1 John 5:19-21 - "My Little Children"

Today, Tuesday September 28 “My Little Children” 1 John 5:19-21 “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Throughout his epistle of 1 John, John has been addressing the believers with different labels. At least thirteen times he calls them “children”. And seven out of that thirteen, he calls them “little children”. John also calls them “young men” twice (1 John 2:13 & 14). And in the same two verses he calls them “fathers”.  Do you see the apparent progression here? Little children, children, young men and then fathers. For sure these labels must represent different levels of growing up spiritually. We start out as “little children” and like new born babes we are helpless without a parent or someone watching out for us and making sure we are properly fed and clothed. As “children” we are immature and easily led astray by the allurements of the world. But we grow up some and become like “young men” who are strong and have begun to learn how to stand up against the world, the flesh and the devil. Finally, we grow to the place where we become “fathers” and now are leading others to Christ and discipling them into spiritual maturity too. (1 John 2) It appears that John really loves these believers and has a personal relationship with them because in 1 John 2:1 he calls them “My little children”. And that’s how he finishes his letter in this last verse when again, he calls them “my little children”, and reminds them to keep themselves from idols. There is a sense in which we must remain as “little children” even if we have grown somewhat into spiritual maturity. We must never lose the faith of a child! We must never lose the helplessness of a child! We must never lose the dependency that a little child has on their provider and protector! If we are not careful we can allow the idols of this world replace the reality of the true and living God. Remember in Psalm 115, we are told that those who worship idols become like the idols they make in their lives. In other words, our lives become empty and vain. Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul’s last admonition in the great resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 was also about this! “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58) Today, live for Christ and eternity, and don’t squander your life living for empty and vain idols! And be careful to maintain your dependency on our Great Provider and Protector, Jesus Christ! God bless!