1.20.2023 Devotion - "The One Who Understands"

The devotion is about how Jesus, as our high priest, understands our weaknesses and temptations because he faced the same tests as us. He understands not only the big sins, but also the temptations to live reactively. We are encouraged to come boldly to God's throne to receive his mercy and grace when we need it. The devotion prompts us to consider the ways we are tempted to live reactively and reminds us that Jesus understands and gives us grace to change. Good morning. Today's devotion is titled, The One Who Understands. The scripture comes from the book of Hebrews, chapter 4, verses 15 through 16. 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. The scriptures assures us that Jesus, our high faithful high priest, knows what our lives are like. He understands our weaknesses because he faced the same kinds of testing that we do, though he didn't sin. The kinds of temptation Jesus understands include some of the biggies, like the sins we find in the Ten Commandments and elsewhere throughout the Bible. But have you considered that Jesus probably also faced the same temptations to live reactively like we do? Like us, Jesus was in a relationship with some people who were healthy and others who weren't. So he surely understands our temptation to avoid pain in unhealthy ways, such as denying or minimizing it, complying with unreasonable demands, adhering to bad relationships, placating those who mistrust us, covering up our wounds, enabling dysfunctional behavior in others, becoming controlling, attacking others, or isolating ourselves. He understands and he gives us grace as we try to change these behaviors. Ask yourself, number one, in what ways are you tempted to deny, minimize, comply, adhere, deceive, placate, cover, enable, control, attack, or isolate? Question two, what does it mean to you to realize that Jesus probably faced the same reactive temptations you do? Jesus, my High Priest, I thank you that you understand the temptations I face. Grant me the courage to turn to you when I'm tempted to live reactively. I trust in your mercy and grace. I hope this devotion is helpful for you today in your day of recovery.