ADVOCATE VS ACCUSER
March 30, 2022
Prayer: Lord, You are my advocate. Help me to stay close to You and far from the accuser. Amen
Scriptures: Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. Job 16:19- 21 NAS
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2 NAS
Have you ever had a student who was constantly informing you of other student’s misbehavior? Back when I was growing up they were tagged as “tattletales,” but I don’t think that is “politically correct” any longer. I am not talking about the reporting of significant or hurtful activity, I am talking about the constant reporting, not always accurate, that children do to gain attention, reward, or to feel useful or even superior. How do you discern between the important information and drama, rivalry, and mischief? Do you ever search for a witness? What if the accused has a reliable advocate? How do we encourage students to share information concerning personal and school safety in a world that threatens and strikes fear in the lives of those who need to “tell?” All of these are hard questions; I pray that you can share some of your wisdom by emailing me some of your answers.
The New Testament Greek Lexicon defines Advocate as:
- summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid
- one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate
- one who pleads another’s cause with someone, an intercessor
As followers of Jesus, our advocate in heaven is Christ exalted at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins. Many Christians are surprised to hear that they will appear before the judgment seat.
2 Corinthians 5: 5-10 says:
Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight – we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
This is not bad news for believers. Every man and woman will give an account for their life on earth, the salvation they accepted, and the gifts available to them. The comfort is that Christ is your Counsel, your advocate. As you confessed Him in your life on earth, He will confess you before God as His own, covered by His blood, debt free, holy and righteous before God.
Those who never confessed Him as Lord will only have the Accuser, no Advocate. Jesus will say, “I never knew you”(Matt. 7:23). The Accuser will more than likely show up for your “hearing” but his accusations will fall on deaf ears. Jesus will get the final word.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. To connect with the author, email [email protected]
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