Day 1,120: 1 John 1- Do Not Be Afraid... Of The Light

​That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us--3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Walking in the Light5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we 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 his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say 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 we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

​Meditation
God’s grace invites us to have fellowship with Him and one another by walking in the light. Children are afraid of the dark. Many adults are afraid of the light, not wanting to expose sin. The gospel cycle of confession and cleansing empowers believers to walk in the light.
 
John writes for “joy to be complete (fulfilled)” (4). Look at the relational descriptions of the fellowship John offers: Hearing, seeing, touching… Jesus who was light manifest in the world. Full joy is found in deeper fellowship with one another through authentic fellowship with the Lord (1-3).
 
The gospel frees us to embrace the light, welcoming believers into real relationship with God, who is light. With God, there is no darkness (5). Two cycles of confessing and cleansing are offered to empower us to embrace the light and walk with God:
 
Cycle 1: Admit you have a foot in darkness so you can practice the truth (6). Cleanse yourself with the blood of Jesus by keeping both feet in the light and walking forward in faith (7).
 
Cycle 2: Count on it: there is darkness somewhere in your heart (8). We all trespass by walking in darkness in some capacity, so confess your sin to the Lord to be cleansed by His grace. God is faithful and just. God will cleanse you and purify you (9-10).
 
The fullness of joy is found when we overcome our fear of the light to embrace God’s cycles of grace, walking with God in real relationship and having deeper fellowship with one another.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you afraid of the light, to confess your sins and struggles? Why? What does this reveal about the security you have (or do not have) in God’s steadfast love?
 
-Where do you have a foot in darkness, trespassing outside of God’s design by allowing your desires to give birth to sin?
 
-How do the gospel cycles empower you to confess and be cleansed? Take a moment to welcome God’s cleansing.
 
Key Verses
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 cleanses us from all sin.