Our Advocate

“…we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ” 1 John 2:1b.  ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize…Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive…in our time of need” Hebrews 4:15-16.

When our kids were young there was one thing they knew for sure…if they treated me poorly they could expect Bruce to act on my behalf.  If they wanted to break peace with their dad they broke peace with me.  Everyone likes to feel as if they have an advocate in most areas of life.  Hopefully, most of us as children had our parents as our advocates.  Once we marry, we should have our spouse as our advocate.  Later in life our children become our advocates. 

As precious as these advocacies are, the one Advocate that never tires…never takes a break…never turns down an opportunity is our treasure.  His name is Christ Jesus and He personally speaks our name before the Father.  He takes our failures and our successes before God.  He reminds our Father of temptations and trials we face, seeking the mercy and comfort that we need.  He meets with God in our circumstances and they go before us ‘leveling mountains and piling up the waters.’  Where would we be without the righteous One…the worthy One...the only One who has the authority to approach God?  This authority was afforded Him because of His sinless and perfect work on the cross.  

We must also realize that without our fellowship with Christ, we do not have the authority to approach God.  Through Christ we have access to God and when we break fellowship with Christ we lose peace with God.  Just as my children lost temporary favor with Bruce when they hurt me we break fellowship with God when we turn our backs on Christ.  My favorite line in my Bible Study was a description of when we need an advocate.  Kelly Minter writes in What Love Is:  ‘Typically we need an advocate who holds a position we don’t, has power we don’t possess, is granted access to people we can’t get to, has influence we’re without’ p. 45.  This past week Bruce experienced this type of advocacy when dealing with a work contract.  I know that it was the orchestrated work of our Advocate in heaven who arranged all of the details to make this happen. 

When we get in the constant fellowship with Christ He will move mountains with God to bring about their plan, ensuring our success and blessings.