“5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” -1st John 1:5-7 (NKJV). Notice if we have fellowship with God, we do not walk in darkness (continually practicing lawlessness).

When we walk with the Lord, we produce good fruits. Our thoughts, speech, and actions submit to Him because our minds are being transformed by His Words. Romans 12:1-2 says “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Everything about God’s Word is meant to show us Who God is. When we behold our Creator, we get a clearer picture of Who we are, because we were made in the image and likeness of God.

I want to make it clear. We are not supposed to check off a list of good things. Going to church, praying, reading the Bible, etc. does not mean you love God. Yes, someone who loves God does these things, but it is not out of a moral obligation, or religious duty. Those things come from a heart to know and serve God. Matthew 7:21-23 says this:

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

These people were doing good works and even miracles! They obviously had faith that could believe God, but they did not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I have heard a lot of teaching on this, which focuses on the last part of the verse. But it is interesting that Jesus said He never knew them. They were not properly connected to the Father. God isn’t looking for your good works, He is looking for obedience. Good works follow those who obey the voice of the Lord.

When we don’t follow after a relationship with God, our life will always produce lawlessness. When we act on what we think is right and acceptable without hearing from God, we practice lawlessness. Just as it is unnatural for a body to be moving without a head, we as the body of Christ (1st Corinthians 12) were never designed to operate independently from the head which is Christ (Colossians 1:18).

If our works stem from anything other than a heart that is connected with the Father, it is our own righteousness. When we step out from that place of relationship, we step into works, and it becomes what I am doing for God rather than what God is doing through me. John 15:5 (AMP) puts it this way. “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” Now people do things apart from Christ all the time. What Jesus was saying is that without Him we can do nothing of eternal value.

So our relationship with God is not based off what we do, no matter how “good” it is. It is based off our heart toward our King. If we say our heart is set on God, but our priorities and thoughts do not line up with the Word, we are lying. Proper relationship produces proper fruit.

Practical Application:

• Thank God for the Work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
• Apply your faith to the Word. Psalm 37:23 says that the Lord directs our steps
• Ask God to help you walk in His plan and will. Listen to what the Holy Spirit speaks to you