Boldly we approach

As God reveals more and more of the sin in my heart, how much there is and how deep some of it rests, I am increasingly amazed by Hebrews 4:14-16

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.

It's easy for me to respond to this passage with self condemnation. Christ was tempted in every way, and He did not sin. Yet, even small circumstances can cause me to stumble. I think God  is continuously reminding me that Christ did not come to bring me shame and condemnation but to set me free from such things. When I compare myself to Christ but fail to account for the true gospel - that Christ came for me - I end up with this weird twisted version of the gospel that is centered around me without Christ - how unholy I am, how unrighteous I am, etc. Rather, as verse 16 highlights, Christ's perfection is significant so that I can approach God's throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need - which, let's be real, is always.

Lord, help me to not twist the gospel and make it about me. Rather, let me really be able to embrace the joy and the hope set before me because of what Christ did. May I boldly approach your thone of grace each day to recevie mercy and find grace.