For the last month I have been writing daily devotionals to encourage others with the truth of the Gospel — the “Good News” of what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in the lives of his children — so that we can maintain a positive outlook despite all the problems around us.
So you can imagine how encouraged I was when I opened my Bible today and read 1 John 2, where in the span of three verses (1 John 2:12-14), John uses the word “write” (γράφω, graphó) six times!
“I am writing … writing … writing … I write … write … write …”
John repeatedly mentions his writing to emphasize the continuing effect he wants his words to have on the hearts and minds of his readers. In doing so, John recognizes that they’re all at different levels of spiritual maturity.
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.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
John writes in order to encourage and reassure all believers in all stages of spiritual maturity. Why? Because no matter how far we’ve come on our spiritual journey — whether we’re “newbies” or “veterans” — all Christians need encouragement!
Up to this point in his letter, John has dished out some strong words. He has just warned his readers about false teachers who want to deceive them (1 John 2:11), and he is about to say that if you love the world, you don’t have the love of God the Father in you (1 John 2:15). But in between these stern statements, John inserts this short section to encourage his readers.
The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” The Bible does both, for “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). As this text shows, even the more negative elements of Scripture are written to have a positive end.
That’s why John wrote the way he did, and he wants his readers to know that. Steven Cole rightly declares, “To grow, we must be assured and encouraged about what God has done and is doing in our lives.”
That’s why John wrote his letter, and that’s the reason I write this blog.
“I am writing …”
Thanks for reading.