Roadmaps

Verse: 1 John‬ ‭2:12‭-‬13
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

Devotion
John really likes to define his target audiences in this book. This whole chapter tries to call the attention of different groups of people: young and old, mature and immature, fresh and experienced. It shows that John understands the unifying nature of the good news Jesus has been spreading. It’s not just for a small selected group of pretentious old Jews anymore. Jesus changed everyone’s relationship with himself, so now it’s not just available, but expected that a diverse group of people will be gathered into a group that follows him.

John shows this unity not by saying that everyone is the same, or has the same experiences, but rather that no matter how far along you are in your journey with Jesus, you have something to celebrate. Young new believers can be thrilled that they have conquered evil through their belief in Jesus. Mature believers can be refreshed in their long-standing knowledge of God’s eternal character and strength.

Jesus sends us all on our own individual journey to ultimately unify us in his love, and no matter where we are in that journey, we can take our time and dwell on the wisdom found in the Bible to help guide us forward.

Author: Jordan Ambra