Boldly Approach The Throne Of Grace

You Have Access: The Revolutionary Truth About Your High Priest

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Have you ever felt too broken to approach God? Too sinful to pray? Too far gone to come back?‍

There's a passage in Hebrews that completely dismantles this lie. It reveals something so radical about our relationship with God that it should fundamentally change how we live every single day.

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The High Priest Who Knows Your Struggle

The book of Hebrews makes a stunning claim: we have a high priest who has "gone through the heavens"—Jesus, the Son of God. But here's what makes this revolutionary: this isn't some distant, disconnected deity who looks down on humanity with detached judgment.‍

Scripture tells us plainly: "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, and yet is without sin."

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Let that sink in for a moment.‍

Jesus wasn't just God pretending to be human. He was fully God and fully human. He experienced real hunger. Real exhaustion. Real temptation. When the devil came to tempt Him in the wilderness, suggesting He turn stones to bread, it wasn't a hollow temptation. Jesus was genuinely hungry. The temptation was real.‍

This means Jesus knows what it feels like when you're hangry and about to lose your patience. He understands the pull of temptation when you're at your weakest. He's felt the weight of human limitation, the frustration of physical frailty, the intensity of genuine temptation.

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The Pattern of Victory

Here's where it gets even more powerful: Jesus was tempted in every way we are, but the outcome was different. He could have gotten angry, but He didn't. He could have given in to any number of temptations, but He chose not to.‍

This isn't meant to discourage us—it's meant to show us that victory is possible.‍

We all face different temptations. What easily trips up one person might not even register as a struggle for someone else. Yet we're quick to judge each other, thinking, "How could they struggle with that?" Meanwhile, someone else is looking at our struggles with the same bewilderment.‍

The truth is, temptation is only temptation if it's something you actually want. And Scripture promises that there is no temptation that has seized us that is impossible to bear. God always provides a way out. The question is: are we looking for it?

When anger starts rising, when lust begins to pull, when bitterness starts to take root—that's the moment to look for the exit. Not to plow ahead into sin, but to flee. To walk away. To choose differently.

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The Invitation That Changes Everything

But here's the most stunning part of this entire passage. After establishing that Jesus is our high priest who understands our weaknesses and has conquered temptation, we receive this invitation: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."‍

Read that again. Boldly approach. With confidence.‍

This goes against every human instinct we have. When we mess up, what do we want to do? Hide. Pull away. Distance ourselves from God. It's been this way since Adam and Eve covered themselves in the garden and tried to hide from God.‍

But Scripture flips this completely upside down. Instead of running away when we're struggling with sin, we're invited to run toward God. To approach His throne boldly. Confidently. Without fear.‍

Why? Because we have VIP access.

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The VIP Pass You Already Have

Think about it this way: if someone handed you backstage passes to see your favorite band, would you hesitate to use them? Would you stand outside the venue thinking, "I'm not worthy to go backstage"? No. You'd flash that badge with confidence because you have access.‍

The blood of Jesus is your VIP pass. It's your access granted. And unlike a concert where they might check your background or your credentials, Jesus only looks for one thing: is His blood applied to your life? If yes, you have complete access.‍

You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to have it all together. You don't have to know all the right theological terms or have years of Bible knowledge. This isn't a religion of what you know—it's a religion of who you know.‍

And you know Jesus. Which means you have access.

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The Living Word That Penetrates

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There's a reason many of us avoid this truth. Hebrews 4:12 tells us: "The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart."

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Nothing is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before Him.

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We tell ourselves stories. We justify our behavior. We minimize our sin. We avoid confronting the anger, the bitterness, the lust, the jealousy. We build walls and convince ourselves we're fine.

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‍‍But God's Word cuts through all of that. It exposes what we've been hiding. It reveals the truth about our hearts—not to condemn us, but to free us.

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Stop Hiding and Start Approaching

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The call today is simple but profound: stop hiding.

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Stop telling yourself that you're too far gone. Stop avoiding God because of your sin. Stop keeping Him at arm's length because you're ashamed.

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Your high priest knows your struggle. He's felt your temptations. He sympathizes with your weakness. And He's standing before the Father on your behalf, representing you, interceding for you.

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You have access. You have a high priest. You have the blood of Jesus applied to your life.

