1 JOHN 1:5-10
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007
WALK IN THE LIGHT
5 This is the message which
we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him
is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and
walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk
in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we
say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say
that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10 (NKJV)
The majority of Biblical Scholars agree that the John who writes this
Epistle is the same St. John who wrote the fourth Gospel. This is the
second of a series of Devotions on the First Epistle of John.
Previous devotions
can be found in the Archives. It is my hope that as we meditate on
St. John’s Epistle, where the keynote is Love, that we can grow together
in our Love of God.
How many broken toes have there been because people got out of bed at
night and did not turn on a light? I would guess the number would be
quite high. I would also guess that once a toe was broken there was
either a night light installed or a light turned on before a few steps
were taken. Because it is so easy to understand that it is better and
safer to walk in the light, it is hard to understand why people choose
not to when it comes to their "spiritual toes."
In your Sunday Worship I hope that a confession of faith is used. When
it comes to that point of the Service, I hope your Pastor says, Let
us confess our faith
instead of
let us say or the words are printed on Page 4. If the Apostles
Creed is used, we stand and confess, I believe in God the Father
Almighty, etc.
Some who confess those words will leave the church and during the week
they will take God’s Name in vain, they will cheat, they will get angry,
and they will hate; in other words, they will walk in darkness. They
will do anything to satisfy their own needs. Even though they confess to
being in fellowship with God, they lie because they walk in the darkness
of sin. In this darkness they have lost sight of God.
Some who confess those words will leave the church and in the coming
week do the best they can to follow God’s will and wishes. They will
visit the sick, the aged, and the lonely. They will pray and study God’s
Word. They will walk in the Light, and just ahead, they will always keep
sight of God who leads them.
Those who walk in darkness have nowhere to turn. Those who walk in
darkness often believe that they are living a good life and have no sin.
They are deceiving themselves.
Those who walk in the light will also sin because of the Original Sin
within them, BUT in the Light of God’s Presence, they will recognize
their sins. They will confess their sins. God is faithful and just and
will not only forgive our sins, but He will cleans us from all
unrighteousness.
Walk in the darkness of sin and you will do worse than break a toe – you
will fall into the deep pits of the eternity of darkness.
WALK IN THE LIGHT and you will do better than having your sins forgiven
– you will rise to the peaks of light in your Father’s House of many
mansions.
WE PRAY: LORD JESUS, surround me with your light that the darkness of
sin might not overpower me. There are so many tempting things in this
world and sometimes they appeal to me. If I start to wander, help me
remember how much you love me. Then gently draw me back into your Light,
forgive me, and cleanse me from my sin. AMEN
A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE
COMMANDMENT
Wear a cross on a neck chain
or a pin just to remind you that you are not alone. If you allow Him,
Jesus Christ the Light of the world, will be with you always.