Listen To Most Current
Grace Notes Archive
December 2023 (1)
November 2023 (4)
October 2023 (4)
September 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
June 2023 (4)
May 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
March 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
January 2023 (4)
December 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
September 2022 (6)
August 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
May 2022 (4)
April 2022 (7)
March 2022 (4)
February 2022 (4)
January 2022 (5)
December 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
August 2021 (4)
July 2021 (6)
June 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
April 2021 (4)
March 2021 (5)
February 2021 (4)
January 2021 (5)
December 2020 (4)
November 2020 (4)
October 2020 (5)
September 2020 (4)
August 2020 (5)
July 2020 (21)
June 2020 (29)
May 2020 (28)
April 2020 (31)
March 2020 (5)
February 2020 (4)
January 2020 (5)
December 2019 (5)
November 2019 (3)
October 2019 (5)
September 2019 (4)
August 2019 (5)
July 2019 (4)
June 2019 (5)
May 2019 (4)
April 2019 (4)
March 2019 (4)
February 2019 (6)
January 2019 (4)
December 2018 (4)
November 2018 (5)
October 2018 (4)
September 2018 (4)
August 2018 (4)
July 2018 (3)
June 2018 (4)
May 2018 (4)
April 2018 (4)
March 2018 (4)
February 2018 (5)
January 2018 (4)
December 2017 (4)
November 2017 (5)
October 2017 (4)
September 2017 (5)
August 2017 (4)
July 2017 (4)
June 2017 (5)
May 2017 (4)
April 2017 (5)
March 2017 (3)
February 2017 (4)
January 2017 (3)
December 2016 (5)
November 2016 (4)
October 2016 (4)
September 2016 (5)
August 2016 (3)
July 2016 (4)
June 2016 (5)
May 2016 (4)
April 2016 (5)
March 2016 (4)
February 2016 (4)
January 2016 (5)
December 2015 (4)
November 2015 (4)
October 2015 (3)
September 2015 (4)
August 2015 (5)
July 2015 (5)
June 2015 (4)
May 2015 (5)
April 2015 (2)
March 2015 (4)
February 2015 (4)
January 2015 (5)
December 2014 (4)
November 2014 (5)
October 2014 (4)
September 2014 (4)
August 2014 (4)
July 2014 (5)
June 2014 (4)
May 2014 (5)
April 2014 (4)
March 2014 (4)
February 2014 (4)
January 2014 (5)
December 2013 (4)
November 2013 (5)
October 2013 (4)
September 2013 (4)
August 2013 (5)
July 2013 (4)
June 2013 (3)
May 2013 (5)
April 2013 (4)
March 2013 (4)
February 2013 (5)
January 2013 (4)
December 2012 (4)
November 2012 (5)
October 2012 (4)
September 2012 (4)
August 2012 (5)
July 2012 (4)
June 2012 (4)
May 2012 (5)
April 2012 (4)
March 2012 (5)
February 2012 (4)
January 2012 (4)
December 2011 (5)
November 2011 (4)
October 2011 (4)
September 2011 (5)
August 2011 (4)
July 2011 (4)
June 2011 (5)
May 2011 (4)
April 2011 (5)
March 2011 (4)
February 2011 (4)
January 2011 (5)
December 2010 (4)
November 2010 (4)
October 2010 (4)
September 2010 (5)
August 2010 (4)
July 2010 (6)
June 2010 (4)
May 2010 (4)
April 2010 (4)
March 2010 (5)
February 2010 (4)
January 2010 (5)
December 2009 (5)
November 2009 (3)
October 2009 (6)
September 2009 (3)
August 2009 (5)
July 2009 (4)
June 2009 (4)
May 2009 (5)
April 2009 (4)
March 2009 (4)
February 2009 (4)
January 2009 (5)
December 2008 (4)
November 2008 (5)
October 2008 (4)
September 2008 (5)
August 2008 (4)
July 2008 (3)
June 2008 (4)
May 2008 (5)
April 2008 (4)
March 2008 (5)
February 2008 (1)
Grace Notes

Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

“I PERMITTED MYSELF TO BE SOUGHT”
by Philip Owen

            Presumptuous arrogance characterizes much of the professing church today.  It is demonstrated in many ways:  a focus on the meeting of human needs and the fulfillment of natural desires, a casual, even dismissive, view of sin, and an emphasis on entertainment rather than worship.  But this presumption is perhaps nowhere more glaringly expressed than in the attitude with which many approach God in prayer.  The popular belief that treats God as if He were no more than a genie in a lamp to be summoned at our convenience in order to satisfy our whims and then safely stuffed back in the lamp and corked up until the next time we need supernatural help can only be compared in egregiousness with the mistaken idea that we can and should command God. 

            The immeasurable grace of God, which He has expressed in His Word through the voluminous prayer promises and the generous invitations to pray, has been misconstrued by insensitive hearts and careless minds as suggesting an authority and power that the believer does not possess.  The fact that God condescends to serve us by inviting us to pray and by answering those prayers does not mean that we have the liberty to approach Him as anything other than supplicants and beggars.  Whether we quote Hebrews 4:16 from the KJV, which speaks of coming “boldly” to the throne of grace or the NASB, which speaks of coming “with confidence,” we must adamantly resist the notion that the liberty and authority in which we come somehow resides in our own nature.  It is “through Christ,” through the penalty that He paid to redeem us from our sins, that we may approach God, and it is “in Christ,” that is being identified with Him that we may make our petitions.  God is gracious toward us, hears and answers our prayers on account of Christ and His redemptive work alone.  Neither the greatness of our need, nor the magnitude of our desire, nor the eloquence of our words, nor the fervor of the spirit with which we express ourselves has any efficacy with God apart from Christ’s work on our behalf.

            Anyone who feels astonished by such thoughts might well direct his attention to these God-breathed words from the prophet Isaiah.  God is speaking:  “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek me.  I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation which did not call on My name” (65:1).   God provides no “open sesame,” no magic words that automatically grant access to His throne of grace, no carte blanche guarantee that He will hear and answer a prayer.  In fact, just the opposite is the case.  “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,” Isaiah writes, “and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (59:2).

            In infinite mercy, God permits access to Himself by those blood-washed saints who come with humble and thankful hearts.  We should never fail to remember that access is a privilege afforded by grace, not a right based on perceived needs nor an authority founded in bombast and foolish self-confidence.  We should approach God with bent head and bowed knees realizing that every request God receives in effect must be sanctified by the blood of Christ and every answer we receive flows to us on that same stream.  When we understand and appreciate the truth that we can do nothing to obligate God to answer our prayers but that He has said to us, “I permitted Myself to be sought . . . I permitted Myself to be found,” then we are approaching prayer and the God Who answers prayer in a proper fashion.

            We have no more to offer God by way of inducing Him to answer our prayers today than we did when we were dead in sin, aliens and enemies of God.  It is according to His abundant mercy in Christ Jesus that He is pleased to hear and answer our prayers.   May we repent of assumption and presumption, coming to God through Christ and in meekness, humility, and great thankfulness.                     

Actions: E-mail | Permalink

Previous Page | Next Page