Walking in the Light
by Tamilla Simpson
Every morning when the radio comes on, and I am still in bed, I hear Joni Eareckson Tada.
This particular morning the only thing I remember her saying was, "1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another." She didn't finish the verse, but I did in my head. I know it so well. I memorized it along with so many others in Sunday School and from 5th through 7th grade in private Christian School.
Then the verse, "confess your sins one to another and pray for one another, that ye may be healed..." James 5:16 came to mind. How do you temper that with oversharing? There's just some things other people don't need to know. You might end up with a lot of gossip and hurting one another instead of "loving one another".
I've not killed anyone, I saved myself for marriage, and other than drugs for surgery, as far as I know, I've always been sober.
But have I plotted revenge in my mind? Probably. Have I had hateful thoughts? More than likely. Have I been ungrateful and prideful? Absolutely.
If we are not walking in the light, we are obviously hiding something in the dark. Our relationships will then be broken, and we will not be healed. I think this is what he means when he says "Work our your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:12
After getting married later in life and moving, for the longest time, I felt so alone. I wasn't used to living with a man and all that it entails. My Christian "sisters" and friends that I were accustomed to, weren't here and I didn't seem to fit in. I was in 2 car accidents, and I lost my job which made all matters worse. I went into a great depression and I just gave up. I pretty much checked out and just went along for the ride. I felt like God had forgotten about me. But God...He let me feel that for awhile. He wasn't going to leave me there in the dark.
He is slowly bringing different people into my life to begin to shine a light on each issue. I'm still not "healed" and I've got a ways to go. I do want to continue to walk in his light.
His light is "Life" after all. John 1:4
Verses for reflection:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"...and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all Sin. 1 John 1:7