The Advocate
1 John 2
American Standard Version (ASV)
2 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
In the 60’s there was a TV show called “The Defenders” starring Edgar G. Marshall and Robert Reed as defense attorneys. I don’t remember a lot about the show, except it featured these lawyers representing defendants often in dire circumstances, and unless these attorneys were successful in representing their clients everything would be lost.
Spiritually, we have an Advocate in Jesus Christ, who goes before the Father to plea on our behalf. To live a holy life does not necessarily mean we do not sin–it would be wonderful if that were the case, but there are times when we simply miss the mark. When sin occurs, Christ steps in and forgiveness is ours.
Abiding in Christ is not a guarantee that we will not sin, but it certainly makes it more difficult to commit sin if we are in Him and He is in us.
Prayer: Father, today let us be aware that we are in you and you are in us. May we make the right choices and when we miss the mark, may we go directly to you for forgiveness. Amen
For thine is the kingdom
“Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11 ASV
When I read these words, it almost seems as though they could be The Lord’s Prayer for the Old Testament.
In reading Matthew Henry’s Commentary, he points out that at the time when David said these words, he was an old man, contemplating life on the other side. In fact, Henry says when we get closer to our heavenly existence, it is good to begin speaking the language of heaven and leave the language of earth behind. And what is the language of heaven? Praise!
Prayer: Father, may your praise be continually on my lips from this day forward, and may I never forget that all of my blessings come from you.
Here am I send me…
Here am I send me
Today I taught from the Lectionary at Dave and Candy’s house. The scripture was Isaiah 6:1-8 and Romans 8:12-17.
Isaiah’s Vision of the Lord
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that (A)King Uzziah died I (B)saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had (C)six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3 And one called to another and said:
4 And (F)the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and (G)the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! (H)For I am lost; (I)for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the (J)King, theLord of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he (K)touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord
8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for (L)us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.
Romans 8:12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:
17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
Today is the second Sunday following Pentecost, and we celebrate Trinity Sunday. We talked about the importance of Pentecost and how the infilling of the Holy Spirit transformed the first century disciples from timid men hiding for their lives into men empowered to spread the gospel, regardless of the cost. And, we talked about how important it is when a word is repeated in the Bible. When a word is used twice, it suggests intimacy, while a word repeated three times draws attention to what is being said. We also discussed how rare but special it is for God to hear the words “here am I, send me.”
Prayer: Father, may my every prayer be, “here am I send me.” regardless of what you are calling me to do.
Practical words
James 4:8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, O sinners, purify your heart you double-minded
I love the book of James. It could very well be subtitled, “The Practical Issues of this Life .”
James is addressing people in conflict, both with God and each other. These words may seem too stern, and even judgmental. However, James knew that we can not be close to God if we stay in conflict with people.
Prayer
Father God, may we draw close to you each and every day and may we act in love and with mercy according to your will and through your grace. Amen
Best laid plans
Jeremiah 29:11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,
Online Bible Study Tools, NRSV
A popular TV show in the 80’s, The A Team, often included the line, “I love it when a plan comes together.” I have lived long enough to know that sometimes even the best laid plans do, indeed, go awry. (Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck)
The context of today’s scripture is that false prophets had arisen to proclaim peace and Jeremiah, a true prophet sent by God, is trying to undo the damage done by these prophets. Hananiah, in Chapter 28, told the people that within two years the yoke of bondage under Babylon would be broken. However, that was not God’s plan.
God loves His people. Yet, He allowed Israel to be carried away to Babylon and to live under foreign rule for seventy years. Why? Because sin can not be rewarded. Yet, here in Jeremiah the prophet tells the people to make the best use of their time while in Babylon. Marry, have children, and support the land in which you dwell. Then, in due time, you will be delivered, but only after you have sought after God with your whole heart.
Are you in bondage today? Are you making the best use of your time, or is your time consumed with whining and complaining about your lot in life? Believe me, I have done my share of whining, so I can identify.
But God has a plan, and His plan is greater than anything you are going through right now. Whether your bondage is self-imposed because of personal sin, or you are suffering not through any fault of your own but because the world in which we dwell is a world of sickness and disease and even death, God’s plan is for you to have hope. His plan is for good and not for harm.
Blame God for your circumstances if you must–He is a big God and He can handle your anger and frustration. But don’t lose faith. Seek after Him with your whole heart and soon your hope will be restored.
PRAYER: Father God, we come to you today to thank you for who you are, and to ask for your mercies upon us when our plans disappoint us. Build us up in our most holy faith that we might not be devastated when our plans do not come together, but instead let us know, really know, that your plans are always for our good. Amen
