Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.
1 John 3:1-2
Every person needs to know they are loved and to have that assurance of belonging in a family. In the Old Testament the family you came from was very important. In Exodus 3:6 God speaking to Moses used the term “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and of Jacob”. God identified Himself as to the relationship He had with Israel.
Here in these verses, John talks about our identification and how we are loved and belong to God’s family.
Let us examine some important words to encourage us.
Behold: this is no ordinary word, it actually means to be amazed. The great creator and sustainer of the world loves you. John wants us to look upon and wonder at the quality and quantity of love the father has given us freely and without merit. Read Ephesians 3:17-19; Romans 8:35-39) to get a full impact on this amazing love. The hymn writer puts it like this “Amazing love how can it be that thou my God should die for me”.
What manner of love: indicates astonishment, adoration (Matthew 8:27). John Newton wrote perhaps the greatest song of all time ‘Amazing Grace’ based on his life as a slave trader and how one day God came into his life, and he penned these immortal words “Amazing grace, How Sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found T’was blind but now I see”. John Newton was totally amazed at God’s love for him. He had watched hundreds of men, women and children sink beneath the waters as his ship carried thousands of slaves across the waters and yet to his amazement God was willing to bring him into His family. It was/is true God loved John Newton and God loves you.
That we should be called: love is expressed by God’s calling. Children of God – we are children in a new generation, new birth. God is pleased to call you by name into His family, a privileged position and one that cannot be removed.
Relationship of love
- Unparalleled love (2 Samuel 1:26).
- Unmerited love (Romans 5:8).
- Unmistakable love (John 3:16).
- Unending love (Jeremiah 31:3).
Today as we cope with new challenges let us embrace this wonderful verse.
Keep safe