I am trying to shake off a slug-abed feeling that I've had today. I don't know if it's burnout, or just tired, or because I'll be on vacation in a couple days and my mind has already checked out. I took two walks today to try to shake this, we'll see if it works.

Today I've read through the first epistle of John, and it interests me because throughout the whole letter he lists reasons why he is writing it. In chapter 1:3-4: "We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy will be complete." I wonder what he means by "so that our joy will be complete." Was their joy incomplete until they had told the recipients of this letter what they had experienced? Or was their joy incomplete because they weren't with the Father yet? It sounds like the job hadn't been done yet.

In chapter 2, he writes: "My dear children, I am writing this to you, so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. "(2:1)  Down further on he says that he is writing to "my dear children" and to those who are mature and those who are young.

• 2:12 : "I am writing to you my dear children, because your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus." So this is addressed to the whole church. 
• 2:13 : "I am writing to you who are mature because you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning." Addressed to the mature, which implies that they had known Christ for a while.
• 2:13: "I am writing to you who are young because you have won your battle with Satan." An interesting thought occurred to me here: he could be addressing those who are not necessarily young in chronological age, but recent converts (for lack of a better word--I really don't like converts because it implies an action on our part when it's God who does the saving. Anybody think of a better word let me know.). Conversely, the mature might be those who have been taught and raised in the Truth and have a close walk with God, but might be young in age. Timothy is a prime example of those, though this letter was not addressed to him here. 
• 2:14 :" I have written to you, children, because you have known the Father. Again, addressed to everyone, whether recently won to the faith or have been maturing all along.
• 2:15 : "I have written to you who are mature because you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning." This is the same as verse 13. This must be a very important point because he repeats it.
• 2:16 : "I have written to you who are young because you are strong with God's word living in your hearts, and you have won your battle with Satan." Encouraging news, amen?  This passage is very organized...John wants to make certain that the intended audience received his message. 

Maybe he didn't realize that we would still be reading this  2000 years later, but I find this to be an encouraging letter. Sometimes we need the reminder that we have won our battle with Satan, though it doesn't seem like it. Sometimes I find myself discouraged and disgusted with myself for things I do or say, and I have to remind myself that it's been forgiven--the battle is over. Hallelujah!