I am a gracious God who is righteous and full of mercy.

Psalm 116:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.

Our God and Father is as righteous as He is gracious and merciful. He is just and holy, as well as being loving and compassionate. For some of us, we might see this as a contradiction in terms. How can the same God who is righteous and holy be gracious and full of mercy?

The simple truth is that the price that Jesus Christ paid for all our sin when He died on the cross was more than enough to satisfy God's righteous requirements so that we would be recipients of His extravagant mercy. Because of the once and for all sacrifice of the holy Lamb of God, we now have unlimited access to the throne room of our righteous and merciful Heavenly Father.

With this in mind, let us reflect with great joy on the invitation found in Hebrews 4:16... Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)