Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers…He too shared in their humanity…He had to be made like his brothers in every way.
(Hebrews 2:11, 14, 17, NIV)
We tend to think of God as being radically different from us, living in another realm. And in a sense, that’s true.
But I’m startled to realize I can relate to God as a fellow human being. My emotions, my weaknesses, the drives I struggle to understand and control—he has lived through them all, day by day, just as I am doing. He doesn’t understand humans in a detached sense. He is one. He knows exactly how we feel.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18, NIV)
Before I confide in someone, I want to be sure that person can understand what I’m experiencing. I need to know he or she will be sympathetic. Otherwise I won’t make myself vulnerable. When I’m hurting and ashamed, the last thing I want is a critical attitude staring back at me.
But I can be perfectly open with Jesus. He is my Brother, and I know He understands. I can be honest about all my personal problems, knowing that His only attitude toward me is love—always, only love.
More than that, He helps. Whenever I have looked to Him and trusted Him in times of temptation, He has always given me just the strength I need for that moment. And when I need guidance, He gladly gives it, Person to person.
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. 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. (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV)
We can always come to Him with confidence. Do you realize how wonderful that is? No matter how small the dilemma, if you care, He cares. If you face a temptation you’d be ashamed to share with anyone, you can be open with Him and know He will understand and guide you through it.
And if you’ve sinned and are struggling with the guilt, you can still come to Him with confidence. Hard to believe, but true. If you’ll trust Him, His forgiveness is immediate and completely free.
His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV)
He has broken down all the walls between Him and you—the walls of human weakness, of time and space, of all your sins and your guilt. You can look into His face, bringing your temptations and your failures, knowing He is mercy and strength and unbroken love.
Praise to You, Lord!
