In Need of a Reminder

Introduction

When I was in college I entered school with the hopes of getting a bachelor’s degree in Biology. My mother is a nurse and I wanted to follow in her footsteps of healthcare by become a doctor. Safe to say that Chemistry humbled me really quickly. While I was taking Chemistry I was also enrolled in Political Science 101 in which a man by the name of Dr. Lee Payne was my professor. To be quite honest he is probably the best professor I had in all my years of school. The way he taught politics was palatable to students regardless of their political views. We still speak even until this day. Before exams we would have a review, and not only did he give us extra credit on the review he also guaranteed that half the questions on the review would be on the test. So if you studied the review you would get at least half the questions right. Furthermore, if you turned in the review he would give extra credit on the exam. Do you know there were still people in spite of the extra credit that would refuse to do the work. Sometimes in life the reason why we fail or go through struggles is because we refuse to pay attention to the reminders or the reviews in life. John, in this epsitle provides us with reminders. It’s up to us to utilize those reminders for the test of life. It’s not an opportunity to turn a blind eye due to pride to think we can overcome things because of who we are. Pride has caused a lot of failure that could have been avoided.

Even in tough times, no matter how talented of a person you are, you need a reminder of what you’ve accomplished as well as what God has done in effort that we might be successful. Verses 12 through 17 serve as that reminder.

Remember who God is.

Remember what God has brought you through.

Remember the power that God has given you.

Who You Know + Who He Is

John is not discrediting our skillset or power but understand the only reason you are at this point is because of who God is.

1 John 2:12–13“I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 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 wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.”

“I write to you because”

Understand that it’s all because of Jesus that you are here. Your sins are forgiven on the account of the name Jesus. Remember we have an advocate in Jesus. My sins are forgiven becuase of who He is. It’s not a matter of deserving, it’s not a matter of popularity it’s a matter of Grace. Jesus continues to do things for us because of His love. Remember the power of forgiveness when you get down on yourself. Some mistakes are debilitating, nonetheless through the power of Jesus we are able to walk in a new way understanding and maintaining a sense of holiness even when our past makes us feel unworthy. We are all little children in the eyes of God. There’s a certain amount of patience a parent will take with a little child becuase they know and understand that there’s still so much to learn!

Don’t forget what you have heard, refer back to the foundation that make you resilient in the first place! You have the power, we just have to get back to the basics sometimes. Give yourself some grace, reflect back on the things you have overcome! We are more than conquerors because of the power of God that we’ve known since the beginning.

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

There’s a lot of spaces we are able to walk in because of what we know. On the other hand there are spaces that we are able to exist in because of who we know. Understand the nature of God’s power. Regardless of what we know we are undeserving, nevertheless it is who we know that makes us whole! It’s not by our works, what family we come from or what position we have. All gifts come from the Lord. When times get rough, remember who God is. When valleys seem inescapeable remember what God has done. When love seems difficult to find, know that God has and will always love us.

Development is Transcendent

We are all in a developmental stage no matter who we are or where we are in our Christian journey. Because of Jesus we are family, in a family everyone is at a different stage of development but we all play an integral role within the family. Sure we’ve all be the little children at the table, seemingly forced into a space of obedience and trust. We do not have as much control as oftentimes we would like but we still play a role in the purpose of a family. One day those little children become young men and eventually fathers. We all play a role of dependence and eventually our dependence turns into leadership which turns into a space of stewardship and service for those who aren’t as developed as we are. We I truly align myself to the servant nature of Christ I know that my role as a father is not just to give orders and be an authority my role is to develop those depending on me.

At the “little children” phase of development it’s just opporunity to build a relationship and and get to know God as much as I possibly can.

At the “young men” phase of development my role is to understand my vigor and my energy to give as much as I can to being the best I can for Christ.

My role as “father” is to be the mature role model in effort to engage in the pastoral care of those younger than me in hopes that the reminders I provide inhibit those less mature in their spiritual walk to avoid the mistakes that I’ve made.

What this shows me is that the church needs all three generations to work together in effort that we might walk in the God given purpose bestowed upon us.

“Fathers” proverbially in this text signify the notion that we need those with experience that can anchor us and provide stability within the church. We need the strong fathers and mothers to be the direction we need when we are in a state of feeling lost. There is value in having the senior generation in the church. They know where we have been they understand what we have been through. They understand the foundation because oftentimes they’ve been here since the beginning.

Similar to the use of “young men” in this text. The root word for young men in this text is “neos”. New, vibrant and full of energy. Ready to go at a moment’s notice we need that energy in the church. There is space for that.

Little children, although they are more dependent because of their lack of experience and knowledge in effort to grow they need the affirmation and affection that leads to the confidence to grow. We need everyone! Regardless of age, experience or background! The diversity of maturity is what makes the church great and open to all!

Diversity makes Space for Salvation

When I know there is room for me and my past I’m more likely to connect to the mission of the Church. For instance, Jesus never dismissed anyone because of their past or lack of maturity. It’s quite ironic that some of the greatest displays of faith were from those that didn’t know much past the fact that Jesus had power. On the other hand we see multipe examples of Jesus being patient with even his disciples who spent every day with Him. The church has to reflect the same sentiments!

When it comes to forgiveness and building a relationship with God they compliment each other. If I belong to God that means my sins are forgiveness and if God isn’t holding it over my head, you don’t get to do that either!

Understand the purpose of fellowship. It shows me that as a community we have been forgiven, and fellowship should be a reminder that I’ve been accepted by Jesus and that the church is not just a space for people who have it all together!

Some of us need a reminder of how far God has brought us. We haven’t always been save, sanctified and holy. Some of us have come a mighty long way. What forgiveness should do is help us understand that we have an experience of God that should lead us to have the same compassion on ourselves and one other.

By God’s help I understand that in life I have to have people I can depend on.

By God’s help I understand that I have victory over evil.

By God’s help I know that my mistakes and the ability to learn from them shouldn’t send me into a depression of unforgiveness but an opportunity to tap into the stewarding power of pastoral care for those who are coming behind me.

Even on the cross, Jesus depended on the father for strength as child but still maintained the energy to be forgiving of the thief crucified next to him.

We are all strong in Jesus when the word of God abides in us! Remember what you have overcome!