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So approach boldly. Approach confidently. Bring your mess, your struggles, your temptations, your failures. Lay them at His feet. Let Him wash you, forgive you, cleanse you, and make you new.

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The throne of grace is open. The invitation stands. The access has been granted.

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The only question left is: will you approach?

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 5-Day Devotional for your week: Approaching God with Confidence

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Day 1: Your Great High Priest

Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16‍

Devotional: You have a Great High Priest who has walked through every realm—earth, spiritual darkness, and heaven itself. Jesus isn't distant or disconnected from your struggles. He lived as fully human, experiencing hunger, exhaustion, and temptation. This means when you pray, you're approaching someone who truly understands. He's not shocked by your weakness or disappointed by your struggles. Today, reject the lie that you need to clean yourself up before approaching God. Jesus is your VIP pass to the throne room. You don't earn access—it's already been purchased by His blood. Whatever you're facing today, remember: you have a High Priest who sympathizes with your weakness and invites you to come boldly.‍

Reflection: What area of weakness have you been hiding from God? How does knowing Jesus experienced human frailty change your approach to prayer?

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Day 2: Tempted Yet Sinless

Reading: Hebrews 2:17-18; 1 Corinthians 10:13‍

Devotional: Jesus was tempted in every way, just as you are. Let that truth sink in. He felt the pull toward anger, the desire to take shortcuts, the weight of human limitation. Yet He never sinned. This isn't meant to discourage you—it's meant to show you that victory is possible. Every temptation you face has a way out that God provides. The difference between you and Jesus isn't that He didn't feel temptation's pull; it's that He always looked for and took the exit. Stop making excuses for patterns of sin. Your Savior proved it's possible to stand firm. Today, when temptation comes, pause and ask: "Where's the way out God is providing?" Then flee toward it with confidence.‍

Reflection: What temptation keeps tripping you up? Can you identify the "way out" God has been providing that you've been ignoring?

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Day 3: Stop Hiding, Start Approaching

Reading: Genesis 3:8-10; Hebrews 10:19-22‍

Devotional: Since the Garden of Eden, humanity's default response to sin has been hiding. Adam and Eve covered themselves and hid from God's presence. You do the same thing—avoiding prayer, skipping church, keeping God at arm's length when you've messed up. But the gospel flips this script entirely. Because of Jesus, you're invited to do the opposite of hiding: approach boldly. Not because you're perfect, but because Jesus is. When God looks at you, He sees the blood of Jesus applied to your life. That's your confidence. Stop evaluating yourself by yourself—you'll always fall short. Start evaluating yourself through the lens of Jesus' finished work. Today, whatever you've been hiding, bring it into the light. Boldly approach His throne.‍

Reflection: What have you been hiding from God? Will you choose today to approach Him boldly instead of cowering in shame?

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Day 4: The Living and Active Word

Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13; Psalm 139:23-24‍

Devotional: God's Word isn't a dusty book of ancient history—it's living and active, sharper than any sword. It penetrates beneath the stories you tell yourself, the excuses you make, and the walls you've built. Nothing is hidden from God's sight. Everything is laid bare before Him. This could feel terrifying, but it's actually liberating. You can stop pretending. God already knows your heart—the good, bad, and ugly. He sees the thoughts you're ashamed of and the attitudes you try to justify. Instead of avoiding Scripture, invite it to do its work. Let God's Word expose what needs healing, convict what needs changing, and comfort what needs peace. The same Word that judges also heals and transforms. ‍

Reflection: When was the last time you let God's Word examine your heart instead of just reading for information? Ask God to search you today.

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Day 5: Deal Gently With Others

Reading: Hebrews 5:1-3; Galatians 6:1-2‍

Devotional: The high priest was called to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray because he himself was subject to weakness. This is your calling too. You're not saved because of what you know or how perfect you've been—you're saved because of who you know: Jesus. This levels the playing field completely. The person struggling with a sin you don't understand? They have the same access to Jesus you do. You who have been shown mercy are called to show mercy. Deal gently with others because you know your own frailty. Christianity isn't about knowing more—it's about knowing Jesus and being known by Him. Today, extend the same grace to others that has been extended to you.

Reflection: Is there someone you've been judging harshly? How can you deal more gently with them, remembering your own weakness and need for Jesus?

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