Stephan Hoffman
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2
Read the whole chapter, 1 John 2:1-29
The intimate bond between John and the first readers of the letter is clear from the way he addresses them as his children. John warns them in a friendly way not to sin, but also comforts them with the knowledge that Jesus Christ acts as our advocate if we stumble. Just as sacrifice provided atonement in the Old Testament, so Jesus perfectly reconciled us to the Father.
John emphasises once again that true faith cannot exist without obedience. What we do must be in line with what we say. If we say that we know God's grace through Jesus, we must also react with thankfulness by trying to live life with the same love that God has shown us.
How can we show our gratitude to God? By loving our brothers and sisters, each other and other people!
John uses the metaphor of light and darkness to emphasise something of the miracle that God saved us and helps us to look differently at life. We see more than the earthly world with its brokenness, suffering and affliction, we see the eternal life because we know the source of light and life and because our relationship with the eternal God was restored in Jesus Christ.
You can only discover this truth if God has revealed it to you. Jesus Christ came to show us something of God's love for us. We no longer live in the dark, we are not blind to the goodness of God. We are born again and we remain in Christ. You and I can see life with eyes of faith and testify to God's presence, love and care.
Today, do you not want to keep a lookout for someone who might still be blindly groping for hope, light, life and love? Go tell that person about the grace we have received and prove it by showing them the kind love that was shown to you!
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you have not left me to myself. Thank you that I can experience something of your love and light in my own life and in my own heart by the power of your Holy Spirit. Please help me to show your love to others with gratitude. Amen