1 John 1:6-7 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Merely theoretical faith just doesn’t cut it. Throughout the Bible the point is made very clearly that our actions have to line up with our words. Smooth talkers can fool a lot of people, but they can never fool God. That’s not to say that someone with a facile tongue is necessarily insincere, but rather that our actions, our lifestyles, have to match our words. This is of course most obvious in public figures. Politicians come to mind, but actually, pastors fit in the same category. There are those who preach love from the pulpit and yet are abusive at home. These verses and the ones following make it very clear not only that we are to strive for consistency, God’s grace is sufficient for our failures. The standard is perfection. Since we are imperfect by definition, we live either in repentance or deception. Repentance brings forgiveness and cleansing, but deception brings a deepening spiral of darkness. At any point in that spiral, if we will turn around in repentance, we will rediscover all the blessings of the Cross, lifting us out of the pit we have dug for ourselves.

This is a truth that I have experienced first hand, but which I have trouble communicating consistently. The problem is, none of us likes to have our deceptions exposed, and so we retreat into the darkness. As a pastor I have seen people withdraw from fellowship many times, and it is always troubling. True love will discipline, but all too often people respond by running further away. I need to respond first in intercessory prayer, and be very careful that any words I speak to others are guided by the Holy Spirit in love. I have had some rather big failures in this area in the past, and I cannot be presumptuous. At the same time, I am not to take such situations as something I have to fix on my own. In the first place, I couldn’t begin to do it in my own strength and wisdom, and in the second place, nothing is impossible for God. I need to pray in humility and faith, doing all I can to walk consistently in the light myself, so that more and more around me may join in that fellowship in the light.

Father, You’ve just given me another message! There is so much valuable, wonderful truth in Your Word. Help me know what to feed Your flock when, so that they will be nourished to grow strong as You intend. Give us all courage to walk fully in the light, not hiding in any sort of deception but allowing Your Spirit to shine into and through every part of our beings, cleansing and healing us and drawing many more to life in Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!