We are invited to come "boldly" unto the throne of Grace: "In Christ we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (Eph. 3:12). "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16). "Having therefore, brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus .... and having a high priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . ." (Heb. 10:19-22).'

What is this boldness? It is not lack of reverence or awe; it is not an easy familiarity with the Father in the heavens, or a boldness that cheapens the approach. The word signifies freedom of utterance, or freedom of entrance. It means that we can approach unto the Father freely at all times, under any circumstances; it also means that we can express ourselves freely and without restraint on all subjects: pleading forgiveness of sins, making requests for help; unburdening our minds in sorrow or trouble.

The boldness is a liberty not a licence. We must not cheapen prayer by a too familiar approach to the Throne of Grace. We should be ever conscious of the great privilege in being able to come before Him, and with deep respect and love because He has made it possible. Consider the deep, reverential attitude of Abraham, the Friend of God: "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes . . ." (Gen. 18:27). If God's proclaimed friend was awed at such a privilege, we should be also.

Boldness, however, suggests confidence; and it is in the confidence of faith that we approach the Father. His love and kindness, His understanding of our state is such that we can approach Him in that way. Consider the beautiful expressions of the Psalmist:
He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth,
So great is His mercy towards them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west,
So far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children,
So the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame;
He remembereth that we are dust.
(Psalm 103:11-14).

Does not such a statement build up confidence in us, so that we are able to approach Him freely at all times? Can you measure the height of heaven above the earth? You cannot. Nor can you measure the mercy of God! How far is east removed from the west? It is limitless if you believe the earth is round, as evidently the Psalmist did. Consider it yourself. If you take an aeroplane and fly north, distance is limited, because, as soon as you reach the North Pole, you commence to fly south. But if you fly either east or west you pursue infinity, because east never becomes west, or west, east under such conditions.

In short, His mercy is without limit, and our transgressions are completely forgiven when He covers us by His grace.

Even in punishment, the mercy of God is manifested. One of the most beautiful expressions of Scripture, illustrative of this is contained in Jeremiah 29:10-13: "Thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end (alternate rendition: to make your latter end an object of hope). Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."

What is particularly encouraging about that statement? The fact that, in spite of all external appearances to the contrary, God's thoughts were of "peace and not evil" towards His people. They saw only tokens of wrath. They saw the victorious Babylonian army that had breached and destroyed the city of Jerusalem; they saw the ancient Temple a smoking ruin; they were herded together in groups to be driven into captivity. Yet God insisted that His thoughts were of peace and not evil towards the nation. In other words, what they suffered was the disciplinary hand of the Lord, designed to correct them, intended for their ultimate benefit, so that finally He might reveal to them the fruits of their hope.

Consider, also, the beautiful words of Ezekiel to the same nation: "There shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God" (Ezek. 14:22-23).

Cause and purpose are to be found in all the acts of God. He grants or withholds the petitions of prayer accordingly. We might wonder why our requests are seemingly ignored, or why trouble seems to overwhelm us at times, even though we are seeking desperately to do what is right. The revelation will come one day. In the meantime, we must continue to pray (Luke 18:1), in faith that God knows best, and in His love and mercy towards us, He is shaping our destiny according to His will. Let us, like David, remain pliable to the moulding influence of life, in faith that God is interested in the outcome.

God's thoughts towards His people of Israel were "thoughts of peace and not of evil to make their latter end an object of hope." His thoughts towards us are similar. We have the assurance of that in the beautiful expressions of Romans 8:31-39, summed up in the confident statement: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Unfortunately the A.V. has rendered as statements, comments that should be expressed as questions in the negative. For example, where it reads: "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth," the latter statement should be a question: "God that justifieth?" Such a question needs no answer: it itself supplies a definite negative.

Paul shows that nothing can separate the true followers of the Lord God and His Christ from Divine love. They are deeply interested in their welfare, and have done all that is necessary to ensure their salvation. Moreover, they are able and willing to help them in all the varying circumstances of life (1 Pet. 3:22). Their strength is available unto those who come unto them (Phil. 4:13), and in their love they will find the power to conquer persecution, trial or temptation. Triumph or disaster, success or failure are modified in them, and assume new meanings. Created things lose their terror for they have access to the Increate. In Christ there is the ability to rise above every situation, and see beyond them to the glory to be manifested when the love of God in him shall be fully revealed towards us. Paul declared: "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38-39). Paul's confidence will not be misplaced so long as we remain in that love (see John 14:23; Rom. 8:9; 11:22).

Concerning those who worship the Father in spirit and in truth, the Lord declared: "The Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23). In full assurance of this, let us approach Him with confidence, recognising that He desires our worship and communion with Him.