Empty Hands, Full Hearts

     "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5).

      In the present tense, the Apostle Paul referred to our Savior as "the man Christ Jesus."  The Lord Jesus forever retains His humanity, albeit glorified humanity, in order to forever serve as the mediator between God and ourselves.  "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).  Christ is the God who became man and remains man without relinquishing His Divinity.  Thereby we "come to God by Him" at the beginning our salvation, and we continue to make our approach forevermore through the person, merits, and work of our great mediatorial High Priest.

   "Through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).

   This truth bears great practical impact in the maintenance of our fellowship with God, protecting us from both pride and despair.  In times of faithfulness, we remember and continue to affirm the Lord Jesus as the source of our enabling - "Christ, the power of God" - and as our only means of access to God (I Corinthians 1:24).  Our own works do not provide such confidence in approaching the aptly entitled "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).  His works rather paved and keep paved our way to God.  Thus, we come always in humility, joining the hymn writer in his affirmation of grace: "Nothing in my hand I bring, only to Thy cross I cling!"

   In times of unfaithfulness, we may come no less and with no less assurance, so long as make our approach with the same affirmation of "only to Thy cross I cling."  Our spiritual enemies tempt us to believe otherwise, seeking to discourage our coming to God when we most need Him.  We do our Father nor ourselves any favors by wallowing in sin, seeking to punish ourselves in forgetfulness that Someone else has already borne the consequences of our unbelief and disobedience.  Thus, we may - and must - approach the throne of grace in those times when the temptation to discouragement and despair challenges us to hide in the trees, as it did Adam and Eve, from the only One who can help us (Genesis 3:8-10).  

    Our Mediator intercedes for us in this and in every moment.  So long as we come with a trusting, humble, and honest heart of faith in the Lord Jesus alone, we may approach our Heavenly Father in the confidence He will receive us.  Upon arrival at the throne of grace, we will find whatever our hearts may need, be it encouragement, humbling, or the change that only God can effect.  No other way exists to maintain our fellowship, nor is any other way necessary.  The remembrance and affirmation of such blessed truth keeps us coming with empty hands clinging to the Savior who fills our hearts as we rejoice in "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

"We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him."

(Ephesians 3:12)

Weekly Memory Verse

   By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

(Hebrews 10:14)