I'm Layin' Them Down for the Joy of the Lord

Hello friends! I am back into actually blogging after a nice break. I feel refreshed and ready to get typing! Today we are starting a new Book of the Bible Series - 1 John. Let's hop into Chapter One!

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. (Verses 1 - 4)

The Word of life is the living breathing Word of God that manifested when Jesus was born. He is the Word in the flesh. He is the one who saved His people from the darkness, for the Word of truth blinds the darkness with light so that the darkness hides and never shows its' face. Jesus is the one who reigns above all. He is the one who saved you long ago and is still saving you to this day. For His light radiates in your heart to keep you on the path of righteousness. He is the true lamp for your feet. He will guide you through even the darkest of paths. He is the one whom you can put all your trust in. He loves you and protects you from the enemy.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (Verses 5 - 7)

God is light. God is the one who shines on us. He shines his grace, love, compassion, and goodness on us. His light burns brighter than any fire the enemy can conjure up. He is the truest form of light. And we are meant to be like Jesus. We are meant to mimic Him like a mirror and do what He does. So, show yourself capable to do good in this world that hates good. Do good even if it isn't popular to do good. Do good whether or not you will be rewarded. Be like the Savior.

If claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (Verses 8 - 10)

God knows that we are not perfect; that we are sinful in nature. So, He is forgiving, but He still expects us to confess our sins and turn away from them. We will stumble and fall at some point, but the first step is to recognize our sin. So confessing isn't bringing bad things you did to the Father so that you can be punished, but it is acknowledging that sin and bringing it to the Father so that sin can be eradicated. That is the purpose of confessing. You drop the sin at God's feet and you receive forgiveness and joy in place of guilt and shame.

This reminds me of a song that I sang at vacation Bible school as a kid:

"I'm tradin' my sorrows,

I'm trandin' my shame,

I'm layin' them down for the joy of the Lord.

I'm tradin' my sickness,

I'm tradin' my pain,

And I'm layin' them down for the joy of the Lord."

So lay down all the burdens you carry down at the feet of the God of light. Let Him eradicate the darkness in you and smile! What a forgiving God we have. Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord, Amen.