Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb4.16 ESV
I once read the difference between mercy and grace and of all places, on the backside of a Garth Brookes’ CD cover. “Mercy is when God doesn't give us what we do deserve. Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve.”
It is the "throne of grace" that we approach. We come with confidence expecting to receive goodness we do not deserve. A part of that goodness is simply being able to come expecting something good at all. Another part of the goodness we receive is of course mercy. Yet another is His perfect assistance, His timely support. It is all of grace.
We may want to walk in a manner worthy of God’s blessings and this is OK in itself, as long as we do not try and stand on our own works. Jesus is our only acceptance before the Father and in Him everything that we receive of God is of grace- or as the popular acrostic puts it, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
4/4/2008 ts
