Day 4 - 1 John 2:3-11 - Clear Vision

1 John 2:3–11

3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

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Years ago at a retreat I was posed the question, "What physical disability do you consider the most devastating?"  A list was given and I chose being blind.  The thought of not being able to see would seem to be so depressing.

We're seeing that one of John's themes is light vs. darkness and here he makes my point - living in darkness is not a good thing.  Yet so many of us do—not physically but spiritually—and, to the extent that we do, we find ourselves devoid of the joy of believing.  This makes perfect sense and John points out that what he's about to say is not anything new, yet we so often need to be reminded.  We can and need to walk in the light and that means seeing and responding to the needs that are around us.

How often I have heard, after someone has helped someone else, the comment, "That made me feel so good!"  Now, I believe we need to be careful not to serve others just because it makes us feel good, but this feeling of joy that comes after seeing and responding to need confirms what John is saying here:  Joy is found in walking in the light.  Having our eyes open to people around us, seeing their need, and doing something.  John reminds us that this is exactly what Jesus did - lived life with eyes wide open!