Daily Wisdom: Nurturing Your Spirit with Timeless Truths

FRIDAY, 14 JUNE 2024

TEXT: 1 John 2:1-8

1. I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus.

2. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good – not only ours, but the whole world’s.

3. Here’s how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.

4. If someone claims, “I know him well!” But doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words.

5. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God.

6. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

7. My dear friends, I’m not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you’ve known it from day one. It’s always been implicit in the Message you’ve heard.

8. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you – the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!

(The Message Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST, OUR ADVOCATE

John recognizes that believers are not immune from committing sins but will always be forgiven once we confess to God. Jesus offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for those who would later accept Him as Savior. The efficacy of the sacrifice is for all sins we will commit in the future.

John differentiates between a believer who commits sin not as a lifestyle and someone who claims he believes but his or her life is identified with rebellion and perpetual disobedience to the teachings of God. He added that a true believer obeys the Word of God and that God's love is made perfect in his or her life.

Jesus is the advocate for those who live in the true light through a deliberate commitment to obeying the Word of God. We can live without sinning because Jesus has paid the price and today we stand righteous through Christ. However, if we sin while living an obedient life, Jesus is on hand to plead for us.

QUESTION: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is on the right hand side of the Father as an advocate on your behalf?

PRAYER: Thank You, dear Lord, for always speaking in my defence before our heavenly Father. I am committed to living as an obedient child of God for Your glory and honour, in Jesus name. Amen.