Boldly Humble

“Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I [am] poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I [am] holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Ps 86:1-5 AV)

Perhaps the one of the reasons David was a man after God’s own heart was his belief in the power of prayer.  I know that I have referenced this before, but the book of Hebrews tells us to go to the throne of God with boldness.  If we look at David’s statement that he is holy, we agree that is pretty bold.  David made some serious mistakes in his life.  Yet, he was able to say that he is holy.  David was not perfect.  He was a sinner just like the rest of us.  Yet, he was able to say that he was holy.  How?  In fact, in verse five, David’s prayer includes a request for forgiveness.  How can one be holy and at the same time, ask for forgiveness?

Herein lies the secret to the boldness commanded in Hebrews 4:16!  “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” This boldness is not arrogance.  This boldness is not confidence in self.  This boldness to refer to oneself as holy comes at the grace of God.  In the Old Testament, it was based upon the promises of the law.  That if the Jewish worshiper would offer sacrifice with a humble and contrite heart, asking forgiveness for his sin, then God would consider him holy.  This is not works!  The sin was temporarily imputed to an animal.  A third party. God had to accept that offering as valid, but still grant forgiveness by His grace.  Since Calvary, Jesus is that perfect sacrifice.  Our sin has been imputed to Him.  Thus, God the Father sees us as holy!  Not because of what we have done, but because what Jesus has done!

I am convinced that prayer is the untapped source of power in our churches, pews, and personal lives.  If we were to just realize how much could change if we approached the throne of God with confidence in the blood of Christ and plead for that which God desperately wants to do for us, things might just radically change!  We are nothing. We are worthless.  But it is Jesus Christ who paid that debt and because of His righteousness imputed to us, we now have worth to a holy God!  Let us find that balance between boldness by the imputed righteousness of Christ and our own humility and worthlessness!