What's in a name? (#3)

For those that have been following along, I am posting a couple of times per week some of my devotional reflections on the names of God. It is a practice that helps me keep my primary focus where it needs to be, which is on the one who is thoroughly equipped and ready to engage with us in the of any situation, including the one we are in now. Each name of God gives us a different view into the amazing, grand and complex nature of God. There are over 1000 names for God given throughout the bible, so obviously we are only scratching the surface, but the one I chose today is one I reflected on very early in the year.

ADVOCATE: This is a word we perhaps don’t use often, but it is a powerful one. The apostle John wrote about Jesus saying: “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.” (1 John 2:1)

The word used is parakletos, which embodies the idea of someone who is called to your side to help you by pleading your case or interceding for you with another person. Most often, an advocate is used in a legal setting where another person helps state and opinion to try and win a verdict. They are necessary because they have expertise, understanding and qualifications that we don’t have. What does it mean that Jesus is our advocates? It means we never stand alone. He represents us before God the Father. Jesus knows deeply who I am and what I am going through more than I do. He is an expert in what needs to be said and how, especially when I am not even sure how to verbalize it. My advocate is on my side. He is committed to my good. He has no divided loyalty. He is utterly and completely for me. This is a huge encouragement for me.

When my heart is heavy, he knows how to express this best.
When I sin, he intercedes before God on my behalf, pleading for grace and mercy based on his own sacrifice.
When I praise, he turns my praises into amazing expressions of joy.
He is always there, always interested, always invested in me. It means that I am never alone. I never have to defend myself.

​Thank you Jesus for being our excellent and perfect advocate. As you advocate for us, continue to convict, lead and show us yourself more clearly, so that we can approach you even more humbly and confidently.