DEVOTION – DAY 541

Hebrews 4:16 “Turning To The Lord For Help”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4 reminds us that the Lord Jesus is our Great High Priest. When He walked the earth as Jesus of Nazareth, He had experienced all kinds of temptations and sufferings. And He had over-come them all. Thus, the Lord Jesus is perfectly suited to give us immediate help when we face temptations and times of suffering. That is why the above verse tells us that we may approach God’s throne with confidence, and we can expect that He is merciful and will come to our assistance in our time of need, whether it is to flee from temptation, or to weather a period of suffering. This is comforting to know because our God is the Almighty God of the Universe, but He is also an intimate and personal God who will come to our assistance. 

Once when I was on holiday on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, I fell ill because of altitude sickness. I was affected by the lack of oxygen because the air was thin at high altitudes. We were over 10,000 ft above sea level. I was rushed to a local hospital and had to be treated there for several days. I had to fall back on verses like Hebrews 4:16 to pray to God to restore me quickly so that I could return home safely, where I can breathe more easily. 

Many people prayed for me as well. God answered my prayers and the medical team in that local hospital did their best to give me the best treatment they were able to give. I was able to rearrange some flights without having to pay any penalties. I had just enough cash to pay for all the unforeseen hospital charges. On the 4th day, I was able to catch a flight to Kunming which was at a lower elevation. I was able to breathe on my own without need for oxygen assistance. I soon recovered. I am grateful that God is merciful and the Lord Jesus heard our prayers and enabled us to return safely home. On my return home, I went to my lung specialist for a medical follow-up and he confirmed that I had recovered well. God is faithful and He is merciful. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, it is such a great privilege to approach your throne of grace in confidence that you know what we are going through and how we need your help. Thank you for your gracious help in times of need. Thank you for your grace and mercy. May we give you praise and thanks for all that you have done, am doing and will do in our lives. We pray in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

• Are you facing a problem, a health issue, or a challenge? Will you seek the Lord’s help by approaching His throne of grace? 

• Whenever you face a crisis, where do you run for help? Is it to your friends and family members or do you turn to the Lord for help by praying to Him?

• Why is the Lord Jesus superior to turn to, instead of your friends and family members when you need help? Discuss.

• How has the Lord Jesus helped you in the past when you faced challenges? Share.