If Lord Jesus truly isn’t afraid of our darkness, and in fact is already there waiting for us in our pits of struggle, addiction, compulsion, dissatisfaction – you name it — we must glimpse not only a thimbleful of what grace means, we must meet her ever present twin sister – mercy.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
When do we need grace and mercy most? The author of Hebrews tells us in our time of need. Our time of need no matter what that need might be or how dark our soul or circumstances may seem.
Think of your current concerns that trouble your thoughts and your heart, whether personal struggles – which we are looking at in this section of our reading – or relational or situational.
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Rate them on a scale from one to ten with one being I think I can handle this to ten being I think I am not going to make it through this. Lord Jesus is there in the midst of your concern regardless of its rating. From knowing the hairs of your head Luke 12:7 to facing down death Philippians 1:20-21. His amazing grace and marvelous mercy are ours for the asking even when we are acting out in our struggles of sin that would seem to nullify anything having to do with God.
In simplest definition, grace is getting what we don’t deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. It can’t get much plainer than that, however, these hand-in-hand sisters are ever: So. Much. More.
The definition for the Old Testament Hebrew word chen, translated as grace in our Bible, is favor, graciousness, grace, kindness, beauty, pleasantness, charm, attractiveness, loveliness, preciousness, elegance, and affectionate regard. The root word chanan means to act graciously or mercifully toward someone; to be compassionate, to be favorably inclined.
As we look to the New Testament Greek word charis used for grace, we find that its root comes for the Greek word chara meaning joy and chairo to rejoice. Charis produces rejoicing because of the joy and delight it brings to its recipients. New Testament grace is a kindness received or desired, a benefit, favor or a gift, acceptance, approval, generosity, open-heartedness, and magnanimity.
Which if any of these definitions, expands our hearts, warms our souls, or soothes our thoughts? They all do. Which of these definitions do you need in your life at this moment of time? It is yours. It is found in Jesus.