Hebrews 4:16

THE THRONE OF GRACE

‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’

Hebrews 4:16

Mercy is man’s great need. If he looks back he needs mercy for the past, every day he needs mercy; and when he looks forward to eternity he needs mercy still.

I. God’s mercy is free—‘Every one that asketh receiveth’ (St. Luke 11:10). His mercy is free as the air or the sunshine, given without money and without price to those who feel they have no merit to bring.

II. God’s mercy is tender.—We read of this ‘tender mercy’ in St. Luke 1:78. Never think of the majesty of God without His tenderness. The heart of the great Father melts with pity and love.

III. God’s mercy is exhaustless.—The streams of His mercy never run dry. In every age men drink of these rivers of mercy, and go on their way rejoicing. Yet God’s mercy is ‘plenteous’ still—enough for thee and for me, and for all who will seek it.

IV. ‘And find grace to help in time of need.’—This teaches us one use of prayer. It is a preparation for trial. The sorrows of life too often take us by surprise. Men of the world are crushed by unexpected troubles, and led thereby to despair and even suicide. They are utterly bewildered, and cry, ‘O God, who could have expected such a blow as this?’

—Rev. F. Harper.

Illustration

‘How touching was the end of the great missionary-explorer, David Livingstone! His servants found him lying dead in the hut that had been built for him. Alone, and on his knees, he had breathed out his soul to God while the shadows of the African night were still around him. This was early on the 1st of May, 1873. The traveller’s rest had come. “He entered heaven with prayer.” ’