What comes to mind when you think about God? About Jesus? No light-weight question there! Though worthy of a moment of pondering … What do I think about God?
Is God holy, powerful, faithful, merciful, forgiving? Near? Far? Interested in my circumstances, my thoughts, my heart condition? Big enough, patient enough, and loving enough to hear any question I have, to receive my pleas for mercy, for forgiveness, for tangible evidence of His care of me?
Is God lofty and unapproachable? Am I holding something back so that I cannot experience His closeness? Because I am fearful of saying out loud that which lingers in the dark shadows of my heart … a resentment, an unforgiven offense, a jealousy over my circumstances compared to someone else’s? Or feeling like there is no hope beause the weight of my burdens is too heavy and I can’t lift my head?
It has been many years since I first heard this A.W. Tozer quote (from Pastor Lincoln in a sermon) and it still rocks my world every time the Lord brings it before me … “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”*
So here’s the question again … What comes to mind when you think about God?
How we each answer that question is our personal profession of faith, our confession acknowledging who God is and why we count ourself a follower of Jesus.
Chapter 4 in Hebrews ends with three verses that help me focus on what I know to be true …
Hebrews 4.14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is my High Priest and it is His love, mercy, and grace that I profess. He is near and sympathizes with my limited understanding, my weaknesses; though He is without sin. And so … I can come to His throne of grace (grace means undeserved gift) to receive His mercy and grace. I don’t have to carry the burden alone. I don’t have to hold it in secret.
Bring your burdens to the foot of that empty cross, confess your need of Jesus’ forgiveness, and open your heart to know the relief in claiming the rescue and redemption Jesus is offering.
What do I think about Jesus? He is near; He is able; He is ready to receive because He is loving beyond any measure comprehendible by my finite mind.
May you be blessed as you consider what you think about Jesus.
With love, Colleen
*from A.W. Tozer’s book The Knowledge of the Holy.