Day 353

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The God of Light, Love and Life!

1 John Introduction

John, "the beloved apostle," has long known and enjoyed the Lord. He writes 1 John to help his spiritual brothers in their walk with the God who is light, love and life. He wants them to be grounded in assurance of their salvation, experiencing victory over sin and the full joys of the Christian life. He reminds them that all these gems can be dimmed by false teaching, so he reminds the reader that belief should be based on the facts about Christ's incarnation and that every believer has the responsibility to walk like Christ.

Scripture

December 18—1 John 1-5: Fellowship with God

Observation

Fellowship is a shared conviction, a shared commitment, a shared compassion. It is two people walking the same road, bearing the same load. Fellowship involves a vertical dimension (with the Father) and a horizontal dimension (with those who know the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ). John, who knows firsthand the joy of fellowship with God, desires that his readers experience the same delightful walk of faith—a walk characterized by obedience to the commands of God and selfless love within the family of God.

Application

You stumble into a dark room, unable to find the light switch. Finally in desperation, you pull out a match, strike it, and in the light of that match, you find the source of more light.

It takes light to find light, Psalm 36:9 declares, "For you are the Fountain of life; our light is from your Light."

How did you discover the "light of the gospel"—the Good News of sins forgiven in Jesus Christ? Probably it involved an encounter with someone who had previously found the light. A Sunday school teacher. Minister. Classmate. Parent or grandparent. Each can become a source of light, leading you to the light of the world!

And when Christians "live in harmony" (Psalm 133:1), there is an inviting glow produced that nothing can imitate! Like moths attracted to a campfire, others will become curious about a fellowship where acceptance and affirmation are the hallmarks.

Tonight, weather permitting, take a flashlight stroll in the dark. Along the way, reread 1 John 1:5-7 and talk to God about the way your light, and the light of your local fellowship are reaching out to others still in darkness. (They are . . . aren't they?)

Prayer

Lord, our Father, by your Word we know and enjoy fellowship with you the God of light, love and life. And we praise you the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for you are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from you. Thank you for loving us so much that you gave your only Son so that we can live with you eternally in heaven. Hallelujah! In Jesus' name! Amen! 

Comfort One Another





© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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