024
Ruhamah United Methodist Church Bible Verses 