It is human nature to preserve ourselves. We want to protect our image, our reputation at all costs. Sometimes we lash out when we feel the need to defend ourselves. Sometimes we withdraw when we feel that no one understands.
Self-protection is part of human nature.
But what if we found a different way? A way that acknowledges we can’t make ourselves all things to all people. Sometimes we will be misunderstood. Sometimes others will realize we don’t have it all together. Sometimes others won’t like us.
And that is ok. Why? Because we have an advocate on our side Who never backs down and fights continually for us.
I read it the other day in Gentle and Lowly:
“What if we never needed to advocate for ourselves because another had undertaken to do so? What if that advocate knew exhaustively just how fallen we are, and yet at the same time was able to make a better defense for us than we ever could?”
I paused. Yes, we do have an Advocate—One who has already undertaken to do so. 1 John 2:1 promises, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
We have an advocate who bore all the shame we should have born so that we might never bear shame again. We have an advocate who bore our people-pleasing so that we might never fear man again. We have an advocate who took our excuses and wrote “It is finished.” You need never rationalize again.
A completely different spirit envelops me as I realize I can let down my defenses because I have Christ Himself advocating in my defense. This is a new way of living.
I no longer need to insist on being understood. Jesus understands me and makes my case.
I no longer need to fight for my rights. Jesus fought for them and stands beside the Father.
I no longer need to promote my virtues. Jesus took all my righteous acts that are actually filthy rags and washed them clean.
When we truly understand the beauty of His advocacy on our behalf, we are set free. We no longer feel the need to defend ourselves. We are unshackled to the previous burden of proving ourselves, our worth, our intentions. He has set us free to walk before Him untethered to the burden of self-advocacy.
Dane Ortlund continues so beautifully:
“Free of the need to defend ourselves, to bolster our sense of worth through self-contribution, to quietly parade before others our virtues in painful subconscious awareness of our inferiorities and weaknesses. We can leave our case to be made by Christ, the only righteous one.”
How different would our days look if we let this truth seep into the marrow of our bones: Christ advocates for us? Would we let things slide that otherwise we would typically fight over? Might we become more reasonable people, realizing we don’t have to convince everyone to see things our way?
Perhaps we might find ourselves a bit freer. And that freedom would flow into our relationships. What a beautiful gift we would give those around us if we no longer felt the need to always defend ourselves. Our relationships might heal, our self-confidence might find its rightful place: in Christ.
You have an Advocate, friend. And He could not defend you any better.
Rest in His advocacy today.
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