Online Devotions: When a Christian Sins

Sunday, September 6, 2015

When a Christian Sins

September 6 (1 John 2:1)

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. (ESV)

I get it. I am not supposed to sin. I should not even want to sin. Oh, but I do. There are times when it just happens, almost without my thinking, and there other times when I am well aware of what I should do, but deliberately do the opposite. What then? My friends may not like me if they knew. People who look up to me may look at me with less admiration. What if I lose the opportunity to serve God as I really want to because people think I am not good enough when they learn the truth about me?

I am willing to be that some, or all, of those concerns sound familiar. I hear that nagging voice of doubt almost every day. Guess what? That nagging voice can take a hike. We have an advocate, one who will plead our case before God Himself. Now, that is a pretty good deal right there, but wait, as they say on the infomercials, there’s more! That advocate is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, the one true God Who walked the earth as a human and willingly died for me because He loves me just that much.

Do we really grasp that? Jesus Christ defends us before God when we sin. Naturally we should not make a habit of it, but when it does happen, Jesus has our backs. As our pastor recently said, confess, repent, and get on with your life.

Jesus, thank You so much for the grace of Your forgiveness. Thank You for Your love that heals and restores and catches me when I fall. Help me to live from a place of confidence in Who You are and all that You have done and continue to do for me. Amen.

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History of Online Devotions

In January of 1999, I began the Online Devotions with the teens of the church we were attending. Each week they would receive a verse of Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer. Over the years others subscribed to this email list, and soon the Online Devotions were going out to people across the country and beyond.

In 2007 I published in book format a collection called Desert Days: Forty Devotions for Men.

After suggestions from several readers, I launched in 2010 the Online Devotions blog. Devotions are still available each week by email, and if you would like to subscribe, please indicate so in the comment box.

As I have always said, if one of these devotions touches you, you can be sure it was from God. If one leaves you flat, then there was too much of me in it.