The Throne of Grace
Posted by Karah
Pause
Begin today with prayer, asking God to help you experience His power as you spend time in His Word.
In the incarnation, Jesus was both God and man. How exactly that worked is something our finite minds have trouble comprehending. Knowing Jesus is divine, it’s tempting to think that life on earth was somehow easier for Him or that He doesn’t really know what it’s like to be us. But the fact of His humanity and Scripture tell us otherwise. Read Hebrews 4:14-16 in your Bible.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” —Hebrews 4:15-16
How does this passage acknowledge Jesus’ divinity? How does it point to His humanity?
Why is it important that Jesus faced temptation, just as you do? Explain.
Jesus faced temptation, yet didn’t sin. As a Christian, why is that important? How does this affect the way you respond to temptation? Explain.
Because Jesus sympathizes with our weakness, we can approach His throne of grace. How do we do that?
Respond
Believers have the power to resist temptation and flee from sin in Jesus.
Identify the recurring temptations in your life. Maybe it relates to lust or pornography; lying to your parents or cheating at school. Maybe it involves failing to stand for Christ in front of your friends. Write a commitment in your journal: When I face ____________, I will ask Jesus for the strength to overcome.
You probably have Christian friends who are currently struggling with temptations. Who needs to be reminded of the power he or she has in Christ to resist? What steps will you take to do so this week? Jot down two in your journal.
For further study of temptation, read Luke 4:1-13 and James 1.
Behind the Story
The author of Hebrews may have written this passage to answer questions people of his day were asking: If Jesus is God, how can He understand my temptations? How can Someone so great understand the problems I face? Because Jesus took on flesh and became like one of us, He faced all of the temptations we face. He had the same appetites, desires, and needs we have. The difference is Jesus never gave in to sin.
The Point
Because of Jesus’ victory over sin, we can trust Him when we face temptation.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions