Walking in the Light
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.
1 John 1:7
One of the primary ways that we show fellowship with the Lord is through communion. Jesus makes this clear when He establishes this rite. “Take eat, this is my body,” and “Drink of it… this is my blood” show the level of connection that we have with Jesus (Matthew 26:26-28). It is not just a snack in which we partake. Instead, it is a connection to Jesus and the sacrifice that He made for us. By eating emblems that represent His physical body, we are accepting His sacrifice. We also show that we want to be like Him.
John explains that fellowship with the Lord has certain expectations. Taking part in the blood of His sacrifice means that we should walk in the light. What does walking in the light mean? It means that we are obedient to God’s word and striving to live in a way that pleases Him. As Christians, we should constantly question whether or not our actions find approval with the Lord.
Far too often, we can be distracted from this focus. It may be neutral things that pull us away. Our hobbies or entertainment might keep us from focusing on the things that God requires of us. Sometimes our jobs or other responsibilities may try to pull our attention away.
Even worse, there are things that actively pull us into the darkness. Entertainment may influence us with filthy language or worldly desires. Work may ask us to compromise the integrity that God requires of us. Our friends and family may encourage us to live in ungodly ways. If we are not careful, these influences can corrupt us away from the light.
Even more important is to realize that our own hearts may pull us away. God asks us to make Him the priority. Yet we have our own desires that tug at us. We can choose our own pleasure and comfort over conformity to God’s Word. Anytime we consciously choose ourselves over the Lord, we are in the darkness.
The Lord’s Supper is an opportunity for us to evaluate ourselves. God has already expressed how much He desires our fellowship in the sacrifice that we are commemorating. We need to ask ourselves if we are indeed in the light. If we are, we can give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and dedicate ourselves to maintaining our relationship. If we are not in the light any longer, it provides an opportunity to confess our sins and return to Him, for He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us (1 John 1:9).
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.
1 John 1:7
1 thought on “Walking in the Light”
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“…a connection to Jesus.” I don’t remember hearing the Lord’s supper described that way, but maybe it just didn’t register until this time. It has been presented as a command, a memorial, a reminder of the constant forgiveness of sin that we are gifted with, an encouragement to faithfulness, a unity of fellowship among the members. But the personal attachment to Him really came through for me this morning.