by Pastor June Barrow
The verses below are from the first of three letters the disciple John wrote to believers. John was the only disciple to live to old age, and he wrote this advice as a wise older man caring deeply about the newly forming church.
I invite you to read these words. Read them out loud, underline or highlight them, pray them back to God. Be grateful. Be brave. Know who you are and know that you are loved! Your identity is unchanging, even in an ever-changing world.
I am writing to you who are God’s children
because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
because you have won your battle with the evil one.I have written to you who are God’s children
because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
– 1 John 2:12-17 (NLT)