George Barlow - "Grace is what all need, what none can merit, and what God alone can give." 

Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." It is absolutely amazing to think that God Almighty, the Creator and Governor of this universe, would petition us as frail creatures to come to Him in our time of need." Matthew 11:28 - Yet, the invitation is out - "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Isaiah 1:18 - "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." James 4:8 - "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you..." Hebrews 4:16 tells us, "Let us therefore come..." God is petitioning us to come to Him, and all because we have such a Great High Priest Who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities - Jesus, the Son of God - Who is able to save to the uttermost all those who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.  Consequently, the writer of Hebrews encourages all believers to approach God, and to approach Him boldly. The way has been made into the Holy of Holies. 

Hebrews 10:19 says that we have boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus. Ephesians 3:12 says that in Jesus we have access and boldness with confidence. Ephesians 1:6 - Because of Who Jesus is and what He accomplished on Calvary's Cross, we can come to God without reservation, openly, frankly, without ambiguity, free and fearless, and with total confidence. We are now accepted in the Beloved. We are no longer outcasts, foreigners, or strangers. We will not be cast out or rejected. 

Come. Come unto God. Come boldly. Jesus made a way. It's the new and living way. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

When we come, let us remember that we are approaching "the throne of grace." It could very well be the throne of judgment. But because of our Great High Priest and His atoning Blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies in heaven as well as in our hearts, God's throne becomes a "throne of grace" for us. Here is where we lay hold of all of the Lord's favor, good will, and loving kindnesses towards us. 

The writer of Hebrews designates two main reasons why we should ascend to this throne of grace - to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A man by the name of Thomas Manton said, "Mercy is an ocean that is ever full and ever flowing." So we never need to fear that the supply of the Lord's much needed mercy will ever run dry. 

Ephesians 2:4 tells us that God is rich in mercy.  2 Corinthians 1:3 refers to God as the "Father of mercies."  Psalm 100:5 says, "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting..." Numbers 14:18 says, "The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy..."

Oh, Christian, let us obtain mercy. Let us lay hold of it. Make it our own. Claim it. Receive it. There is a plentiful supply. Let it be our first humble cry. Lord, have mercy on us! Lord, show Your kindness and good will to us in our misery and affliction and come and help us. 

Let us always remember one thing as F.B. Meyer so aptly points out - "Always distinguish between the words "attain" and "obtain." We can never attain or earn God's gracious help by prayer or service, but we can obtain, appropriate, and take it. 

Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy... "

Besides obtaining mercy, we are instructed to approach the throne of grace for grace itself. 

Andrew Murray said, "Grace in God is His compassion on the unworthy."  George Barlow said, "Grace is what all need, what none can merit, and what God alone can give." Richard Sibbes said, "Grace is above all conditions." J.C. Ryle said, "Grace is stronger than circumstances." 

While in this world, we definitely need something that is above all our conditions and stronger than our circumstances. God has given it to us in His grace. 

Hebrews 12:28 - Most importantly, we need God's enabling grace in order to serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In order to do that, we must have some form of strength, help, support, and direction to keep us from temptation and sin. God has made provision through His grace. 

Thomas Brooks once said, "The life of grace is the death of sin, and the growth of grace the decay of sin."  He also said, "As heat is opposed to cold, and light to darkness, so grace is opposed to sin. Fire and water may as well agree in the same vessel as grace and sin in the same heart."

The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 5:20 - "...but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." OH, HALLELUJAH! What comforting words! God has made provision for us to live above sin - free from its shackles and chains. His provision is His grace.

No more do we need to feel downcast or discouraged. No more do we need to struggle against the temptations of sin. The Holy Spirit invites us to come to the throne of grace. 

Come boldly. Here we will obtain mercy. Here we will find grace. All because of Jesus, our Great High Priest. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!