Our Fellowship with the Saints
Scripture: 1 John 1 v 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 Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Ephesians 5 v 11 - 12: "And have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame
even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."
What does it mean to walk in the light? It means that we
don't hide behind masks, or have dark secrets. We are open, honest, faithful, loyal,
appreciative and a blessing to others. We walk in the light of what we have
learnt from the Bible, the very life of Jesus Christ.
We walk in love, too, by showing kindness, speaking the
truth, being willing to serve the Lord through prayer and ministry. We shun sin
and its darkness because we need to walk in Jesus' sinless light. He never
sinned, so His light is the purest, most radiant light of all. He said in John
14 v 6: I am the Light. In john 1 it says: He is the light of the world.
Those who walk in darkness hate that light because it
will shine into all their hidden evil and expose it. They will either repent or
retreat. Christians should not have fellowship with those who scuttle back into
darkness. It serves no purpose to condone their sinfulness.
Our fellowship is with Jesus Christ, and those who walk
in the same light. If any have sinned the light will expose it and His Blood
will cleanse it. This is a strong discernment: if fellowship ceases, determine
which of you is walking in the light, and pray for the true light to bring the
backslider back to Jesus.
Those who are in darkness are unfruitful and instead of
having fellowship we should reprove them, and point out that their behaviour is
unacceptable. Look at how Jesus treated the scribes and Pharisees in His day.
He called them a generation of vipers full off hypocrisy and pride.
He fought for the Temple by turning over the tables of
the money-lenders who were making huge profits on the steps. He told them they
had turned the house of God into a den of thieves. Its happening today! There
are churches that have ATM's inside them. An altar to filthy lucre, the money
god.
God sees everything that goes on and final judgment rests
with Him. He sent forth the Light of the world to rescue us. He calls out to us
and shines His light into the darkness to save us from sin and death. If we do
not respond He moves on.
I am so reminded of the scene in the movie Titanic when
the rescue boats were searching for anyone alive who would respond. Rose saw
the light of that boat and heard people calling for response. She blew that
whistle with all the strength left in her.
She was rescued. Jesus said leave the dead to bury the dead, come follow
Me.
If you see His light and hear His call respond as loudly
and as enthusiastically as you can. Do not be left for dead. Become a fruitful
loving Christian shining His light and calling for people to heed the gospel.
You need to engage a higher gear, be motivated to be an inspiration, so that
you remain in that glorious light forever.
Prayer: Father God, we love the Light You sent us and we
want that Light to shine through us so we may extend Your Kingdom and be a help
to those who struggle. Help us to have sweet fellowship in that Light so many
can be cleansed of sin by the Blood of Jesus. In Jesus' name. Amen.