The Throne of Grace
by Richard Griffiths
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘throne’? A coronation? The state opening of Parliament with everyone bowing before the Queen? A Tudor monarch, resplendent in regal finery? What does ‘throne’ suggest? Power? Authority? Magnificence? And what about the throne of God? John had that amazing vision of God’s throne in Revelation 4. Stupendous! The centre of the whole universe, of all things physical and spiritual. Before it, every created being must bow. We don’t have the words for it, do we?
And what do you think of when you hear the word ‘grace’? A prayer before food? ‘God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense? Good things without measure from God’s heart of love? I don’t think we have the words for grace any more than we do for the throne of God.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews says that, when we pray, we come before the ‘throne of grace’. What a combination! The stupendous throne is where we come to find the amazing grace.
It isn’t just what it does in my life that makes the grace so amazing; it’s where it comes from. It comes from the Creator of the universe, the One who has the ultimate authority over everything and everyone. The One who only has to speak the word and it’s done. ‘The One who sits on the throne’.
There are some ‘thrones’ that I’d be scared to come close to. Remember waiting outside the headmaster’s study door? Or being hauled up before the boss? But God’s throne – that’s so different. It’s the throne of grace’. It means that the grace that comes from God is filled with all the love and power of the Giver. That’s why I can come ‘boldly’ – with confidence, with freedom and with ‘openness’ – with nothing hidden, because the King on the throne is the King of Love, my Abba, Father.
Prayer: Father, thank You so much that You, the Creator of the universe, the One who holds all things in Your hand, are also the God of all grace. Thank You that You welcome me into Your presence. I come to You now, in love and adoration, empty-handed to receive Your grace. I love You; I bless You; I adore You; I worship You. Amen.
Richard Griffiths When Richard retired from full-time Anglican ministry in Chichester in 2009, he and his wife, Sue, moved to Northumberland. He joined the ministry team at Ellel Grange in 2011, where he and Sue regularly ministered at healing retreats. They are now helping on the "Explore" team. They greatly enjoy walking in the beautiful Northumberland countryside and along the coast. Richard loves seeing God bringing people into a strong personal relationship with Him as their Father and the healing that comes with it.
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