Sunday, December 10, 2017

Seeking Mercy, Finding Shalom

UV 2850/10000 Seeking Mercy, Finding Shalom
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 v 16
Earthly powers and rulers make strict rules and arrangements for access control but the Lord God facilitates our easy access to Him through Jesus. The more the distance, the greater the awe, the sense of power and security for the ones in seats or positions of authority in this world. But, the Lord God in contrast revels in giving us easy and full access to His throne and presence. Since we have access to the Father through the Holy Spirit sent to us by the Son Jesus, we can enter the awesome presence of the Living God. He sits not on a throne of judgement and condemnation but the throne of grace. We cannot so enter boldly on the basis of our own righteousness but the borrowed glory and righteousness of Jesus. Jesus as a human on earth and as our High Priest and Advocate before the throne of Heaven gives us the confidence and trust to enter the presence of the Absolutely holy and absolutely powerful Almighty Father. The veil of flesh no longer bars our vision of the Father. We are able to commune with the Father and experience His mercy, love and grace.

Though our eyes do not perceive the Father or the Son or the Holy Spirit, our spirit senses the Triune God the moment we bow our heads in prayer, the times we listen and meditate on His word. We need to set aside a time for such daily communion and obtain mercy for our present shortcomings or failures and weaknesses. We glory in our weaknesses or infirmities where formerly we felt guilty and ashamed as the grace of the Lord will be at work in the areas and times of our greatest weakness. The Lord knows our need even before we have uttered or prayed a single word. But He needs a confession of our faith in Him to set in motion the forces and resources that are at His command.

Once we are in the presence of the Lord, first we obtain mercy for our shortcomings, wilful and unintended. Having obtained mercy by claiming the washing in the blood of Jesus for Jesus unlike other High Priests did not make a sacrifice of another creature but of Himself, we have peace or Shalom with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Shalom is a two sided coin with each side having many facets: peace on one side- peace with God, peace with self, peace with others and prosperity on the other- prosperity or well being of spirit, mind and body. Having obtained mercy, we can seek and find grace or His help and enablement in our area and time of need. Every deficit in our lives is an opportunity to obtain the amazing grace of the Lord, to experience the reality of God in real time and space.

Prateep V Philip

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