“Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
This is a powerful statement from John in his first letter (1 John 2:3-11). It’s the perfect message for the beginning of the New Year. First, we’re told to walk with Jesus, i.e., “to walk just as he walked.” We are told to “know him,” and we do this by keeping his commandments. Otherwise, we are “liars” saying we know him when truly we do not. Sitting in Church every Sunday, can we truthfully say we know him, or are we liars, according to John and his strong and stinging words.
Secondly, even though darkness is passing away because we’re past the shortest day of the year, and the days are lengthening, is darkness still enveloping us? Are we unwilling to be in the light because we still hate someone? The choice is our own: see or be blinded by darkness otherwise known as unforgivingness.
Deacon David Pierce
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