Revealing the Light of God’s Love
By Dawn Tolbert
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” 1 John 2:9
Total darkness can be terrifying.
One year, my husband and I took a trip to an underground lake. We’d made our way down a slippery walkway into a room hollowed out in the rock. As my claustrophobic eyes noticed the stone columns and ceiling that seemed impossibly close to our heads, my anxiety grew. I wondered if things could get worse.
Then, someone turned off the lights.
The effect felt smothering. Burrowed underneath the earth, we could only see the dark. The experience lasted only a moment before the light returned, but I can still feel the oppression from having experienced such darkness.
As much as I’d hate to be trapped in a dark place, there’s a darkness that’s much worse—life without Jesus. It’s devoid of light and hope. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior, He delivers us from this darkness. But in 1 John, Scripture encourages us to examine ourselves to be sure we’re truly following Jesus and walking in His ways.
A key question to ask is how we feel about others. Today’s verse warns that if we claim to be in the light—to have Jesus as our Savior—but hate our brother or sister, we’re actually in living darkness.
Some ask, “Who’s my brother or sister?” Biological siblings or does that include my Christian family? Think about what those questions imply. If we’re asking who we have to love, aren’t we also hinting there are those it’s okay not to? That’s not a God-honoring attitude.
John 3:16 tells us, “God so loved the world …” He loves the world and everyone in it; He wants us to do the same. Ask God to help you love others with His love and let His light shine through you.
Dawn Tolbertis a contributor to Wholly Loved Ministries Daily Devotional, a Christ-follower who writes to honor God, thank Him for His goodness, and encourage readers by sharing her faith journey. She works in higher education public relations and is writing her first novel and her first book-length Bible study. She has earned a B.A. in Communication Studies and English (Gardner-Webb College), a M.A. in Professional Writing (Kennesaw State University), and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership (Union University). She and her husband, Larry, live in Cedartown, Georgia, and serve actively in their church. Dawn blogs at dawntolbert.com.
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