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Scripture Readings:
- First Epistle of John 2:3–11
- Gospel of John 8:12–19
This morning’s reading from I John is both simple and piercing:
“Whoever says, ‘I abide in him,’ ought to walk just as he walked.”
“Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.”
John does not give us a complicated theology. He gives us a test of authenticity.
If we claim to live in Christ, we must walk as He walked.
The “He” is unmistakable — Jesus. The same Jesus who declares in John’s Gospel:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Not the light of a denomination.
Not the light of a movement.
The light of the world.
Is It Ever Okay to Hate?
John specifically names hatred toward a “brother or sister.” He is addressing division inside the faith community. But nowhere in Scripture does Jesus create permission to hate those outside it.
Jesus loved Samaritans, Romans, sinners, doubters, and even those who nailed Him to a cross.
If we are to walk as He walked, then hatred toward anyone — Christian or non-Christian — reveals darkness in us, not righteousness.
Light does not select whom it shines upon.
Walking as He Walked
To walk as Jesus walked means:
- Loving without naïveté.
- Speaking truth without cruelty.
- Refusing to let bitterness take root.
- Seeing every person as made in the image of God.
Walking in the light is not about perfection.
It is about direction.
Am I moving toward love?
Or am I retreating into contempt?
Beyond the Label
I find myself increasingly hesitant to lead with the word Christian. The word has history — some beautiful, some painful. I have seen it inspire sacrificial love. I have also seen it used to wound.
More and more, I prefer to say:
I am a follower of Jesus.
The earliest believers were called disciples — learners, followers of “The Way.” The emphasis was not on a label but on a life.
And that is John’s concern as well.
Not what we call ourselves —
but whether we walk as He walked.
A Personal Reflection
Having lived long enough to witness segregation in Mississippi, division in churches, and religion used as both balm and weapon, I am sensitive to the gap between profession and practice.
John closes that gap.
If I claim light yet harbor hatred, I deceive myself.
But here is the grace: light exposes not to shame, but to heal.
When resentment surfaces in my heart, I do not hide it. I bring it into the light of Christ and ask Him to soften me.
Walking as Jesus walked is not a single step taken once. It is a daily turning.
What the Scriptures Say to Us Today
- Faith is verified by love.
- Light and hatred cannot coexist.
- Following Jesus is more than a declaration — it is a pattern of life.
- The world does not need better labels; it needs brighter lives.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
Teach me to walk as You walked.
When I am tempted toward judgment, turn me toward mercy.
When I feel wounded, keep me from wounding others.
Let my life reflect Your light more than my words defend my faith.
Make me a true follower of Your Way.
Amen.
Front Porch Reflection:
Where in my life do I need to bring hidden resentment into the light today?
The Curious Pilgrim 
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