Walking In God’s Light
For Meditation
In this week’s passage we come to the first of John’s great theological affirmations: God is light (v.5). The image is rich. What does light do? On one hand, it illuminates and guides. At the same time, light suggests moral purity and uprightness. And more, light exposes and reveals; it shows the truth. God is light, John tells us, and in him there is no darkness at all.
What does this mean for people like us — people in whom there is darkness, people who do not consistently walk in the light?
Will we run and hide? Will we look for ways to deny, or minimize, or excuse the darkness within? Or will we dare to step into the light?
One of the glorious truths of this week’s passage is that there is forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, the righteous One. The God who is light is not only pure, but purifying.
As you prepare for worship, take time to invite God to search you, to know you, to expose areas of darkness in your life. What sin can you confess? What will you bring into the light?
1 John 1:5–2:2
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.