Verse: 1 John 2:12-14
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Devotion
I am writing to you, dear friends, because you want to go deeper into the scriptures and knowledge of God. John, an eyewitness to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, is writing to all early believers (and to us) to instruct them about the truth of Jesus and to encourage them in their growth.

I have to admit that I always read this passage literally as referring to believers of different ages! But early scholars to the present agree that John is talking about levels of spiritual maturity when he refers to children, young men and fathers. So, he is addressing three groups of Christians: those new to the faith, those growing in the faith, and those who have been in the faith for a long time. As you read these passages, think about where you are in your spiritual journey.

When we were all new in the faith, we understood that on the first day of accepting Jesus as Lord, our sins were forgiven on account of His death. We did nothing to deserve this. He did it all. We accepted this as a child would accept a gift. Then we began our spiritual journey knowing the Father, knowing HIs love and care and seeing our dependence on Him as little children.

Not long after, we start to experience hardships and find that there is evil (and an evil one) that wants to hurt and destroy us. Just as Jesus overcame temptation through the word of God, we find that His word gives us strength to overcome. We start to employ the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us grow. We develop our spiritual muscles. Just as we don’t send little kids or old men out to fight in wars, John wants us to see that most spiritual battles occur and must be engaged while we are growing in spiritual maturity. The evil one wants to stop that growth. John praises the young men because they have overcome.

For the spiritual fathers, he commends them twice (his emphasis intended) for knowing God who is from the beginning. This is the ultimate spiritual achievement. Knowing God by all His names and knowing all His attributes. As Paul said in Phil 3:10, “that I may know Him”. Of course, this is impossible, but it is our life-long quest. We seek Him daily so that we may be in relationship with Him and know His desires and direction for us.

So where are you in this spiritual journey? Do you identify with any of these groups? God wants you to know that He has a plan for you to grow and mature. He wants you to overcome and to ultimately know Him deeply. Let’s pray that His will be done in our lives.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us this roadmap of spiritual maturity. Help us to come to you as little children and then to grow in you until we know you more deeply. Reveal your plans for us as we walk with you daily.

Author: Brad Dunn