Hebrews 4:13

Hebrews 4:13 NIV
¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

This is the first verse from my devotional today.  I've been meditating on this one fact for a while now.  This reality is both comforting and frightening.

As kids we were accountable to our parents/guardians.  As adults we are accountable to police, local, state and federal governments.  We have bosses and spouses, pastors and elders and friends.  But they don't know EVERYTHING.  We can lie to them.  We can go behind closed doors.  We can keep secrets and as long as they don't catch us, they will never know.

God is different.  He sees everything.  Not only does he see everything we do, but he knows exactly why we did it.  This can be disconcerting when you want to sin.  He will see it.  But this is good, because if each of us who believe actually take this to heart the sin in our lives will be diminished.  Though if we leave it here it would be a legalistic, cold and fearful obedience.  But we were not left here.

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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.

Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted.  Yet he did not sin.  He can empathize with our struggle.  When we fail we can approach God with confidence and receive mercy and grace.  We will not get what our sins deserve.

I want to address how vs 13 is comforting.  When you are attacked for doing good or when you are falsely accused God see it.  He knows who did it to you and he knows why they did it to you.  When the day to day struggles of life surround you like a storm and you see no way out, God see it all.  Even then you can approach God's throne and receive mercy and grace.

God Bless.