Pastor Jonah Sage preached Hebrews 4:16. There in the stable, which was the throne room of God, you will receive God’s mercy. Lector: Lisa Tant
Pastor Jonah Sage preached Hebrews 4:16. There in the stable, which was the throne room of God, you will receive God’s mercy.
Lector: Lisa Tant
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
Coming to this verse, on this day, teaches us nearly all we need to know of the life of faith.
Where do we find God, how do we come to God, and why should we come to him?
It is Christmas, and we all know where to find God on Christmas. He’s in a stable.
He’s surrounded by shepherds and animals, a weary mother and confused father.
He’s being announced by angels…and there he is. The Baby God, asleep in a manger
Once you know God is found in a stable, everything changes.
No one would have thought to look for him there. No one expected him there.
Once you know God is found in a stable, you’ll look for him everywhere.
Where is God? He’s in a stable, which means he’s everywhere.
He’s with the hungry we don’t have to feed. The lonely we don’t have to comfort.
One of my favorite authors, reflecting on this, said God is found in the desperate human need of people everywhere that we are free to turn our backs on.
If you want to find God, you’ll go to him in the stables of our world.
If we know where he is, how are we to come? We come boldly.
It means honestly, sincerely, without pretense, free from a curated presence.
We come plainly, directly, concealing nothing.
Perhaps we come to him like we would come to the baby in the stables.
Cautiously, maybe slowly so as not to startle him…but certainly not afraid.
Not afraid of his disapproval or his judgment or his wrath or his anger.
Christmas tells us what God really thinks about us.
When it comes down to it, after centuries of religious hand-wringing and rule following, he says enough with this and comes as a baby.
He’ll take care of the preparations, he’ll take care of the rule following and that whole religious business. And he’ll do all that because it’s really just you he’s after.
So, he comes as a baby.
We know this baby will grow and eventually he will suffer and die and be raised.
Easter is a long ways off yet, though. Sometimes Good Friday seems to last so long.
But Christmas reminds us, in the midst of our Good-Friday-feeling lives, how he came.
And since he came as a Baby, that tells us all we need to know about how to come to him.
You might be nervous or uncertain. It may seem awkward.
But do not be afraid. You who are weary, or lonely, or nervous or uncertain.
Be not afraid, and let not your heart be troubled. Come to him, and remember what you will find there.
There, in the stable, which was the throne room of God, you will receive his mercy.
In the presence of God, you receive smiles and the warmest welcome.
There, you will find grace to help you when you need it most.
I wish I could tell you what that will mean for you and for us. I’m not entirely sure.
He knows what you need, and he delights in caring for his children.
We perhaps won’t expect it, any more than we expected a stable.
But know this: when you come to God, you will receive mercy. You will receive grace. You will receive his help.
Where do you find him? Oh, he’s right here! He’s over there, he’s around the corner…he’s in the stable, he’s in the dark corner of your world and the bright spotlights.
He’s every place anything can ever be found. Go to him.
How? As you would a child. Plainly, directly, unafraid and unashamed.
Come without pretense, with nothing to prove and no one to impress.
And what will you find? What will you receive? Mercy. Grace. Help.
Oh how he loves you. Merry Christmas, Sojourn. Let’s pray.