Avoiding the Light

We are having a series of lessons on 1 John at our church. The last one was on 1 John 1:5-10. Here are the verses in the NIV.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 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.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Our preacher pointed out ways to know if you are avoiding the light which I thought worth sharing.

1. Avoiding the Word.
2. Avoiding Christians. (Lack of accountability)
3. Ignoring the Spirit.
4. No Self Examination.

Another point made was that confession means agreeing with God's call. He compared it to agreeing with an umpire instead of being the idiot in the stands arguing and complaining.

Anyway, food for thought.

It also reminds me of my plea to American Christians to prayer prayers of national confession.