If you were in trouble, how happy would you be to have someone on your side? What if that someone was regarded as the best in the world? Would you feel confident that you would be pulled out of the trouble you are in? What if I told you that person is available to you?
We can find ourselves in any number of troubling situations. They may include financial, work, vehicle, or relationships. We may not know where to turn for help. If we have broken a law, our situation may be more serious. Finding someone to help remove the trouble can be a challenge.
We know there are laws, rules, and cultural norms to abide by. A situation can be very serious if we disobey some of them, while others are less important. But disobeying any of them can put us in a bad spot. If we think we can overcome them on our own, we may be in for a shock.
Jesus is our advocate when we disobey God. We, as humans, put more emphasis on some sins than we do others. Yet, any sin we commit is the reason we needed Jesus to go to the cross. His sacrifice is the reason we can be forgiven, whether it is a more serious sin or something very minor. But Jesus not only went to the cross for us, but He also went to the cross for the sins of the whole world.
Can you fathom that? Jesus’ sacrifice covers every sin committed across all of time for every person. We do not often think about how extraordinary that is. In fact, we may even want to condemn others for their sin. Yet, Jesus intercedes for them just as He does for us. Perhaps we would be better off to think that our sins are not minor but very serious. After all, if we sin by merely taking a stick of gum from someone else without their permission, we have contributed to the reason Jesus had to go to the cross.
I pray we all know that Jesus went to the cross for us. I pray we realize the seriousness of our sin. I pray each one of us will spend less time judging others and more time thanking Jesus for forgiveness. Know you are forgiven. Seek to remove sin from your life. Obey God. Thank Jesus for your forgiveness.
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Marty Pressey 