1 John 1-3

"When I grow up I want to be ....." This is a statement that we hear many children, and too many adults, proclaim. When we hear the stories of future fireman and princesses we sometimes smile and move on without really hearing the message being spoken; "I want to matter to someone." The desire to contribute and "make a difference" often gets lost in the demands of family and houses. But John tells us what we should desire in this life: to be children of God.
Yep, John instructs us to grow up and become children.  John drives home this point in 3:2-3.  Then we scoff and say, "How can I make a difference if I am only a child?" Or maybe, "Children are not important." But those thoughts come from a worldly perspective. John tells us that as Christians we ARE children of God. Because of that we need to act like it. When we act like the weak and helpless children of God that we are we find out that God uses that weakness to make a difference in our world. Maybe not in the same way as if we were an astronaut or police officer but in a wonderful way as he shares his love for others through us.
It took me about 7 minutes to read this part of first John.
Stuart