“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 NIV
John finishes this letter with a simple thought. It seems almost disconnected from anything else he has said, as if it is an afterthought affixed to the main letter, but such is not the case. He begins this final verse with the word Greek teknia, or “little children.” It is the seventh time he has used this term, and it is the last use of it in the New Testament. He uses it in a form of fatherly address, forming an appeal that is to be taken to heart. With that said, he continues with, “keep yourselves from idols.” John uses a much stronger term for “keep” than he did in verse 1 John 5:18. The word here can be equated with a soldier guarding a garrison. In other words, “defend heavily” yourselves from idols. The word “idols” is prefixed by an article that is generally not translated, but rightly should be – “keep yourselves from the idols.” The people of the world were, and continue to be, surrounded by idols of all kinds. In saying, “keep yourselves from the idols,” it bears the intent of, “keep yourselves away from anything that will draw your attention from God.” The connection to the letter is obvious. In his previous verse, John said, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” Idols are false gods, which are no gods at all. They do not reveal anything about God, nor do they offer anything from God. In drawing near to idols, one moves away from the true God.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Holy Spirit, keep us from idols that distract us from our Lord.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Holy Spirit, keep us away from anything that will draw our attention from our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, so we shall continually abide in Him. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Acts 8:1a-8
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