Today's Devotion: 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 Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Heb 4:16)

According to the Teacher's Commentary, this verse tells us that we should never be ashamed to come to the Lord with our problems, no matter how embarrassing, sordid, or shameful that problem is. Jesus is our High Priest, and God calls us to turn to Jesus and to rely on Him.

Today's Comments: How often is it that we leave Jesus out of our lives, even though we are troubled and tormented because of our sins and deficiencies. Perhaps, like Adam, we are tempted to hide in the garden so that the Lord does not see us naked in our inadequacies. Instead, we must be willing to step up to the throne, confess our sins, and ask for guidance and forgiveness.