Weekly Devotional 8-14-17 Cleansing Followed by Joy
“1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life– 2the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- 3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 5This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But 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 cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1ST John 1:1-10 NKJV).
Approximately sixty years after Jesus had ascended to heaven, John felt compelled and moved by the Holy Spirit to write a letter to those whom he had ministered to during this period. By this time John was a man of ninety years plus and knew that his time was running out, he wanted to once again assure these folks that they were loved by God and their Savior Jesus Christ. He knew that even though they were Christians they would run the gambit of human emotions, the highs and lows of human experience. Some of them had the experience of walking with the Lord for more than sixty years and some for a lesser time, but they all had the indwelling Holy Spirit who gifted persons to lead and instruct them (Ephesians 4:7-12). Still, they often times would have had doubts about their salvation, especially when falling into one sin or another. He wrote of many things that would assure them that indeed they were children of God. At the close of the letter he wrote; “13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 18We know that whoever is born of God does not sin (does not habitually sin); but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (5:13-20 NKJV).
John wrote to a specific group, but God intended that His inspired words reach many more, including our generation. We, like John’s first readers, can take comfort that God loves us and that the Lord is ready, willing and able to cleanse us of sin when confessed. When sin is confessed and repented of, we experience the same joy that John and his early readers experienced. What a blessing!
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
570-585-5692