Sunday, March 4, 2012

Come Boldly


We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, 
experienced it all-all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take 
the mercy, accept the help. (Hebrews 4:15, 16 MSG)

....So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will
 find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to
 shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and you shall not [seriously] remember the
reproach of your widowhood any more (Isaiah 54:4 AMP) 

Shame: the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, 
improper, ridiculous done by oneself or another

I often like to THINK that I'm a perfect girl. Every now and then I get on my perfect little princess soapbox and 
brag about my "perfectness" (think I just made up a word). How I say all the right things, I'm polite, I never hurt 
people, i only expose my eyes and ears to good things, I never cheat, I don’t gossip and I never lie. I'm just Gods 
little perfect angel **reaches for my halo** ......then reality hits and welcomes me back from my moment of 
insanity !!!! 

 

Oh how we all wish we were perfect, right? Imagine the bliss we would live in if we could truly be perfect and 
blameless before God! Unfortunately while some of us may think we've come close to this perfection, the fact is 
that the overwhelming majority of people have lived a "less than perfect" life. To be honest I've done and said 
some things that were not pleasing to God and I'm positive have grieved the Holy Spirit. If I were to step off my 
perfect soapbox and get REAL transparent with you, I’m willing to admit my less than perfect life has left me 
with overwhelming feelings of shame.

When I look at the definition of shame, I can see my life weaved through the words. Shame is unfortunately a 
painful feeling I've had to battle with as a result of some "ridiculous" and "dishonorable" decisions done to both 
myself and others. Shame is a powerful emotion that can lead to insecurities, fear, isolation, denial and keep us 
from living confident lives. More importantly it can keep us from an intimate relationship with Christ…BUT oh 
thank God for GRACE (: 
 
I love this passage in Hebrews 4:15-16 that reminds us of the forgiving Father we serve who invites us to 
"come boldly before his throne" to receive his mercy and grace. How comforting to know that no matter your 
past (or current) shame we still have access to the holy of all holies!! He has an open invitation for us to come 
directly to his THRONE, confess our sins, reveal our hurts and receive mercy.
 
I love the message translation "So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, 
accept the help." Don't let shame hold you back!!!  Whether its shame from a broken marriage, abuse, criminal 
past, abortion, sexual promiscuity or drug addiction. NOTHING you have ever done or has been done 
to you will ever keep you from God !!!   
For so long I allowed shame to nearly drown me in a sea of doubt, feeling I wasn't "good enough" or 
"pure enough" to ever have an intimate relationship with God and to be used as a vessel for his kingdom. Oh 
what freedom I experienced when I finally decided to let go of my shame, fully accept Gods grace and start 
living in my purpose. Truth is no matter how perfect you may think you are, we are all unworthy and 
undeserving of his grace. Thankfully being the great God that he is, he still makes it so that we can put our 
shame behind us and move forward bold, confident and fearless in Christ. 

I encourage you to meditate on these passages, let loose the grip shame may have on your life and accept Gods
invitation to come boldly before his throne and walk into your freedom. 

I'll leave you with the lyrics and video of a BEAUTIFUL worship song inspired by this passage, "Come Boldly" 
by Mary Alessi. I keep this one on repeat:)


The pardon is granted the prisoner free

My past is forgiven now your calling me

To come boldly, I come boldly

Master redeemer Savior friend

I know you are waiting to usher me into the holy of Holies

 

I come boldly before Your throne

I come boldly Your throne

By the blood of the Lamb my sins are atoned

I come boldly before Your throne

For the veil has been torn away

Night has turned into day

Now I have found a way to come boldly before your throne.