Hello and welcome to Beauty - the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True beauty. God’s beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are going to continue talking about obedience as we dive into 1 John 2:1-2. If you haven’t already, go ahead and press pause on this high quality podcast so you can read and write today’s scripture.
My son is a freshman this year and has entered the world of high school football. I would be lying if I told you I was excited about that. I am just not a sports person, except for baseball, and even then my knowledge is basically just enough to get by. In football, I know who the quarterback is. All the other people on the field? Not so much - so this illustration I’m about to use might be a little weak.
John starts this chapter by sharing why he wrote in the first place - (answer) so they wouldn’t sin. I feel like we downplay sin a bit and say things like, “I’m human,” to justify a bad decision. Or, “God made me that way,” as if God knew we’d sin so it must be okay - which couldn’t be further from the truth. God doesn’t want you to sin. True, he knows you are human, but he also knows you are not powerless in resisting sin. You are making a conscious choice.
Sometimes when the quarterback throws the ball and that one guy catches it - he gets tackled. Let’s call that tackle, sin. It happens. But remember from chapter one that we are to walk in the light. This means being honest with God, owning our sin, and claiming our forgiveness.
Sometimes, when the quarterback throws the ball, the guy catches it and runs. Let’s call the run, walking in the light. That has to do with obedience. I suppose it probably has something to do with the team listening to the play that was called, but I really don’t know for sure. I have no idea how a touchdown happens…
But stay with me.
If you were the guy running with the football, trying not to be pushed to the ground before you cross a magical finish line, you could say you were a person running with God (under those Friday night lights), trying to avoid sin. But maybe you get tackled along the way.
Tackle = Sin
John tells us in these verses that Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the punishment for sin. He did this for everyone. But what if I told it it was only temporary? You see, the full wrath of God is only satisfied eternally for those who believe; for those who come to faith. So, the gift of Jesus on the cross was made for everyone, but not everyone will receive the gift.
This is where obedience comes in.
If we accept the gift, we have to walk in the light. And if we walk in the light, we have to obey. And if we are going to obey, we have to know God and what he commands. If if we are going to know him and his commands, we have to spend time with him.
I’m sure all the people on a football team have a specific job and they all work together to meet the goal of scoring the most points. In the body of Christ, that means helping each other to learn and grow. It means speaking truth in love. It means both offering forgiveness and accepting forgiveness. It means extending grace and mercy. What else does it mean to you?
Just as the football team who loses game after game learns how to improve just a little bit - the Christian who learns to obey will address the sin that tackles her on her journey so she can get up, wipe the dirt off, and keep walking.
I suspect every good football team has a game plan. I would imagine every good coach scopes out his team and plugs in his players based on size and ability and strength. I’m completely guessing, but that is what I would do if I knew what I was doing. So, that is what I am suggesting you do today. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where do you need help - extra accountability - walking in the light? Find someone to be on your team to help you get a touchdown. We aren’t meant to do this alone. It is a beautiful thing when we come alongside each other to learn and grow and build the kingdom of God.
D 🙂
