Light Day 30: I John 2:7-11

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The true Light now shines! Jesus Christ is living and here within us, shining eternally through our lives!

Because of this, He gives “a new commandment,” and, once again, this new commandment centers around love.

Love and light go together. God is love; God is light. Throughout Scripture, these two concepts are often discussed together. Without light, there can be no love; and where there is no love, there is no light.

This passage is clear that hating one’s brother and walking in light cannot coexist. Yet the new commandment that Jesus gave was “Love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Jesus laid down His life in love for us – how can we possibly love each other as Jesus loves us?

The answer is that it is only Jesus who can love as Jesus loves. No one else can come close to meeting that standard. Trying to love like Jesus in our own strength will only reveal how incapable we are and how far we fall short.

Instead, to love one another, we must receive the very life and love and light of Jesus Himself into our beings. He died and rose and ascended to His Father that He might live His life through us – that He might live inside us – that it may be no longer I who lives (no longer I in my failing flesh), but Christ who lives in me! And He is 100% capable of loving others through us exactly as He loves us!

Receiving His love and allowing it to flow through us to others isn’t a passive activity. It doesn’t mean we just sit back and let Him do it, all the while excusing our own laziness. It’s actively living WITH Him, loving WITH Him, acting in kindness and gentleness as He leads, listening to His voice and following His word – it’s true life with Him!

When this is our lifestyle, resting and yet actively living in Him as our Keeper, there is truly no occasion for stumbling. He is our Elohim – our Strong Leader who keeps our lives hidden in His care. Walk in the light, as He is in the light, and receive the joy of true, selfless, giving Love!