In January our church held its annual congregational fast. For 21 days we prayed together, fasted together and meditated on 1 John . Here are my thoughts from those times of devotion in 1 John.

I am writing to you who are God’s children

because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

13I am writing to you who are mature in the faith

because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I am writing to you who are young in the faith

because you have won your battle with the evil one.

14I have written to you who are God’s children

because you know the Father.

I have written to you who are mature in the faith

because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I have written to you who are young in the faith

because you are strong.

God’s word lives in your hearts,

and you have won your battle with the evil one. 1 JOHN 2:12-14

MEDITATIONAL THOUGHT:Your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake, a foundational truth for all believers.

MY THOUGHTS: I have been in this meditational space lately where I am captured by the thought of how much God loves us and why that love is so solid. Jesus avidly desires the salvation of every man and woman on the planet, because that is who HE is. HE is the Savior of the world. That is HIS name and HE will not deny HIS identity. We are forgiven because HE is a the FORGIVER OF SINS. HE is true to HIS name in a way we have never been true to our own names. The trick in our Christianity is to become like CHRIST and to become as true to the name HE has given us as HE is to HIS own name.