Charles Stanley Daily Devotional 18 August 2026 (In Touch) Tuesday Message
Charles Stanley Daily Devotional TOPIC: How Fellowship Differs From Salvation
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 John 1:5-7
John’s first epistle isn’t about salvation, even though it teaches the necessity of confessing sin. This letter was written to people who already had a relationship with God but needed a reminder of how to remain in fellowship with Him. The Father wants believers to enjoy His presence, but unconfessed sin can hinder that.
Christians have been made new (2 Corinthians 5:17) but aren’t yet perfect and still struggle with temptation. Our physical bodies have natural desires for rest, food, and pleasure. When such yearnings are under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we live a joyful, God-honoring life. But when we allow them to control us, we step out of fellowship with Him and “walk in darkness” (1 John 1:6).
It’s important to understand that “walking in darkness” does not mean a believer can lose salvation—those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior will never perish (John 10:28-29). Rather, it means we’re choosing to live in a way that weakens our awareness of God’s presence.
Our Father wants us to be in fellowship with Him so we’ll experience fullness of joy. This happens when we spend time in His presence (Psalm 16:11), align ourselves with His will, and share Him with those around us. And if that fellowship is interrupted, confession can restore it, as we’ll see tomorrow.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 31-32
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Confessing our sins restores us to the joy of His presence.
Dr. Charles F. Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. Throughout his ministry, he demonstrated a keen awareness of people’s needs and provided Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life.
