Throne of Grace

The more I walk with Jesus, the more I see how patient and personal His guidance really is. As I grow in my relationship with our Lord and Savior, I’m learning how gently He corrects me when I misunderstand or misspeak because of my own perspective. I know there is still so much to learn, and I expect that growth will continue until my final breath.

One of those moments came recently when I became fascinated with the idea and the imagery of the “courts of heaven.” In thinking about His courts, I imagined myself standing there as though I was arguing my own case, and honestly it was exciting. I felt like in His courts I needed to be the one to defend myself against Satan, taking the lead so to speak, and petitioning God on my behalf. But then I felt a familiar nudge, the Holy Spirit, who quietly reminded me of something:

“Is that what My Word says? That you have to advocate for yourself?"

"I sent My Son to die for you so that He would be your Advocate, your intercessor.”

In that moment, the Lord reminded me that in His courts, He is already Victor. This is not my battle, nor my case to contend for - it is already won by Jesus.

The Throne of Grace

What the Lord showed me in that moment brought me back to the simplicity and power of the gospel...because of Jesus, we don’t stand before God as defendants pleading a case, we come as children approaching a Father who welcomes us with mercy and grace.

Hebrews 4:16 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. This stands in stark contrast to the Old Testament system, where only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year. But through Jesus, we now have full access to the throne of grace and direct access to God through faith in Him.

In Hebrews 10:19-20, And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. Here, we are reminded that Jesus’ death and sacrifice has opened a direct and living way into God’s presence, giving us bold access to His throne.

Hebrews 7:25, Therefore, He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. This tells us that Jesus, as our High Priest, who sits at the throne, is the One who intercedes (prays) on our behalf to the Father.

Ephesians 3:12, In whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. We can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence (His throne), as stated, not by works or rituals but by faith in Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As we come before Him in prayer, we can bring our praise and gratitude, present our needs, and rely on His mercy as we confess our sins. In this place, we receive strength and guidance, trusting Jesus as He intercedes on our behalf. We are called to walk in obedience and faith, resting in the assurance of His finished work. God’s throne is truly a place of mercy, forgiveness, and help.

Throughout Scripture, courtroom imagery is sometimes used, which can make us think of a legal system. For example, Isaiah 33:22 says, For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king, highlighting God’s authority and justice. In Revelation 12:10, Satan is called the accuser, showing how he tries to bring charges against us for our sins. But for believers, the verdict has already been settled: Romans 8:1 declares, There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus is our advocate, as 1 John 2:1 tells us, and Hebrews 12:24 reminds us that His blood speaks a better word.

Though the language may sound like a courtroom, we do not need to petition or argue our case, nor await a heavenly verdict. There is no spiritual litigation because God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and to serve as our intercessor, securing full access to His grace on our behalf.

In closing, remember that you are invited to approach the throne of grace with confidence and boldness through Jesus, knowing that, unlike any courtroom system, we come simply as children to our loving Heavenly Father.

God is so good!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your grace, love, and mercy.

Your sister in Christ,

Amy