Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17
People with long term needs need an advocate
The person (or people) your men’s team ministry is serving is in a tough situation. Perhaps your care receiver is a single mother of two young children who is also a high school dropout and making only minimum wage. Or perhaps your care receiver is someone who is disabled and confined to a wheelchair. She may have sufficient funds from Social Security, but she needs help doing things around the home. Or perhaps your care receiver is a widow who is well off financially, but has lost her husband and is in poor health and is all alone in a large home with no nearby relatives to come to her aid.
Advocates speak for those who can’t speak for themselves
Whatever the case may be, all of these people need an advocate, someone to plead their case. And that is why your team has been assigned to him or her. You are now their advocate. So what does an advocate do? One source defines an advocate this way:
An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another, especially in a legal context. Implicit in the concept is the notion that the represented lacks the knowledge, skill, ability, or standing to speak for themselves. Common advocates include lawyers, activists, and public relations consultants. (Wikipedia:Advocate)
The Bible has many examples of advocates
The Bible contains some great examples of advocates. Judah advocated for Benjamin before his seemingly hostile brother, Joseph in Genesis 43:3-10. Esther advocated for the Jews in Esther 5:1-8 and 7:1-8. Moses advocated for the Jews in Numbers 14:10-19. And Jonathan advocated for David in 1 Samuel 20:1-34. Job beautifully describes his advocate on high in Job 16:19-21.
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. (New International Version)
Jesus Christ is the greatest example of an advocate
Like Job, we Christians have a “friend” on high who advocates for us. Jesus, our “great high priest” is our advocate who pleads our case in God’s presence.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin. Let us then approach Gods throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Your advocacy for your care receiver mirrors this tradition
Your advocacy for your care receiver continues a long tradition of believers acting on behalf of others. And it mirrors our relationship with Jesus Christ. By your advocacy, you communicate a very important message: that Christ himself stands in the very presence of God to act and speak on your care receiver’s behalf.
This post first appeared online in NewCommandment.org and is reprinted from Doing Good Well: Thirty Daily Meditations on Developing a Biblical and Consistent Discipline of Good Works by Herb Reese. Purchase this book.
_______________________________________________________________
Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
_______________________________________________________________
2 thoughts on “On Being an Advocate”
Hey Herb, how are you doing these days? Been a long time since our paths have crossed but I’m guessing the ISI leaders might think I’m to old…no way, God still has thinks for me to do. Thanks for your article on being an advocate. I have been doing volunteer work with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for boys and young men. What an honor it has been to sit in court with these guys and visit them where they live (most in foster care or residential care) and being able to pray for and with them. Take a look at our website and our blogs, we just had it updated.
Keep up the great work you are doing and maybe our paths will meet again. God bless you and all your family.
Hi, Sam! It’s so good to hear from you. I MISS you. I’m sure you’re a wonderful advocate, Sam. That’s where your heart is, for sure. Are you doing any ISI’s this year?