Tuesday, October 7: 1John 2- Balance.

This chapter is dense with teaching about the faith. John packs a great deal into a short chapter. The morning question for me about where to meditate came quickly. I found the balance presented in the opening 2 verses to be my meditation nugget for today.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

I found myself drawn in by the opening 3 words. My dear children… John, by now an old man, writes from a posture of love, care and fatherly wisdom. It is as if grandpa is reaching out to his entire family and giving some sound godly advice. No edge, no critical spirit, just honest concern for his family.

After setting his rapport, he puts a primary goal for Christians right there for us to hear. I write this to you so that you will not sin. Don’t sin. Make it your life goal to live sinlessly. Strive to be good and godly. Take what God has revealed seriously and live God’s way. Put your heart in to it. To use sport phraseology, Give 110% to living without sin.

BUT, and in this case BUT is a grace-filled word for us. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. But when you mess up, when your heart gives out, when you don’t give 110%, God has your back. Jesus came and died on the cross for just those times when you screw up.

The balance in these words gives me perspective. Be good, be as good and godly as you can be but when your efforts aren’t good enough God covers you with Jesus’ blood of the atonement. 

Sometimes I, and others, are tempted to say it doesn’t matter because God will forgive me anyway! This simply does not square with John’s words I write this to you so that you will not sin. On the other hand some people make others feel horrible for sinning. John will have none of that either. If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 

Balance… don’t tip too far in either direction. Both sides are out of bounds. Stay in the center of striving to live sinlessly and grace in times of failure…

I feel God’s invitation to meditated on this Balance today!

Gracious God, Father, Daddy, thank You for this world. Balance. Balance the longing, desire and effort to live well and live a godly life with grace in failure to do so.

Reveal to me where I might be out of balance in this area, I pray, so that I might regain the correct balance You long for me and all Your children. In the name of Jesus, the Righteous One, I pray. Amen.