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. (1 John 1: 6-7)

In 1 John 1: 6-7, John was attacking the belief that our fellowship with God is not related to how we behave. So what if I lose my temper? So what if I mistreat my family and others? I’m spiritual. I pray. I go to church. I know my Bible. That’s all that matters.

John’s verdict is that those who think this way “lie and do not live out the truth.” Truth isn’t just something you believe, its something you do. Christians do truth. The hypocrisy of not doing the truth is especially evident in our marriages and families.

Before a dance troupe appears on stage, they spend many hours rehearsing in a brightly lit room with a mirrored wall. Seeing themselves in action eliminates self-deception about their performance. Likewise, for God’s people to face the truth and shape our lives accordingly, they must live their days in the light and before the mirror of Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

1 John 1:7 says there are benefits that come when we walk in the light. The first is “we have fellowship with one another.” The primary casualties of Christian hypocrisy are our relationships in the church and home, which begin to disintegrate as we lie to ourselves and God about what we’re doing. People walking in darkness bump into each other, and it hurts.

But when we allow God’s light to shine into our lives, we stop bruising each other because our actions are under God’s control. We stop fighting over where to go because God’s light reveals clearly how we are to follow.

The second great benefit of living truthfully is “the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” We began this walk of light when Jesus cleansed us from our sin. But the ongoing benefit of continuing to respond to the truth of God’s Word and God’s verdict about our day-to-day sins is that Jesus’ blood continues to purify us from sin.

The godliness of marriage is measured not by how spiritual we are but by how well we walk in the light. A man and woman who are close to God will be humble, kind, faithful, gentle, joyful, loving and, above all, honest. They will glory in walking in the light of God’s presence together.

LET’S TALK

1. What are some ways we fool ourselves into thinking that we have fellowship with God even when we “walk in the darkness” (live sinfully)?
2. In practical terms, how do we “walk in the light”? What does that mean for us at work? At church? At home? While navigating traffic?
3. What is our marriage like when we are both walking in the light? What improvements in conduct do we notice?

We hope these devotions are helpful to you and your marriage! Kindly take the “LET’S TALK” questions honestly, and not push it aside. God bless this devotion to your marriage!