“My dear children” or “dear children”, a little phrase used nine times in 1 John, speaks of a loving relationship. As we previously said, John is the Love Apostle, the one whom the Lord loved, personal relationship.
The Church today is a balance of organisation and relationships and it’s not always easy to get that balance right. I remember reading a story about the elderly apostle John being carried in to speak at a meeting. He told the people to ‘love one another’ and when they asked him if he’d anything more to say, he told them that if they did that it would be enough(love covers many sins).
So what did John remind the ‘dear children’ in his first letter?
2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.
1:12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.
1:13 I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.
2:18 Dear children this is the last hour; and as you have heard the anti-christ is coming, even now many anti-christs have come.
2:28 And now, dear children, continue in Him so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at His coming.
3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous just as He is righteous.
3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
4:4 You, Dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
John was telling the early church what they should do and not do, but he was speaking as a loving spiritual father who had been through much, to a persecuted church. No matter what the teaching or doctrine, it should come from a heart of love. God wants relationship with children who worship Him in Spirit(the same Spirit and truth), but the genuine relationship flows from love.
God bless and keep you today.