Throne of Grace

Let 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.
Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Someone included this verse the other day in a prayer I overheard. Something struck me that I had never thought about: "the throne of grace." It is a beautiful verse by any standard with the most wonderful phrases imaginable. I had thought about approaching with confidence or boldly as another version puts it. I had thought about receiving mercy and finding grace. I had certainly thought about my time of need. But for some reason I had never thought about the throne of grace.

A throne is normally associated with power and authority and the ultimate position of respect. Grace is hard to define but often is said to be undeserved favor. I think grace is one of those things that is easily recognized when encountered but terribly difficult to describe to someone else.

There is a tremendous juxtaposition in the concept of grace anyway because it does take some kind of power position to be able to be gracious. That's not totally true of course. I can easily imagine someone really down and out being terribly mistreated and then that person acting graciously. That's certainly a form of grace. But real grace is when the someone that is offended or mistreated could crush you like a bug and not only does not but lifts you up.

Then I come to this verse about coming into the throne room of the Lord of creation and the very throne on which He sits is described as a throne of grace. It is just such a remarkable image to me. It just continues to fascinate me.

In my mind I imagine the throne to be constructed of grace. I think every act of grace we perform in the service of the Lord might be included. But that's dwarfed by the tremendous act of grace He performed for us: "forgive them for they know not what they do."

Blessings and grace.

6 months.