February 21st, 2019
1 JOHN 1:1-10
(GNT)
Sustained by God’s Word of Love
INTRODUCTION
1 John 1:1-10: The First Letter of John has two main purposes: to encourage its readers to live in fellowship with God and Jesus Christ, and to warn them against false teachings that would destroy this fellowship. Today’s reading describes how God’s Word of life (Jesus) came to earth and was witnessed by those who saw, heard, and touched him. It concludes with the assurance of God’s forgiveness when we confess our sins to God.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: 1 JOHN 1:7
If we live in the light – just as he is in the light – then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.
TODAY’S READING
THE WORD OF LIFE
1 We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it.2 When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us.3What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.4We write this in order that our joy may be complete.
GOD IS LIGHT
5Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.6If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions.7But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us.9But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.10If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar out of God, and his word is not in us.
REFLECT
In the Bible, light is used to describe God or God’s Word (John 1:4-5; Psalm 119:105), and those people or things that reveal God’s truth (Isaiah 49:6). The followers of Jesus are also called “people who belong to the light” (Ephesians 5:8) or “light for the whole world” (Matthew 5:14). Reread verses 5-7. What is your understanding of what it means to live in the light?
PRAY
Lord, I want to live in your light. Forgive me for the ways in which I have failed to live according to your will. Grant me your grace that I may have new life in you. Amen.
PRAYER CONCERN
Those confessing their sins to God
TOMORROW’S READING
1 John 2:1-17: Jesus is the Righteous One who pleads with the Father on our behalf.
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