Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Devotion
Jesus went through every temptation man will ever experience and understands our weaknesses and shortcomings. He also showed how to break through these weaknesses by fasting and drawing closer to God.
Jesus understands our burdens, offenses, and appetites in this life. His desire is to help us as we bring them to Him first, as instructed in Psalm 55:22: "Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." We are also called to seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else, as Matthew 6:33 reminds us: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." When we do this, God will add to our lives the things that align with His will. As it is said, “Less of me, more of Thee.” We must surrender ourselves completely to God so He can fill us with His love, mercy, and grace.
Great victory awaits when we surrender, because we have a High Priest who overcame that we may overcome!
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know that in this life I will have weaknesses, which you understand, but do not condone. Romans 6:1 asks if we should go on sinning. Verse 2 follows up with, “Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” When I received salvation from You, I know that You empowered me to overcome my sinful nature. It’s a package deal. True salvation leads us to model our lives after Your Son. Therefore, I repent of my sins and ask Your forgiveness. Please give me the wisdom, the courage, and the boldness to model my life after Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our body is God’s temple, thus belonging to Him because He bought us with a high price. Therefore, we must honor God with our bodies. Determine today what you need to sacrifice so that you can truly be His temple.
Resources:
Reading through the New Testament: Today’s reading - Matthew 21-28
21-Day Fasting Journey with Jentezen Franklin
How awesome is it that not only can we approach God, but we’re instructed to do it boldly. I still get nervous approaching my Professors from uni! 😅