Day 5 – A Walk through Creation

Week Two: DARKNESS

Monday / Stumbling in the Darkness

Read                   1 John 2:9-11 (NLT)

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

Think        

When the power goes out due to a storm or accident, it’s very hard to get around the house at night.  Even though the house is a familiar place where I’ve lived for years, the darkness blinds me to obstacles in my path.  The simplest task becomes complicated when I have no light to see by.  I stub my toe on chair legs, I walk into furniture, and I drop a glass because I miss when trying to set it on the counter.

In my faith the darkness of sin causes similar problems.  I walk down a path, but wind up at a dead end because I didn’t see it coming.  I hurt others, I miss opportunities to serve.  Only by truly walking in the light of God’s truth can I see where I’m going.  I need to be careful to let God’s light shine into my dark places and be sure to get rid of any hidden sin in my life.

Even though I’m following Jesus, I still have sin in my life.  Sometimes it’s an obvious, glaring sin that you just can’t miss like hatred or meanness.  But it’s not always easy to see the darkness that lurks in my own heart.  It’s possible to think I’m right with God, but still actually be in the darkness.  Darkness blinds me to the truth.  Only by reading the Bible and praying daily can I see where God wants me to go.  That way, I can avoid walking into things I can’t see in the dark. 

Pray

 Amazing God, you created the light and the darkness.  Help me to look inside at all my dark corners.  Open my eyes to see your truth, to see where I’m blind.  Forgive me when I turn away.  Let my words and actions speak only of your light.  Help me to truly love those you’ve put in my life.  Lift me when I stumble in the darkness and keep me always walking in the light.  Amen.

Do

Examine your relationships.  Has anyone ever hurt you? Do you hate anyone? Are you harboring hatred in your heart? Remember the Word says, “But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness.”  Take a few moments to pray, ask God to bring to mind anyone you need to forgive or be forgiven by.  Go and apologize in person, if you can.  Write it in a letter.  Send an email or a text.  Try to replace any hate you feel in your heart with love.