The Plumbline

You are  my little children, so I am writing these things to help you avoid sin. If, however, any believer does sin, we have a  high-powered  defense lawyer—Jesus the Anointed, the righteous— arguing on our behalf  before the Father.  ( 1 John 2:1   VOICE ) I'd like to reword this passage with just one tiny change of words, but I know I cannot add to or take away from scripture. If you will indulge me, I think it will make sense and will not really take away from what it says. Here is how I think this should actually read:  You are  my little children, so I am writing these things to help you avoid sin. When , however, any believer does sin, we have a  high-powered  defense lawyer—Jesus the Anointed, the righteous— arguing on our behalf  before the Father.  One word - when, not if - is all I changed, but I think it comes a lot closer to how it is we really "live life". It isn't in the off-chance that one of us might act...

My friends , we are not those who give up hope and so are lost; but we are of the company who live by faith and so are saved. (Hebrews 10:39 VOICE) When we give up hope, all is lost.  Desmond Tutu once said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."  So true - for all around us is evidence of darkness, yet inside each of us is the evidence of light!  Robert Schuller often reminded his congregants to let their hopes shape their future, not all those hurts of the past.  We all have differing pasts, controversial futures, and a muddle of issues in the present. None are quite the same, but many are similar. We gravitate toward those with similar past or present circumstances - this is only natural because we all realize the old adage of misery loving a little company in the journey! We often find we are in the midst of those who have a similar hope, as well. The present may not be perfect, the past left us a little messed up, and th...