Mentoring Manna:  Walk in the Light

© 2003 Pastor Keith Hassell

MM00087

1 John 1:5-7 (NKJV)  “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

            Once we receive the light of Christ in our hearts, we are to walk in that light.  We are no longer to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness in which we once lived.[1]  Rather than participate with the former deeds of darkness, we are called to expose them with the light.[2]  “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”[3]

            In order to walk in the light, we must make wise choices regarding those with whom we fellowship. While we are called to love all people and seek to win them to the Lord, we cannot participate in the deeds of darkness from which we have been delivered.  John declares that God is light.  There is no darkness in Him at all. Neither should there be any leftovers of darkness in our lives. As a result, old friends or relatives who still want to live in darkness may choose to leave us.  Our hearts break because we desire to have them as friends in the light.  But because God gives each person a choice, this is not always possible.  They must first receive the light of Christ in their lives before the two of you can walk together in the agreement.

            If we want fellowship with the Lord, then we must walk in the light of His truth. Walking in the light means that we do what is acceptable to the Lord.  If we choose to walk in friendship with this world, then we cannot have fellowship with God for, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”[4] And again, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”[5]  We cannot say that we have fellowship with God when we practice the deeds of darkness.  If we do, then we are liars because clearly we are not practicing His truth.

            When we walk in the light of God’s truth by obeying His commands, then and only then can we have fellowship with God.  It is then that we also have fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ who also walk in the light.  How wonderful it is to walk together in the light!  What grief it brings when our fellowship is broken with a brother or sister who turns back to walk in darkness!  If we want our fellowship to remain strong with God’s people, then we must continually choose to walk in the light.  When we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin keeping our fellowship with God strong.  The light of Jesus that drew us to Him is the same light we must walk in to have fellowship with Him. Therefore, walk in the light as He is in the light.

Application:  Christianity is more than a decision; it is a lifestyle.  When we separate decision from lifestyle, we begin to believe that it is possible to receive the light of Christ in our lives and then continue to live in darkness.  Nothing could be further from the truth! If we choose friendship with this world, we make ourselves enemies of God.  We will not have fellowship with God or with the saints of God.  We are called to walk in the light as He is in the light.  That means we are to live in the light of God’s revealed will for our lives in every pursuit or decision we make.  Don’t limit this to the big decisions of life. Our journey is not a leap but a walk---one small step at a time.  Walk in the light that God has given you and you will walk on His pathway in fellowship with Him.

Prayer:  “Heavenly Father, forgive me for professing to walk in the light while practicing the deeds of darkness.  I lied because I did not practice the truth. I choose now to walk in the light. I choose fellowship with You rather than fellowship with this world.  As I walk in the light I believe Your promise that the blood of Jesus will cleanse me from all sin.  I thank You for this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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[1] Ephesians 5:11

[2] Ephesians 5:13

[3] Ephesians 5:8-10 NKJV

[4] James 4:4 NKJV

[5] 1 John 2:15 NKJV