The Lord spoke to me yesterday. This was no new revelation. You’ll find none of that here, as I don’t believe in it. Yet he did speak — not in an audible voice, but no less clearly than if he had.

I was praying for a friend who had a special need. As I was closing that portion of my prayer and my prayer became more personal, I was arrested by an acute sense of my unworthiness. Several Scripture passages came to mind: Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips!1 Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.2 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart . . .3 I thought, Oh God, who am I, to speak to you? and I could continue no farther. My heart ached. I wanted to pray, but I could not.

That’s when he spoke. He gave me his Word — that is, he prompted my memory of the Word already hidden in my heart — when I needed it, as he has on numerous occasions before. He said, Come boldly unto the throne of grace. So I opened my Bible to Hebrews and thumbed through to chapter four and read:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14–16)

What does this passage tell us? Does it tell us, as many of today’s popular preachers would, that we ought not feel unworthy? No, it does not. The first thing it says is that we have a high priest. Who needs a priest? It is precisely and only those who are unworthy to enter the Father’s presence who need a priest to intercede for them. And we have such a priest. A priest who lived as we live, suffered as we suffer, yet without sin, and made the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Therefore, we can come boldly, casting all our cares upon him, for he cares for us.4

And when we come before the throne, we will obtain mercy, which we desperately need, for we are guilty; and grace, without which we are utterly helpless.

So come boldly, though your hands are not clean and your heart is not pure. Hold fast to your faith in Christ. Come, confessing your sin and seeking forgiveness. You are truly unworthy, but you have a high priest who intercedes for you. Come, obtain mercy. Receive grace. Come boldly.