Who Do We Pray To?
Today, Pastor Henry continued the series on Prayer by addressing the question, "Who do we pray to?" or "Who do we focus on?" When I was a kid, I pictured and old white haired man on a throne who was good, but it was all pretty hazy and I don't think I could connect very well. Pastor Henry read the following from Hebrew 4:14-16:
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We talked about different situations where we ask someone for help, and agreed that we needed to ask someone who was sympathetic to our needs. And right here in this passage, we are reminded that Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses - He knows what we're going through because He has been tempted in every way like us. It's easier to connect with someone who knows what we're going through. Verse 16 urges us to approach the throne of grace with confidence because of what Jesus did for us. The Message puts it like this: " So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help."
We read more in Hebrews about the role of a high priest:
1Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.[a]"[b] 6And he says in another place,
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."[c]
7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Because of Jesus' perfect obedience, suffering, and death, He became the source of eternal life and salvation for those who believe.Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Labels: Prayer
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