Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: 1 John 1
1 John 1:6 (NIV) "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth."
While praying and seeking God on what He wanted me share in today's devotion, I could not get anywhere. I have many ideas, many Scripture passages, and many God-given thoughts to write about, but I could just not settle on one. Then, in my own personal quiet time, I came over a familiar passage in First John chapter one. It was here that I realized I needed to write about Christians who are not living the truth of God's word, and instead are putting on a fake front and going through the motions of church.
This process--often called backsliding-- is the second most tragic trend to happen in the spiritual realm (The first would be someone not trusting Christ alone for salvation). In this, a believer in Christ gradually begins to drift away from fellowship with the Lord. Little by little he gives in to self and to Satan. He grows indifferent to God. Some characteristics of a person like this include:
If this criteria is an apt description of yourself, you may be caught in a negative spiritual trend. I challenge you to examine your own personal relationship with the Lord. The first step according to today's Bible reading is to confess your sin to the Lord. The apostle John wrote, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Then, after accepting God's forgiveness, you need to renounce your sin, recommit to church fellowship, and develop daily personal devotion time. As you do these things, you will rediscover that your relationship with the Lord will bring you everlasting joy and provide you a new outlook on life. Faith Lesson: "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 1:7
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: 1 John 1
1 John 1:6 (NIV) "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth."
While praying and seeking God on what He wanted me share in today's devotion, I could not get anywhere. I have many ideas, many Scripture passages, and many God-given thoughts to write about, but I could just not settle on one. Then, in my own personal quiet time, I came over a familiar passage in First John chapter one. It was here that I realized I needed to write about Christians who are not living the truth of God's word, and instead are putting on a fake front and going through the motions of church.
This process--often called backsliding-- is the second most tragic trend to happen in the spiritual realm (The first would be someone not trusting Christ alone for salvation). In this, a believer in Christ gradually begins to drift away from fellowship with the Lord. Little by little he gives in to self and to Satan. He grows indifferent to God. Some characteristics of a person like this include:
- No interest in Christian fellowship (not praying with someone, failing to discuss Christian issues with believers and non-believers)
- No desire to attend church (puts other activities in front of growing in a church, inconsistent in attendance, claims can get more from God at home then in a church)
- No personal devotions (no time taken out of the day to spend away from distractions in Bible reading, prayer, meditation, worship, etc.)
- No spiritual sensitivity (allow sin to enter in to life, makes excuses to justify sin, condones sins of others but is just as guilty, if not more)
If this criteria is an apt description of yourself, you may be caught in a negative spiritual trend. I challenge you to examine your own personal relationship with the Lord. The first step according to today's Bible reading is to confess your sin to the Lord. The apostle John wrote, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Then, after accepting God's forgiveness, you need to renounce your sin, recommit to church fellowship, and develop daily personal devotion time. As you do these things, you will rediscover that your relationship with the Lord will bring you everlasting joy and provide you a new outlook on life. Faith Lesson: "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 1:7
In Christ,
Darin Smith
