Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Cares are heavy! Imagine a marathon runner racing in a ski jacket, hiking boots and helmet. Just the weight of the extra clothing would wear them out! But often in life, we are just like that runner, running our race while carrying the weights of the world, worries, cares, and burdens. These cares can be in the forms of stress that arises because of persecution for righteousness’ sake, sickness or illness, or anything that is beyond us, and we need to unload them by casting our cares onto the Lord and get some relief.
Psalm 55:22 (NIV) Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
It is in this secret chamber in the presence of God where the divine exchange is found, where we give of what we have been carrying—our cares and anxieties—and lay them at the throne. In exchange, we find the help, grace, and mercy that we need.
God has never intended for us to carry all our cares in our hearts and minds because our souls will eventually become sick. When we are unable to relieve ourselves from stress, worries and anxieties, we age faster, and they contribute to certain sicknesses and illnesses. Worrying does not solve anything.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Instead, we are to focus our mind on God, and think of the extent that He has gone to restore sonship to us. He will not leave us nor abandon us, and He desires to journey with us. How we perceive God and His character, and how we think He looks at us and treats us will greatly affect our trust in Him. Therefore, we need to know that He sees us in Christ through the new identity He has given us, that we have His imputed righteousness and standing grace, including the privilege of going to His throne of grace and mercy. We are to keep our mind steadfast on God so we can maintain peace in our hearts and our minds for the standing grace to carry us through. It is through this process of perseverance that character is built into us.
Come to the throne and be refreshed, and don’t run away from your Heavenly Father!
Sermon Series: Go to the Throne of Grace
神圣的交换
希伯来书4:16 所以我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。
牵挂是沉重的！想象一下一个马拉松运动员穿着滑雪衫，登山靴，戴着头盔跑马拉松。光是多出来的衣服的重量就会把跑步者累垮！但在生活中，我们常常就像那个运动员，奔跑着自己的赛程却背负着世界的重担、忧虑和牵挂。这些忧虑可能以压力的形式出现，或是由于义的缘故而遭受的逼迫、或是疾病或病痛、或是任何超乎我们的事物，而我们需要做的是将这一切的忧虑都卸给神，得以喘息。
诗篇55:22你要把你的重担卸给耶和华，他必抚养你，他永不叫义人动摇。
彼得前书 5:7你们要将一切的忧虑卸给 神，因为他顾念你们。
只有在有 神同在的秘室里才可寻见神圣的交换，在那里我们把自己所背负的牵挂和焦虑都放在宝座前。作为交换，我们找到所需的帮助、恩典和怜悯。
神从来没有要我们一己承担一切的忧虑，因为我们的魂终将因此而生病。当我们无法自己摆脱压力、忧虑和焦虑，我们会更快的衰老，而这又导致某些疾病。忧虑不能解决任何问题。
以赛亚书 26:3-4坚心倚赖你的，你必保守他十分平安，因为他倚靠你。你们当倚靠耶和华直到永远，因为耶和华是永久的磐石。
相反，我们要把注意力放在 神的身上，想一想当初祂为了恢复我们的儿子名分而付出了何等的代价。祂必不会离开我们，也不会撇下我们， 神渴望与我们同行。我们怎么理解 神和祂的属性，怎么理解祂看待我们和对待我们的方式，这些都极大的影响着我们对祂的信心。因此，我们需要了解祂是通过祂所赐给我们的基督里的新身份来看待我们的，我们拥有它内置的公义和常备的恩典，包括来到祂恩典和怜悯的宝座前的特权。我们要把心思意念放在 神上面，这可以让我们保持内心的平安，让常备的恩典护送我们度过难关。正是通过这个忍耐的过程，造就了我们内在的品格。
来到宝座前打起精神，不要从你的天父身边跑开！
讲章系列：来到施恩宝座前