1 John 1:5–7 ‘If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.’ (v6)
It was some forty years ago that I recall a preacher at church talking about a movement of God taking place in Uganda.
I remember little of what he said, but the phrase ‘walking in the light’ was evidently very significant. We do indeed fellowship with God when we walk in the light with others.
The word ‘occult’ means ‘hidden’, and the enemy of our souls is always keen that we hide sins from God and from others rather than bring them into the light and have them confessed.
It is a feature of our fallen nature that even though confession of sin leads to better living, we somehow still prefer to hang onto our sins: after all they are ours! And John evokes the memories of the way in which Old Testament sacrifices and the blood of that sacrifice helps make atonement for sin by referencing the blood of Jesus that purifies us.
There is a tension in the Christian life between confessing sin and enjoying the grace of God and our life in Him. Some seem to wallow in the ‘I’m a miserable sinner mode’.
We need to give sin enough time so that we confess it, but then move swiftly into knowing the peace and freedom that Jesus promises.
A parent who provides their child with something they know they will enjoy does not want the child to spend so much time thanking them that they never get on to play with the toy.
The Galatian letter reminds us that ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free’ (Gal. 5:1). So, today He is looking for you to enjoy the benefits of His shed blood. You truly are free!
A Prayer To Make:
Lord, thanks so much that my conscience can be cleansed because of the death of Jesus. Help me to live as a free person. Amen.
An Action To Take:
If there is anything you need to do or say to recover fellowship with someone, don’t put it off.
Scripture To Consider:
2 Kgs 5:20–27; Prov. 6:6–20; Acts 5:1–11; Heb. 9:11–15
