This blog is going to be a little different. Unlike previous blogs where I pontificate about my thoughts on Jesus and life application, on this blog, I will just basically transpose my notes from Monday night's quite time. I will ask more questions that I have answers for and I will leave them to you to provide your thoughts on. So, at the very least, it might be shorter. Here goes.
The Message (That's what I entitled it.)
-God is light! In Him there is no darkness!
-What darkness? Sin? Confusion? Despair? Shame? Guild? Hopelessness? Lies? Hate?
-What is light? Knowledge? Truth? Hope? Joy? Peace? Pretty much the opposite of darkness?
"If we say we have fellowship with Him (God), and walk in darkness, we Lie and don't practice the truth. But, if we walk in the Light, as He (God) is in the light, we have Fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
-Is this referring to us and God, or us and fellow believers?
-So does this mean that if we aren't walking in the light, then we can't be in fellowship with God or eachother, and therefore, aren't under the cleansing power of Jesus' blood?
"Now by this we know that we know Him (God), if we keep His commandments (Love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and strength; Love your neighbor as yourself. Right?)."
"He (me) who says, "I know Him (God)," and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth (Light?) is not in him (me). But whoever keeps His word (commandments??), truly the love of God is perfected in him (me). By this we know that we are in Him (God).""
-What does that mean "love of God is perfected?" Isn't God's love already perfect in Himself?
-This is speaking of confidence and assurance in our relationship with God by keeping His commandments.
"He (me) who says he (me) abides (what does this mean?) in Him (God) ought himself (me) also to walk just as Jesus walked.
-What is the action there?
-Is that more "Christian" speak?
-Does this refer back to "abide"?
"He (me) who says he (me) is in the light (there's that word again), and hates his brother, is in darkness until now?
-What's the litmus test for deciding what "hate" is? Is it subjective?
-Who is my brother? Fellow Christian? Jesus? All human-kind?
-Until now???
"He (me) who loves his (me) brother abides (there's that word again) in the light (truth), and there is no cause for stumbling in him."
-Does this mean that if we love our brother and live in fellowship with our brother (again, who is our brother) that we won't sin? Is it a cause and effect thing?
"But he (me) who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."
-Whoa! Lots of reference to darkness, hate, and brother.
I need help defining:
-Darkness
-Light
-Love
-Hate
-Abide
-Brother
-Walk
So, anyway, that was my quite time. I still don't have answers. But, I'll keep staring at it until some form of wisdom overcomes me. Take care!
