Jesus' Heart Toward Our Sin

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” – Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

When we consider our sinfulness it is not enough to remember that Christ has defeated and forgiven our sin through his death and resurrection; it is also important to remember what his heart is toward us as he meets us in our sin over and over again. This does not wear him out or irritate him or anger him; rather, it creates sympathy and compassion. He knows what it is like to walk in the midst of constant temptation, and just like he relied on his Father moment by moment, he is now there for us in each and every moment.

When we fall short may we remember that he stands waiting for us with open arms. For those who trust in him for salvation there is never a shortage of grace and mercy. In fact, the author of Hebrews closes out the verses above by emphasizing that the Lord’s grace is there “to help us when we need it most.” Defeating our deadliest sins does not come through turning to our own self-willed effort but rather through turning to Christ to find grace to help us when we need it most.