If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
How would you feel if your friend exposed the secrets of your sordid life to the world? Not that I’m suggesting you have a sordid life of course! However this is what happened on the Dr Phil TV show recently. A woman with a hoarding problem (way over the top) was so putting her three beautiful children at risk that a concerned friend decided to ask Dr Phil to help the woman face her problem and get help. To their credit the family fronted up for the show and the incredible truth came into the light. The images of the house and the way this family lived were just horrible, but relief was offered and accepted. I trust that healing and restoration has ensued and that this woman can learn to live a normal life free from all that junk once her emotional junk is dealt with.
The word of God instructs us to ‘walk in the light as he is in the light’. What does that mean? It means that we need to be open and honest in the way we live. Sadly there are many Christians who live in darkness. They choose to hide their problems with alcohol, pornography, sexual immorality and physical & emotional abuse, to name a few. They are ashamed of their behaviour or of what others are doing to them, so they hide it rather than expose it and risk feeling ashamed. Not one of us wants to feel ashamed, but shame holds us prisoner if we allow it to. It robs us of the joy and freedom that can be ours if we will bring those things to the light. I have noticed that when a person shares their secret with someone they can trust, they feel some immediate relief. We cannot be helped if we don’t share the truth that we have a problem.
Sexual abusers always demand secrecy of their victims so that their sin will not be found out. They make threats that hold their victims in fear. In the same way, Satan holds us in fear of being ashamed, this keeps us from telling our story. The truth is that the shame goes when we allow sin to come to the light and be dealt with. So long as it is hidden, we are its prisoner. All of us have sinned and all of us need to be forgiven. All sin is equal. Although we often think otherwise, the truth is that no sins are worse than others. Sin is sin.
1 Corinthians 4:5 tells us that when the Lord comes again the hidden things will be revealed and judged. Let’s decide to walk in openness and honesty so that there is nothing that needs to be revealed on that day. Decide today to come into the light. Find someone you can trust and share your secret with them. Ask them to pray for you and with you. Listen to and act on godly advice. The relief you feel will make you wonder why you waited so long to find healing and freedom. "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed." James 5:16.
Prayer: Holy God, please help me to walk in your light every day, and have fellowship with others and with you. Amen
How would you feel if your friend exposed the secrets of your sordid life to the world? Not that I’m suggesting you have a sordid life of course! However this is what happened on the Dr Phil TV show recently. A woman with a hoarding problem (way over the top) was so putting her three beautiful children at risk that a concerned friend decided to ask Dr Phil to help the woman face her problem and get help. To their credit the family fronted up for the show and the incredible truth came into the light. The images of the house and the way this family lived were just horrible, but relief was offered and accepted. I trust that healing and restoration has ensued and that this woman can learn to live a normal life free from all that junk once her emotional junk is dealt with.
The word of God instructs us to ‘walk in the light as he is in the light’. What does that mean? It means that we need to be open and honest in the way we live. Sadly there are many Christians who live in darkness. They choose to hide their problems with alcohol, pornography, sexual immorality and physical & emotional abuse, to name a few. They are ashamed of their behaviour or of what others are doing to them, so they hide it rather than expose it and risk feeling ashamed. Not one of us wants to feel ashamed, but shame holds us prisoner if we allow it to. It robs us of the joy and freedom that can be ours if we will bring those things to the light. I have noticed that when a person shares their secret with someone they can trust, they feel some immediate relief. We cannot be helped if we don’t share the truth that we have a problem.
Sexual abusers always demand secrecy of their victims so that their sin will not be found out. They make threats that hold their victims in fear. In the same way, Satan holds us in fear of being ashamed, this keeps us from telling our story. The truth is that the shame goes when we allow sin to come to the light and be dealt with. So long as it is hidden, we are its prisoner. All of us have sinned and all of us need to be forgiven. All sin is equal. Although we often think otherwise, the truth is that no sins are worse than others. Sin is sin.
1 Corinthians 4:5 tells us that when the Lord comes again the hidden things will be revealed and judged. Let’s decide to walk in openness and honesty so that there is nothing that needs to be revealed on that day. Decide today to come into the light. Find someone you can trust and share your secret with them. Ask them to pray for you and with you. Listen to and act on godly advice. The relief you feel will make you wonder why you waited so long to find healing and freedom. "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed." James 5:16.
Prayer: Holy God, please help me to walk in your light every day, and have fellowship with others and with you. Amen
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