My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

It’s almost too pat an answer to say, “If you get off God’s path, the Bible will get you back on.” But what exactly does that mean? What exactly is this path?

Scripture tells us that God’s path is his instruction.  He tells us what is right and wrong so that we would not wander into sin and experience its miseries. But, if you don’t understand the heart behind that instruction, then you may look at God’s path through worried eyes. You become anxious that God is watching for any opportunity to punish you for straying from his path.

But that’s not the message of the Bible. Yes, there is a path to walk, but if we step off, we have an advocate with the Father who paid the penalty for our sin. His sacrifice is sufficient to pay for the sins of the whole world, so we can be confident there will be enough grace for any of us who seek his provision.

The love that laid the path is from the heart that provides pardon for those who have Jesus as their Advocate. Knowing that his love does not depart when our steps do draws us back to the path that blesses all who walk according to his instruction!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for instructing me daily through your Word. And when I sin, help me to realize that Jesus paid the penalty for all my sins, so that I will have no fear of returning to you and to your path of instruction!