1 John 1:5-7, 9-10 (NLT)
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin… But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”
1 John 4:7-10, 13-19 (NLT)
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God… This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins… God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them… perfect love expels all fear… We love each other because he loved us first.”
Reflection:
The message of 1 John guides us deeply into God’s character: He is light, completely pure and without darkness. Walking in spiritual light means a life committed to truth, honesty with ourselves and with God, and continual openness to His love. This commitment isn’t about perfection; rather, it is about continual confession and dependence on the One who is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from our sins.
This devotion ties into the themes we’ve explored in previous reflections on lamed and Chochmah. The Hebrew letter lamed, which resembles a shepherd’s staff, represents guidance, learning, and the heart’s upward reach toward wisdom. When we walk in God’s light, we are like a shepherd learning to stay close to the Good Shepherd, Jesus. Every step in the light strengthens our connection to Him and to each other, just as the staff of lamed extends upward toward wisdom and understanding.
Chochmah, or wisdom, is God's design in creation. True wisdom guides us toward a life that aligns with God’s love and His purposes. This wisdom is active and relational, showing us how to live in the light by putting our faith into practice. Love, as 1 John teaches, is not simply an abstract virtue; it is deeply personal, modeled by Jesus who embodied God’s love by sacrificing Himself for us. When we walk in love, we reflect God’s wisdom, living out His command to love one another as He has loved us.
Living in this light also means experiencing the freedom of His perfect love—a love that casts out all fear. Perfect love, rooted in the security that we are His, means we no longer need to fear judgment. As His love grows within us, it drives out our insecurities and the shadows of sin that try to linger in our hearts.
Application:
Walk in the Light: Seek honesty with God. Take time daily to reflect and confess anything that might hinder your walk with Him. Remember, He is faithful and just to forgive.
Let Love Be Your Guide: Lean into the guidance of lamed and Chochmah. Seek wisdom by loving actively and intentionally, letting God’s love flow through you to others.
Embrace Perfect Love: If fear arises, return to the truth that God’s love is perfect and complete. Pray to experience His love fully, so fear has no place in your heart.
Prayer: Lord, You are light, and in You, there is no darkness at all. Help us to walk in Your light with pure hearts, seeking Your forgiveness and wisdom daily. May Your perfect love fill us, casting out fear and guiding us to love one another with the same love You have shown us through Jesus. Teach us to walk humbly in the wisdom of lamed and Chochmah, that we might be vessels of Your truth and love. Amen.
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