Daily Devotions
Our Advocate
Reading for December 2nd: 1 Corinthians 12-14
Weekly reading for November 29-December 5: 1 John 1-5
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.
1 John 2:1
Insurance companies exist because we live in a fallen world. If you think about it, the reason we need health insurance, life insurance, and other kinds of hazard insurance is because of sin. Without sin these things would not exist.
Insurance companies capitalize on the fact that we live in an unpredictable world where things can go wrong:
"Mayhem is out there;" "Life comes at you fast." And what they sell is assurance and security: "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there;" "Nationwide is on your side."
The word in this text translated "advocate" is the Greek word parakletos, which literally means "called to one's side" (just like in the State Farm commercial). It is most often used of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) when Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them as orphans but would send the Holy Spirit to be their "Comforter" or "Helper."
Jesus is also our Advocate. Here the term is used of one who would come to the aid of one on trial. We do not have to face our sins alone, because not only is Jesus our Advocate standing beside us, but he is our propitiation as well (1 John 2:2).
The world cannot offer this kind of security and comfort. Insurance companies can't solve the problem of sin. Drugs and alcohol can only numb the pain, not take it away. You can bury yourself in work, try to find escape in pleasure, but you are only denying the problem. Only in Jesus do we find the solution to sin.
Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit and for Jesus who provide us the help and comfort we need in this world that is broken by sin!
