Walking with God

In reading these two chapters, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to walk with God.

Many people claim to walk with God. Or in John’s words, many people claim to know God and have fellowship with him.

But what does that really look like?

One thing John makes clear is that you can’t walk in darkness and still claim to have fellowship with God. In other words, you can’t reject his commands and just live as you like.

Unfortunately, too many people who claim to be Christians do just that. They accept the things in God’s word that they like and throw out the things they don’t.

But a person who truly walks with God believes all his commands and ways are good. And so they embrace these things. They honor these things. Their heart truly belongs to God and they desire to walk as Jesus did. (I John 1:5-6, 2:3-6)

That said, living in the light doesn’t mean we live perfect lives. But when his light reveals our sin, we don’t make excuses for it. Rather we confess it and repent.

And the good news is that when Satan tries to accuse us, Jesus stands by our side and defends us. By his blood we are purified from all our sins, and God’s wrath is appeased. (I John 1:7, 2:1-2).

We are forgiven, not because we are so faithful, but because God is. (1 John 1:9). We are accepted, not because we are so righteous, but because Jesus is righteous (2:1, 12), and he has clothed us with his righteousness.

So let us not walk in the darkness living our own way. Nor let us fear coming into the light because we fear God’s anger or judgment.

Rather let us come into the light…no, let us run to the light, embracing God, embracing his ways, and walking each day in his grace as his beloved children.