1 John 3:1-6

1 John 3:1-6
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  When you're younger, you're always looking up to people, thinking about how you want to be just like them.  As you get older, you often realize that the idols of your youth had problems of their own, often very deep and messed-up problems, and you're often grateful that you didn't end up like them at all.  Sometimes, the more you know people, the more disappointed you are in them.
  As young Christians, we look up to Christ, and we want to be just like him.  We want to know him and be near him and love him and experience his love and grace.  We draw near to him, and then as we mature and know him better, we discover that his riches and love know no end.  We find that there is no limit to the love of God, and the deeper we go the more wondrous Christ is.  While our sin was a barrier, that has been destroyed through the crucifixion, and we are free to plunge into the depths of Christ and find ourselves refreshed the deeper we go.