POINT TO JESUS

Just a little grace Is all it takes To turn a dying heart Into a born-again smile Just a little grace Is all it takes To help a suffering soul Through a difficult trial Just a little grace Is really all it takes To fill a reprobate mind With God's abundant love To point to Jesus Tell about His Life and Cross A little sovereign grace Is just enough Jeffree!!! July 2009 Read: 1 John 1:5-7

TODAY IN THE WORD

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares seemingly unrelated subjects, drawing attention to the likeness or analogy between them. For example, Shakespeare said: “All the world’s a stage.” Scripture also employs metaphor. For instance, God is our husband (Hosea 2:16), and Jesus declared that He is the “bread of life” (John 6:35).

John utilizes metaphor in today’s text: “God is light.” John restates the theme from his Gospel, recounting that this metaphor comes from Jesus. This is not an assertion that God is electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye; to say “God is light” is not to speak literally of God’s physical makeup, but rather to describe God symbolically. The metaphor of light and darkness is used throughout the Bible in various ways (cf. Ps. 27:1; 36:9; John 1:4—5; 8:12; 12:46). In our passage today, it communicates that God is completely pure and holy, without sin or defect.

Three sentences beginning with “if we claim” follow verse 5 (vv. 6, 8, 10). The first clarifies how we have the fellowship with God mentioned in yesterday’s passage. We cannot have fellowship with God and continue walking in darkness, the realm in which sinful behavior and attitudes prevail, the realm contrary to His holiness (v. 6). Verse 7 explodes in contrast to verse 6. John teaches that walking in the light not only confirms our fellowship with God but also our fellowship with one another. Implicitly, John pleads that if we claim to have fellowship with God, we will be reconciled to one another.

“How can unholy, sinful people walk in the light of God’s presence?” John anticipates this question and points to Jesus’ saving and transforming work on the cross (v. 7). Through the blood of Jesus we are purified and set free from the realm of darkness and welcomed into fellowship with God to walk in His glorious light.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

In today’s passage, claims to know God are examined against one’s lifestyle. The problem of sin is more fundamental than a violation of any particular rule. Sin affects our entire nature and only through Jesus do we find spiritual health and life. Through Christ His Spirit lives in us. Therefore, let us rejoice and turn to the Spirit when we find ourselves tempted to walk in darkness. Through the Spirit’s power we are transformed to be like Christ and to walk in His light.

2009 Moody Bible Institute • www.todayintheword.org