Conversations with God

Friday - May 7th

Scripture to Read Today: Hebrews 4:12-16

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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 4:16

In the Old Testament, a person could not truly have a conversation with God like we can today. Before Jesus died on the cross, humanity was separated from God and had no direct access to Him. The law, the tabernacle, the priesthood, the rituals, and the sacrifices of the religious requirements given to Moses by God at Mount Sinai all demonstrated the lack of access individuals had to God. You had to go through all of these things to have someone else plead your case before God.

The Old Testament demonstrates that we are all sinners and cannot achieve access to God on our own. But Jesus enters the scene of this great divide! As He dies on the cross, the most significant mosaic symbol of humanity's separation from God, the veil separating even the high priest from the intimate presence of God, ripped. Access would now be possible. Again, it would not be up to people to achieve it. Christ had accomplished it. Faith in what Christ had done would bring the individual access to God.

The priesthood, the tabernacle, the sacrifices, the rituals, and the laws all had been removed at that moment Christ died. Access to all was made possible.

When one knows God through saving faith in Christ, they have access to God anytime, anywhere. The writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews says it clearly, "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 4:16). We can approach God's throne with confidence because of His grace to us in His Son.

We can talk to God about anything we feel we need to discuss with Him. We can come anytime we have need. We do not need to pray through a pastor, priest, or spiritual leader. We do not need to do acts of penitence to prove ourselves worthy. We need not complete any ritual. We come to God confidently, boldly, knowing He will hear us based on the finished work of Christ for us.

Conversations with God can occur at any moment. They can take place in any location. Our conversations with God can be an ongoing chat all day long - and even through the night. The grace of God invites us into the very throne room of heaven.

I don't know why we don't talk to God more because of this great grace given to us. Forgive me; I don't know why I don't talk to God more.

Take time today to chat with God - not just times of prayer. Speak a sentence or two to Him here or there. Tell Him in your heart what is going great about your day, not so great, and even what might be horrible for you today. Have conversations with Him all day long!

Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we have complete access to talk to God anywhere, at any time!