Advocate

Finger Pointing, Rock Slinging Reversal

01/09/2024

Peace between people. Is it possible? It appears not to be. Why? Because although we aren’t perfect, we expect others to be perfect. Remember when the Jews were itching to stone a woman caught in adultery? The rocks were in their hands. Their self-righteous arms were wound for the throw. But when Jesus confronted them, when He invited the one who was sin-free to throw the first stone, they slunk away.

What did Jesus then do? If you said, stone her because she was guilty and deserving of punishment, you’re both right and wrong. You’re correct in saying she was deserving of death according to the Law. You are incorrect about Jesus’ response. He told her He didn’t condemn her and for her to go and sin no more. Amazing!

Jesus extends the same grace to us. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” – 1 John 2:1

There it is. Believers are not to sin, but when we do, we can be mindfully grateful that Jesus is our Advocate just as He was for the adulterous woman.

Lord Jesus, we praise You, our ADVOCATE. Quicken our hearts to take seriously Your command to sin no more.

Friends, I’d love to have you join me beginning Wednesday, January 10th at 10 am for our weekly Bible Study of John Part 2 or on Thursday, January 11th at 6:30 pm. Click here for more info.

Live outside of the Texas Hill Country? No problem! My weekly teachings and Listening Guides will be added HERE each week so you can follow along or use it for a group study. 

 

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Finger Pointing, Rock Slinging Reversal

01/08/2022

Peace between people. Is it a dream? Is it a far-fetched wish? Is it an impossibility? It seems to be. Why? Because although we aren’t perfect, we expect others be perfect. Now, think about something with me. What if that’s how Jesus related to us? What if the Father, Son, and Spirit demanded our perfection 24/7? What if when we didn’t live up to their expectations, we were out the door, banned forever, with no path of reconciliation? I hope and pray that each of us can in at the least the tiniest of ways have a deep appreciation that God treats us differently than some people treat one another. In fact, not only does our Lord not hold our sins over our heads, it’s important to Him that we live free of condemnation. Remember when the Jews were itching to stone a woman caught in adultery? They had the rocks in their hands. Their self-righteous arms were wound for throw. But when Jesus confronted them, when He invited the one who was sin free to use his rock to pellet her, the self-righteous slunk away. What did the Lord of Lords then do? If you said, pellet her with rocks because she was guilty and deserving of punishment, you’re right and you’re wrong. You’re correct in saying she was deserving of death according to the Law. You are incorrect, however about Jesus’s response. He told her He didn’t condemn her and for her to go and sin no more. Jesus wants the same for us. He is our Advocate, as 1 John 2:1 explains,

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

There it is.  The Bible is our guide on how not to sin and hopefully, we’re asking Jesus to help us walk in His steps. When we have mis-steps, which we will, what a blessing that we have the full assurance Jesus is our Advocate just as He was for the adulterous woman. Only when we arrive in heaven will we fully appreciate the magnitude of Jesus winning our court case by taking our guilt on Himself.  

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Advocate. Help us be mindful of Your Word. Help us walk according to it.

Your character trait of God to record in Prayers of My Heart and for which to praise Him: Advocate.

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Finger Pointing, Rock Slinging Reversal

01/14/2021

Peace between people. Is it a dream? Is it a far fetched wish? Is it an impossibility? It seems to be.  Why? Because although we aren’t perfect, we expect – and in some cases – demand that others be perfect. Cross the line of what I expect of you or you expect of me and we’re a lost cause. Now, think about something with me. What if…that’s how Jesus treated us? What if the Father, Son, and Spirit demanded our perfection 24/7? What if…when we didn’t live up to their expectations, we were out the door, banned forever, with no path for reconciliation? I hope and pray that each of us can in at the least the tiniest of ways have an appreciation that God treats us differently than many of us treat one another. In fact, not only does our Lord not hold our sins over our head, it’s important to Him that we live free of condemnation. Remember when the Jews were itching to stone a woman caught in adultery? They had the rocks in their hands. They had their self-righteous arms ready to throw. But when Jesus confronted them, when He invited the one who was sin free to pellet her, the self-righteous slunk away. What did the Lord of Lords then do? If you said, pellet her with rocks because she was guilty and deserving of punishment, you’re right and you’re wrong. You’re correct in saying she was deserving of death according to the Law. You are incorrect, however about Jesus’s response. He told her He didn’t condemn her and for her to go and sin no more. Jesus wants the same for us. He is our Advocate, as 1 John 2:1 explains, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” There it is.  The Bible is our guide on how not to sin and hopefully, we’re reading it and praying for God’s help to walk according to it. But if and when we do sin, we have the full assurance that Jesus is our Advocate just as He was for the adulterous woman. Only when we arrive in heaven will we fully appreciate the magnitude of Jesus winning our court case by taking our guilt on Himself.  

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Advocate. Help us be mindful of Your Word and walk according to it so we “may not sin.” 

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Case Dismissed!

01/16/2020

I wish sin wasn’t a part of my life, but it is. I miss the mark of holiness every day. Jesus doesn’t want us to live under condemnation, though. Remember when the Jews wanted to stone a woman caught in adultery and Jesus told her to go and sin no more? He told her He didn’t condemn her. He wanted her to live free. Free of adultery. Free of guilt and condemnation. He wants the same for us. Jesus is our Advocate, as 1 John 2:1 explains, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” Jesus is our Advocate, just as He was for the adulterous woman. Only when we arrive in heaven will we fully appreciate the magnitude of Jesus winning the case for our freedom by taking our guilt on the Himself.  

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Advocate and winning our eternal freedom. 

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Case Dismissed!

01/14/2019

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I wish sin wasn’t a part of my life, but it is. I miss the mark of holiness every day. Jesus doesn’t want us to live under condemnation, though. Remember when the Jews wanted to stone a woman caught in adultery and Jesus told her to go and sin no more? He told her He didn’t condemn her. He wanted her to live free. Free of adultery. Free of guilt and condemnation. He wants the same for us. Jesus is our Advocate, as 1 John 2:1 explains, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” Jesus is our Advocate, just as He was for the adulterous woman. Only when we arrive in heaven will we fully appreciate the magnitude of Jesus winning the case for our freedom by taking our guilt on the cross.  

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Advocate and winning our eternal freedom. 

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Thank You, Jesus, for Being Our ADVOCATE

01/07/2018

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”

1 John 2:1

I wish I wouldn’t sin; but I do. I miss the mark of holiness every day. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to live in sin and guilt; under judgement. He provided an ADVOCATE for us: Jesus Christ. Jesus pled and won the case for us to be released from our sins by paying our debt. Only when we arrive in heaven will we fully appreciate the magnitude of the gift of our salvation and eternal life in heaven’s glory. 

Lord Jesus, we praise You! Thank You for coming alongside us and being our Advocate in Our Holy Father’s presence. 

 

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