13 December | Teens
«If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.» 1 John 1: 9
In a court of law, a lawyer defends and helps people, explaining to the judge why they should be pardoned or acquitted. In our lives, we have a more than special lawyer: Jesus. The Bible, in 1 John 1:9, tells us how Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we make mistakes, or sin, Jesus is there to help us. Not only does He know all the rules, but He also loves us, so He's always there to protect us. He goes to God, who is like the Judge of the Universe, on our behalf. Jesus explains to God that He has already paid the price for our mistakes, so we can be forgiven. Absolved of all guilt.
Because He is just, Jesus, our advocate, guarantees that there will always be forgiveness when we repent and ask for help. Because He is faithful, He will always be there for us, no matter what. Living in the knowledge that Jesus is our advocate brings us comfort and hope. He understands, loves and defends us. Thanks to Him, we can approach God without fear, knowing that we are loved and can always be forgiven; after all, we have a great Advocate.
Take Action
To better understand Jesus' role as our advocate, how about a game at home? Organize a family “trial.” Someone can be the judge, someone else can be the person who has done something wrong and someone else will be the lawyer, who is the defender. During the game, the “lawyer” must explain to the “judge” why the person deserves a second chance or forgiveness. At the end of the game, talk about how you felt in the role of each character and how Jesus does this for us every day.