Verse: 1 John 2:1-2
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Thoughts
Has anyone ever stood up for you? I was in an El Diablo restaurant (similar to Chipotle) two years ago, and there was a group of young girls in line several spots in front of me. There were two drunk college boys sitting at a table and they kept loudly harassing the girls. Asking them to look over. Asking them for their numbers. I could tell it was making the girls very uncomfortable. In that moment I had a choice. So I decided to stand up for the girls.
I loudly told the boys that they needed to leave the girls alone and that they were being rude and all of us were tired of it. They said some mean things about me, but I just kept my cool and reiterated that they were being rude and needed to stop. They kept coming at me with their words and finally the manager got enough courage up to do what I was doing, and he kicked them out. Boom! (I love that story. Probably the closest I've ever come to being any sort of hero.)
In that moment, I was the Advocate for those girls. And this is what Jesus does for us. When we sin, fail, break out promises, hurt others, damage our relationship with God, walk outside of God's plan, disobey his Word, or ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is our Advocate. He defends us. When we feel accused by the enemy or ourselves, Jesus stands up for us. He is our Advocate.
This is a truth that you can find peace and security in. Whenever you are struggling with beating yourself up over your weaknesses, remember this verse. Jesus isn't in heaven angry with you, wanting to crush you. He is actually, in your darkest moments, fighting for you. He is standing up for you, when you can't stand up for yourself. He is defending you, and protecting you. Remember this promise. Tuck it away in your heart. And know that Jesus, King of Kings, is standing up for you.
Prayer
Today, Jesus, my prayer is gratitude. Thank you for dying for my sins, and raising from the dead, so I can be free from the power of sin. Thank you that you are, even now, standing up for me.