DIFFERENT STAGES

Reference: 1 John 2:12-17

One of the core features of childhood is predictability because it is at that stage habits begin to form: routines, single facets and dimensions can become the norm. It may sound a harsh truth but we are not all at the same point on our journey through faith even though we are all children of God. There are little children, young men and fathers.

So ‘little children know the father'(vs 12)- His love, his mercy, his provision and his goodness. Their innocence and entire dependence often on grace. That is a stage and the father honours faith at this level.

Overcoming is for young men because strength and vigor is the character of youth(vs 13). Hence, diving deeper into the word, establishing boundaries, practicing discipline and fierce resistance to the pleasures and desires that surround them mark growth features at this stage. Faith is more expressive

The fathers ‘know He who is from the beginning‘(vs 13) – those mature in the faith, have an experiential awareness of many facets of God. Not just as the Father, or origin of might, but as the eternal one with many dimensions. They bear on them the badges and scars that come with both age and spiritual growth.

There is an interesting contrast though: while we cannot physically remain either children or youth, we can stay at both spiritually if we fail to grow.  We are to continually desire the milk of the word that we may grow thereby. Spiritual growth arises as a result of intentional choices and actions, so as we age physically, let us also strive towards fatherhood and motherhood, a state not of spiritual perfection, but of spiritual maturity.

#sly