Keep Yourself There

If you've ever heard anyone say, "There, but for the grace of God, go I," you either rolled your eyes or nodded your head.  What we mean when we say such a thing is that we are not in the gutter because God is gracious.  Never mind that His grace is sufficient for the one in the gutter; we say it intending to thank God for the good things that we have.

First of all it's important to know that grace is not dependent on anything going on in your life, that is: your circumstances.  It is dependent on your heart.  You can be down and out - in the gutter - and be flush with the grace of God.  You can also be high on the hog and be utterly spent of grace.  It comes down to a matter of will, of choice.  You get to choose to walk in God's grace.

In Hebrews 4:16 we are given a simple instruction for how to choose it: walk in and get it.

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

That last phrase is interesting, "in time of need".  I would submit to you that you probably never have a time when you don't need the grace of God, and so the takeaway is that you shouldn't leave the throne.  Stay there.  Camp out.  Keep yourself in the presence of God.

And that's it, that is how you make it through life the best possible way, you keep yourself in the presence of God.  Every other sermon you hear, book you read, song you sing, Epiphany you receive; anything you will ever learn about God is subordinate to this simple instruction: keep yourself in the presence of God.  And note that we are to walk up to the throne with confidence.  Confidence?  What confidence?  The confidence that we are called sons and daughters of God, adopted into His family by the blood of Jesus.  And so there are two things that you need.

1) the blood of Jesus
2) a camping spot at the foot of the throne

But really - really - there is only one thing you need, as Jesus pointed out.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."  But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)