Day 25, Wednesday (April 3) - Living into His Name

Posted on: April 3, 2019

A PRESENT AND ACTIVE SAVIOR

Advocate
Day 25 Wednesday

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EXPLORE THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

For us there is one God, the Father,
from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8: 6).

1 JOHN 2: 1-2

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. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

ROMANS 8: 31-35

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

CONSIDER

An advocate comes alongside us in court to plead our cause. As we study again this passage from 1 John, we see how Jesus addresses not only our past sins but our present ones. He argues our case when we sin, based not on excusing us for any merit we have earned, but based on the sufficiency of his propitiation. He made a complete atonement for us. So he advocates before the Throne based on his righteousness applied to us.

In the Romans passage, we see that Jesus even now intercedes for us. He prays for us. For he made atonement, peace between God and humanity, within himself. He ever lives as the God who is man and the man who is God. His very existence advocates for us. When we are in him, we have all that he is. Thus, nothing, not even our own sin, can separate us from the love of God in Christ!

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PRAY THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Begin with the Jesus Prayer. Pray it reflectively several times, for yourself or on behalf of another.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then pray the day’s prayer slowly and repeatedly for at least a minute (that’s about seven times). Allow the prayer to take you into the meaning of the day’s facet of Jesus’ name. Pray it for yourself and/or on behalf of another. Take your time and trust this process!

Lord Jesus Christ, Advocate at the Father’s right hand,

ever plead your righteousness on my behalf.

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LIVE INTO THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

He has granted to us his precious and very great promises,
so that through them you might become partakers of his divine
nature . . . For this very reason, supplement your faith with
virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness,
brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1: 4-7).

1 TIMOTHY 1: 12-17

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

CONSIDER

Paul had once persecuted Christ’s people. Even years later, he considered himself the foremost of sinners. But his very awareness of his sinfulness led him constantly to an exalted view of the one who came to save such sinners.

Offer to Christ Jesus today the sins he has already bought and paid for. Release them to Jesus and ask him to be your continuing advocate.

Close by singing these verses from “The Solid Rock.”

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, his covenant, his blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay. (Refrain)