He's 'Agin' It.

Daily Reading: 1 John 1-2

Scripture Focus: 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. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2.1-2)

Devotional Thought: I've heard the example of a farmer returning from church to the questions of his wife who had missed the service: "What did the preacher preach about?"  Sin.  "Well what did he say about it?"  He's 'agin' it!  John was 'agin' sin, too.

We live in a time of excuse-making.  It used to be, “Well, he’s Irish…”  Or, “She’s a redhead…”  Statements such as these excused bad behavior.  Now it’s, “He was brought up in a poor environment…” Or, “It’s not her talking, it’s the drugs…”  There is, of course, much truth to these statements.  But, do they cancel the necessity for personal choice and responsibility?  Of course not!  They actually increase the need for people to make the conscientious decision to rise above irresponsibility and excuse-making.  Can we doubt that sentiments such as these have been appropriated by people wishing only to pass the blame for their behavior onto others?

We know that there is sin in the world, and that if we're not aware, we can slip into it.  But, we are no longer slaves to sin!  Jesus died to deliver us from the power as well as the penalty of sin.  Jesus is more powerful than sin.  Paul’s letter to the Romans perfectly reflects what John wrote a few chapters later: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4.4).

John was realistic as well as idealistic.  He knew – both from observation and no doubt from personal experience – that a believer could fall into sin.  So, he wrote the second part of verse 1: “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

All praise be to Jesus!

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you are 'agin' sin.  Thank you that you died to save us from the penalty and the power of sin.  Sin no longer has dominion over us.  But, Lord, if we do sin, help us to humble ourselves, confess our sin, and believe in your atonement.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 128.1-6

1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

6 May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel!