5 This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” 6 If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. 7 But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.
Reflection
I love this analogy between living in truthfulness and living in the light.
God is the light.
God is the truth.
When we live in complete truthfulness, we do not mind the light shining over us, revealing every nook and corner of our lives because there is nothing to keep in shame. This doesn’t mean we don’t do the wrong thing sometimes, it doesn’t mean that we don’t sin – it means we live with pure intentions. It means we constantly look to God for guidance. It means we own up to our mistakes instead of trying to brush them into the darkness.
Also, in verse 6, the writer brings relationship into this. If we call ourselves Christians, say that we have a deep relationship with God, but hide away parts of ourselves that we know are in contradiction to that, then we are not living into truth. This doesn’t help ourselves or others who are trying to have a better relationship with God. Instead of trying to keep our wrongs in the dark in order to put on the appearance of having a close relationship with God, we should bring our wrongs into the light in order to have an actual close relationship with God. This relationship is based on truthfulness, authenticity and is the way we fully reveal our God-given soul.
By Rachel Callender
For Pondering & Prayer
What role has honesty played in your life? Where has it brought you closer to God and others? Are there parts of your life, experience, or personality that you struggle to share with those close to you?
Prayer: God of Light, your Word continues to raise a mirror to each of us as to who we are and who we want to be through you. May your Holy Spirit lead us toward a life in your ever-present light. Amen.
Comments are closed.