Accepting help is sometimes very hard. We are supposed to be independent and manage on our own, right? Hence it is terrifying to admit that we do need help, at least, once in awhile. We would like to be perfect and self-sufficient. Maybe that’s pride talking because we were created to live together. That’s why practicing giving and receiving help creates community and it paves a way for Christ to enter our hearts and minds.

Asking forgiveness is sometimes very hard, too. I’ve realized that just like children we need to practice forgiveness in everyday life so asking forgiveness becomes natural. Then asking forgiveness is not a matter of pride but a matter of receiving grace. Just like we need to practice receiving help and asking forgiveness from people we need to practice it with God, too. It needs to become a natural part of our way of life so we don’t let it slip through our fingers.

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. 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 4:14-16, MSG)

Jesus knows us. He knows what it is to be human. Jesus knows what we are going through right now. He is not out of touch with our reality. Our life is not foreign to him. So we can be certain that our God knows what he is doing and that he is fully alert what is going on in our lives. He is waiting for us to approach him with anything and everything that concern us.

We are supposed to boldly approach God for help and forgiveness. God knows what we need and he is ready to fill our hands. But we need to empty our hands and put them out to receive God’s grace, peace, and anything else we might need. That’s what living in grace is all about.

Take the mercy, accept the help. Don’t let God’s abundant gifts slip through your fingers. Because nothing compares to grace. Nothing sustains like grace. And nothing substitutes grace.

So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it! (Hebrews 6: 1-3, MSG)

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for fully knowing each of us.
Thank you for offering us grace upon grace.
Show us how to fully live in your grace.
Enable us to leave self-help behind us.
Equip us to live in community,
to practice giving and receiving.
Empower us to always stick to you.
Strengthen us, sustain us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What keeps you from putting your hand out to receive?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you practice living in God’s grace!

Photo courtesy of Marian Trinidad