Walking in the light

If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

As I read those words this morning, I was thinking about what it means to walk in the light.

Somehow, I’ve always had this impression that whenever we sin, we immediately step out of the light and into the darkness, if only for a brief time until we repent and come back into the light.

But in reflecting on John’s words, I’m not so sure that’s true.

John doesn’t say that the person walking in the light will never sin.

Rather, he says that if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus will cleanse us whenever we do sin.

I think to walk in the light, then, means to constantly expose every facet of our life to Jesus, both the good and bad. And whenever his light exposes some sin in our hearts, we immediately repent.

We don’t try to hide our sin. We don’t make excuses for it. We repent. And as we do, he is faithful and just and will forgive us.

That’s walking in light. That’s what fellowship with God looks like.

On the other hand, it’s impossible to have fellowship with God if we’re hiding from his light. If like Adam and Eve we try to cover our guilt and our shame. Or if we constantly make excuses for and try to justify our sins.

That’s walking in the darkness.

And so as we think about whether we’re walking in the light or not, the question we need to ask ourselves is not how much we struggle with sin in our lives.

The question is, “Am I exposing all of me to Jesus? Or are there areas that I’m still trying to hide from him?”

Father, I choose to step out into the light and walk in it. To hide nothing from you, not even the sins I’m ashamed of.

Let your light shine on me. Show me the areas that need to change.

I don’t want to just stand in the light, basking in your grace. I want to walk in the light.

So show me my next step. And as I keep moving forward, step by step, make me more like you. In Jesus’ name, amen.