1 John 1:6-7 --- 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
This morning something jumped out to me between these two verses. Now it may seem obvious to some but the Lord just double underlined, highlighted and bolded it for me today.
Verse 6 starts with "If we say". In the Greek it's legō which is: to say, to speak, to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintains… I had no clue what asseverate or aver meant, so they are: declare or state solemnly or emphatically. State or assert to be the case. Now that's a lot of talking, asserting, affirming, declaring, and stating something.
Verse 7 starts with "But if we walk". In the Greek it's peripateō meaning: to tread all around, make one's way, progress, to make due use of opportunities. To live, to regulate one's life, to conduct oneself. Now that's a whole lot more than just walking to the fridge and back.
We've all heard "All talk and no action" or "all bark and no bite". These sayings sort of sum it up but don't quite capture the full gravity of what's going on.
Verse 6 "If we say…yet walk in darkness" is someone saying "I'm a Christian." and even doing good things like serve in church, feed the homeless, go to breakfast bible studies, go to every praise/worship night in a 50 mile radius, etc... Many people take this and check the box of "walk in the light". Then they punch out from Christian work, take off their apron and hat, go home to relax and be themselves. There is no higher deceit than thinking that saying "I'm a Christian" and doing good things in Jesus name, is it. Thinking you're done for the day, now you can do whatever you want because you've got the fire insurance.
Verse 7 skips the talk and goes into the actions. It's not saying we don’t speak up and stand with Jesus in our words, we do, but the heart of it isn't in the words, it's in the walk. It's in the treading all around, the making your way, living life, regulating that life, conducting yourself according to God's word, direction, and precepts. Not perfectly. None of us are perfect, but it's about leading an obedient life, without having known and continued sin or resisting the conviction of the Holy Spirit in things.
So, this means I do all those good things for Him and because of my relationship with Him. My walking with Him in my everyday life, should result in my heart overflowing with His love and a desire to want to help people, to love people, to serve people. To feed the homeless. To serve in kid's church. To attend bible study. To "ECHO" fellowship with my Christian brothers and sisters.
It's not about following religious rituals and rules. It's about being completely and utterly in love with Jesus and your life being visibly, audibly, irreversibly changed because of your relationship with Him.
Today, ask yourself why do I go to church, serve and do good things?
Hold these two verses up in front of yourself and be real, cut through the auto response of "I'm fine. I said the prayer 32 years ago. I walked the aisle. I serve. I preach. I wear Christian clothes. I've got the fish sticker."… lay all that aside and genuinely evaluate your relationship with Jesus, not just your religious checklist of things done in His name. Then talk with Him about it. He's waiting.
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