I’m so glad John wrote this to us so that we won’t sin! Unfortunately, I don’t think his words can keep us from sinning, it’s not that easy. But his words can make us aware of our sin and what we can do about it. So on the off chance you happen to sin (and you will), we can all be sure that Jesus is ready to save us.
Jesus is portrayed here as our advocate, pleading our case for us. With my legal background, of course, I picture a lawyer in court before the Judge. I have worked on many a case representing the “bad guy” who was still allowed counsel before the judge. What would the sentence be? A good lawyer would make sure the sentence was fair or non-existent in the right circumstances. Jesus pleads not-guilty for us because he, himself is the sacrifice for all sins.
Think about that for a moment. Jesus sacrificed himself for you, your neighbor, your enemy, the whole world. This is a truth that is really hard to truly fathom. Why would he do that? Love. So how do we respond? Do we acknowledge that gift? Can we stop sinning?
John would say that we know God when we obey his commandments. We have acknowledged that God is supreme and loving. We want to obey out of our love, gratitude, and desire to please him. He has given so much for us. If we truly believe that, shouldn’t we want to do everything right in his eyes? Shouldn’t we want to be the best we can be?
There are those who claim to know God yet stay stuck in their sinful ways. We know that even the demons believe there is one God and fear him. Yet they are still demons. They are not living in the truth. They have chosen darkness. We don’t need to be a demon to disobey God and be sinful.
Do you know God? Do you obey his commands? Do you seek his will in your life? According to John, we can all do a better job of showing our obedience if we simply live as Jesus lived. What does that mean for you? Does that mean we have no home? Does that mean we spend our days teaching and healing? Does that mean our compassion outweighs our selfish desires? Does that mean we are continually seeking God in prayer?
How does this passage speak to you today?
Let’s pray. Lord, I thank you for how you are working in my life. I am in awe of you and your love for me and all the world. Your sacrifice is beyond my comprehension. Thank you for what you have done for me. May my life be a reflection of you. Cleanse me from within so I can shine brightly for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
