Devotional: Advocate for our Sins

1 John 2:1-6

“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 Jn. 2:1, NASB).

When I was a little boy; about four to six years old, my brothers and sisters and I would play baseball. My youngest brother and I was prong to strike out. In order to keep us from striking out one of the older brothers or sisters would let us try to hit the ball. If we missed and got to strike two one of the older ones would take the bat a hit for us on our last strike. The older ones would hit the ball and the younger ones would run the bases. Because one of the older ones would hit the ball the younger one would get experience running the bases and gain a sense of success. The team would not lose the game because one of the younger ones struck out.

Do you know that God takes our last strike in life? God hits the ball and we are able to run the bases. That is, when we have missed the mark of God’s righteousness Jesus steps in and takes our place. Jesus removes the obstacles that prevent us from moving forward toward the goal that God calls us to. The problem is this: Too often we will not allow Jesus to take our place at the bat. We insist that we can hit the ball, but we miss, and we strike out.

John writes that believers sin. John writes to the church and tells them that the goal is for them to hit the ball. The ball is the commandments of God; especially the commandment to love. Since they will miss the ball and get a strike, we have an Advocate to take the last strike. God will not allow sin to cause His children to fail. They will not lose their salvation. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Fathers and intercedes on our behalf. Jesus is for us, and He is more than the whole world against us.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for sending us Your Son Jesus to be the Advocate for us when we sin; we fail to keep your commandments. Amen.