DEVOTION – DAY 583

1 John 1:5-7 “God Is Light”

1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and we do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us all from sin.”

In these verses, the apostle John used the words “light” and “darkness” as a sharp contrast. “Light” represents what is good, true and holy. “Darkness” represents what is evil and false. V5 tells us that God is light – meaning God is good, true and holy. In vv6-7, those that walk in darkness are people whose lives are marked with wickedness and sin. Those who walk in the light are people whose lives are marked by holiness and truth. Thus, Christians fellowship with God and other believers, they have a living, spiritual union with God and with one another. Their unity is made possible by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross because of His shed blood had cleansed the sins of all believers, making it possible for them to fellowship with God.

We met someone some years ago who shared with us his life story. He was a former drug addict and drug dealer. He was far from God. He was an example of someone living a life of darkness. He was arrested for his activities and he ended up in prison. He had to experience terrible drug withdrawal symptoms. Whilst in prison, because he had time on his hands, he began to read the Bible. In his despair, he cried out to God to help him. He surrendered himself to Jesus as his Lord and Savior. From then on, he started to make changes to how he wanted to live his life. He wanted to walk in the light because God is light. In time, he became a model prisoner. The changes in him caught the attention of the prison authorities and they granted him an early release. Today, he is a pastor actively serving in a ministry helping former drug addicts. He also actively shares his testimony to give God the glory in churches and at evangelistic rallies. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you for you are good, true and holy. Thank you for sending your Son to atone for our sins on the cross so that we are acceptable to you to be called your children. Thank you for your gift of salvation. Please help us to make daily choices to walk in the light for you are light. We humbly pray in the great name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What was your life like before you became a Christian? What was it like to walk in darkness?
  2. Share how you became a Christian. What changes do you see in yourself now that you are a Christian and walking in the light?
  3. What daily choices can you make to ensure that you walk in the light?
  4. How can you help your family members to make daily choices to walk in the light?