July 3
‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.’ James 5:16a
Bible reading: 1 John 1:5-10 (Go to the Bible passage)
When we still hide things in our hearts that are linked with darkness, then it is better not to fool ourselves and others by saying we are Christians. For one of the most important characteristics of a Christian is that he walks in the light, as Christ is in the light. This does not mean, however, that he who walks in the light, is without sin. On the contrary, we read that if we walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus - His Son - purifies us from all sin. Therefore we must first walk in the light before the purification of sin can take place.
But what is ‘walking in the light’?
Jesus said, when talking to Nicodemus, ‘Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil’ (John 3:19). So this means that, if the love of Christ does not bind us together, we dare not open up to God or to each other. ‘Walking in the light’ means: to be willing to be exposed - to let the sins in our hearts be revealed - not only to ourselves, but also to all our friends around us.
Who secretly manipulates with his sins does not find true redemption and will always fall back into repetition and disillusion. But who really wants to walk in the light, will be convicted of sin and be brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of his heart are laid bare (1 Corinthians 14:24,25). He will confess his sins for God and men and find that the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, will purify him in a wonderful manner from all sins that have been revealed by the light.

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