1 John 1

 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 

Lord, I know You have seen all the course of human history because You have always existed and were Creator of all things including humans.  You have been there from my beginning from the moment of conception when You were knitting me together in my mother's womb.  I have heard you through Your Word.  I have seen glimpses of You through those made in Your image and look forward to seeing You face to face in the future.  John had the privilege of walking with You during Your incarnation.  He heard Your voice, saw You in Your human form, touched You and learned from You the meaning and intentions Your Father has for His children.  One day, I will witness Your glorified body and be truly overwhelmed.

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- 

You chose to come from heaven to earth and undergo the process of being human, yet without sinning.  You showed mankind what a life fully submitted to the loving Father looks like lived out.

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

What those who walked with You learned, they told to those they encountered and 2,000 years from Your sacrifice we crave fellowship with You, the Father and all of our brothers and sisters who belong to Your family.

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Indeed, there is an incomparable joy felt when Your lost and broken children reject worldly ways and abandon themselves to You and Your will for eternity.  

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

Lord, thank You for your marvelous light. I can not live without Your light.  Even one breath of my life spent in darkness is wasted.

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 

Do not let me entertain a single thought of dark deeds or thoughts, because that would separate me from You and that is not a pattern I would want to set for my life.

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 cleanses us from all sin. 

Lord, help me to purpose to always walk in Your light, so I might enjoy fellowship with You and the Father and my fellow believers.  I thank You that clean me up and transform me to the image of Your perfect Son.

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

I do not want to deceive myself, I know that I sin daily in my thoughts, in my words and sometimes even in my deeds.  I want Your truth. I need Your truth in my life. If Your truth is not in me, then I am most wretched. 

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lord, I need to do better at the discipline of confessing and not just utter a blanket prayer - please forgive my sins.  I need to list them and ask for Your help in slaying them because my soul can not tolerate another second in unrighteousness before you. 

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Lord, I have sinned BIGLY throughout my life, I admit this.  I would never want to make You a liar.  I want Your word in me always.  Your word is my necessary food.  Amen.