WEEK 32 – DAY 1

WITH CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD’S THRONE

That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel . . . In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Ephesians 3:6 & 12

Recently some friends and I were discussing our over-familiarity with God. I fear that we take Ephesians 3:12 as license to approach the Lord flippantly. When taken in the context of the rest of the Bible, this cannot be the meaning. God created the world and all that is in it (Genesis 1 & 2). God is our provider and holds the power of life and death (Psalm 104:27-30). He is so overwhelming that no one may see his face and live (Exodus 33:20). When John saw the resurrected Jesus in his vision on the isle of Patmos, he fell at his feet like a dead man (Revelation 1:17). God is holy and all-powerful. We must always remember that. With all that in mind, I am even more amazed that all-powerful God has granted me the freedom to approach him with confidence. As my loving Father, he wants to have fellowship with me. He knows my heart and mind, chooses to forgive my sins, and has compassion on me remembering that he formed man out of dust (Psalm 103:10-14).  In Jesus, we have a high priest who enables us to approach a throne, not of wrath, but of grace (Hebrews 4:15-16). Our freedom and confidence come from the relationship with Christ as our Savior and God as our Father. We must never take the privilege lightly.

Father, thank You for granting us the awesome privilege of communicating honestly with You. Since we know that You already know all that we think and feel, we can come honestly before You with our hurts and misunderstandings. Thank You for the grace that forgives our sins and loves us when we are unable to understand what You are doing in our lives. Thank You for the assurance of Your everlasting love. Let us never take the privilege of prayer for granted!