How is it that we are worthy of being called a Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)? The fact is–we’re not. The only reason we have been allowed to approach the throne of God is because of Jesus.
Several years ago, one of my older boys got a job at a pizza restaurant. He had a good work ethic and it wasn’t long before he was made a shift manager. At one point, he asked the boss if they were hiring and the man’s response was, “if his name is Maxey, he’s hired.” Sight unseen, this man was willing to hire another Maxey because of the way this older brother had represented the family.
And, that’s how we can approach God. We simply enter the throne room with Jesus and Jesus says to the Father, “She’s with me.” We are instantly received, no questions asked. We are there because of what Jesus did and not because of anything we have done to earn our place.
So then the question becomes, “Why do we sometimes feel like we can’t approach God when we’ve done something we know isn’t pleasing to Him?” It’s as if we think we should wait until we do enough to become worthy again before we approach Him. But we will ALWAYS be unworthy. If we are already unworthy, can we get any unworthy-er?
What are we waiting for? Do we go to God and say, “Lord, I’ve done my best, now hear my prayer?” That’s never going to get us an audience with God. Even at our best, we will never be worthy.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your righteousness depends on you. It doesn’t. It only depends on Jesus. His righteous is all there is and it’s all you need. You can approach the throne of the God of the Universe because you entered the throne room with Jesus. Listen to Him tell the Father, “She’s with me,” or, ” He’s with me,” and then know with absolute assurance that the Father will hear your prayers.