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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Our confidence as believers is anchored in the fact that Jesus knows what it is like to live in human flesh. He can sympathize with our weaknesses. He knows the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He understands my temptation because He has endured it to the fullest extent.
Suppose, for a moment, that you are standing behind one of those big diesel-powered tractors. You are holding a rope attached to the back of the gigantic machine. And your job is to keep the monster tractor from moving. That’s right, as the engine revs and the smoke bellows from the stack and as the gears engage, your job—in this man against machine moment— is to stand strong and keep the tractor from moving forward. Think you can do it? Yes, I know it’s a foolish question. In one nanosecond, you will be pulled along behind the tractor. You will feel a fraction of the power before you go down. Now suppose that you could actually keep the tractor from moving. As the tractor engaged all its power, you held your ground. If you could actually keep the tractor from moving, you would feel the full power of the machine.
Here’s my point: regarding sin, Jesus felt its entire power. He was tempted but never gave in. He experienced sin’s total force. He was tempted to the max, yet never once lost His footing. Jesus has experienced temptation. This is the One we approach with confidence. And He, who was tempted fully, without sin, will give us all the mercy and grace we need to resist sin as well.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise of grace and mercy to help in my times of need. There are situations when the waves of temptation seem to push me over. Help me stand strong in Your strength. In Your name I pray. Amen.
[/expand]Read through the Bible this year:
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