Friday December 23, 2022

Friday – December 23rd – 1 John 2:1     -----     
 
 2:1) My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
 
 The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
      MORE IS TOLD ABOUT YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH BY YOUR ACTIONS THAN BY YOUR WORDS.*

     Yes, it's Friday and not just any Friday, it is the day before Christmas Eve. My hope is that all of your Christmas shopping and preparations are completed or nearly completed. Our inspirational thought today corresponds to the readings from the first chapters of the book of Revelation. This one phrase sums up the letters John is instructed to write to seven different churches. Each of these congregations are either praised or criticized through God’s observation of their actions or the intentions behind their actions. As we begin preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a few days, now is a great time to do an internal spiritual inventory to determine if our Christianity is more action or more talk. Jesus values what we do more than what we say. Jesus affirms our sacrifices instead of our speeches. How might you put the celebration of Christmas into discernable action this year?

     In our pick verse today, John launches into a new chapter and a new focus on how Jesus is our advocate in Heaven. While John encourages us to resist the temptations offered by the devil, the reality of our human nature is that there will be times when we are weak in the flesh and sin against God. While it is God’s desire that we should not sin, He has also provided for us an advocated to stop us in our backsliding. Because Jesus is righteous, He will plead our case before the throne of Heaven and will obtain our full and complete forgiveness. When we confess our sin Jesus takes up our case. We have His promise of a certain and sure acquittal. What we celebrate on December 25th is more than the birth of a baby it is the God’s unbreakable promise to reclaim us for the fires of eternal separation.

Blessings
    Pastor Jim
Saturday – December 24th – 1 John 2:2

*The Daily Walk Bible NLT: Explore God's Path to Life (p. 4495). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

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