the Third Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
1 John 2:12-19
Paul sees Christians as forming the Assembly of God. Peter sees them as constituting God’s heavenly people and His flock. John sees them as members of God’s family, united by the same life received from the Father. In a family, brothers and sisters are usually at different ages and stages of development – although the relationship and the share of the inheritance of the youngest are the same as those of the 20 year old son. It is the same in the family of God. We enter it by new birth (John 3:3); this is normally followed by spiritual growth. The little child who can just recognise his Father (cf. Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:15-17) passes through the stage of youth and its conflicts. At stake in these struggles is his heart: will it be for the Father or for the world? The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are the three keys which "the wicked one" uses to bring the world into every heart where he finds room.
Finally the young man becomes, or may become, a father, having a personal experience of Christ.
The apostle writes mostly to the little children. Because of their inexperience they are more exposed to "every wind of doctrine". Let us beware of remaining little children all our lives (Ephesians 4:14).
