Proper 23

Last week we were in the book of Hebrews and I pointed out that it opens with this beautiful idea that God has revealed himself to us because he wants to be known and wants us to know him.

And that he has revealed himself most fully in Jesus.

So we can say, God is like Jesus.

We’re going to stay in Hebrews and look at what Jesus shows us about God and our relationship with him.

Hebrews 4:12–16 (NIV84) - 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 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. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, 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 sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The first big idea that we’re presented here is that the word of God is living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword.

When we hear “the word of God” we probably think of the Bible

That’s not WRONG, but it’s not complete either

We’d be better to think of the word of God as God’s revelation, which includes the Bible,

God revealed himself to the prophets and the prophets wrote things down.

But, what did we just say last week is God’s fullest revelation to us?

Jesus.

Go back to Hebrews 1.

And according to John’s gospel Jesus is the WORD made flesh.

He is God’s revelation of himself in a person.

And what this passage tells us is that God’s revelation active, it’s working, it’s effecting change in us and in the world

And that’s because his revelation is relational.

It’s unfolding and evolving and deepening.

And as human beings who are also changing and navigating unfolding circumstances of our own his revelation hits us in different ways as different times.

There might be days when you read a passage you’ve heard ten sermons on and for whatever reason that day it just wrecks you.

It just stirs something in you you can’t explain.

God’s revelation is living and active, working in us progressively in different places.

Not only that, it’s penetrating, like a sword.

It’s not a blunt object, if you’ll forgive the graphic metaphor.

God’s revelation of himself doesn’t just wap us upside the head or hammer us with truisms.

It has a way of getting into our inner most being and getting at some things in a surgical way.

That bitterness connected to that one wound from a long time ago, God’s revelation can get in there and speak to that.

The SECOND big idea presented here is that nothing is hidden from God

We don’t tend to live like we know this to be true.

We tend to think there are parts of our lives that ONLY we know about.

But here we’re reminded, if we think we have a secret life even God doesn’t know about

secret actions

secret habits

secret thoughts

secret feelings

We’re fooling ourselves.

We are exposed before him.

NOW

How these truths strike us has a lot to do with our understanding of who God is.

And it could be, that for many of us, the idea that nothing is hidden from God and that his word is able to carve us up is TERRiFYING.

I was reading this with my son and he was like, “uh, is a sword a good thing in this case?”

Because if our idea of God is that he is distant and angry and would really like to punish us

Well then we imagine that what he sees and discerns in us is only going to lead to more condemnation

“Oh, God sees everything? He must hate me and be disgusted by me.”

And many times we’re given that very message by people who are trying to make grace seem amazing by emphasizing how disgusting we are to God and that it’s incredible God would bother saving us because he’s so repulsed by us.

But that’s wrong thinking.

God isn’t repulsed by us.

He cherishes us.

And what’s more, he understands and is empathetic to your weakness

How? Why?

Because God became man in Jesus and knows what it’s like to be a human being in a fallen world.

He knows what it’s like to be angry, hungry, scared

He knows what it’s like to lose a loved one

He knows what is’s like to be betrayed and abused

Tempted in every way but without sin, he gets it.

And his response to us isn’t condemnation it’s compassion that moves him to help us.

Notice what the application point is in verse 16.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

It isn’t, “so be ashamed of yourself and get your act together.”

It’s God saying, “I know you’re caught in the brokenness of it all and can’t untangle yourself. I’m not condemning you. Come, let me help you.”

So think about how that understanding of God shifts the tone of this passage.

No longer are we triggered into terror of being exposed and condemned.

Instead we can simply learn to surrender and trust.

Oh God, you already know all this, let me bring it to you and receive the grace you promise.

God I need to work through this.

Your word is able to help me really get underneath my thoughts and feelings and motives

Instead of hiding we can open up and pursue movement forward toward healing.