What marvellous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it— we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.
1 John 3:1-2
I am sure we all have favourite verses or passages of scripture. This one heads into my all-time favourite. When I was young we didn’t have so many versions of the Bible and I was brought up with this verse starting with behold (Just look at it ) what manner of love.
I believe every person needs to know that they are loved and to have that assurance of belonging in a family as I spoke on yesterday. In the Old Testament what tribe and family you came from was very important. In Exodus 3 God speaking to Moses used the term “I am the God of your father, God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. In the New Testament the religious leaders would say to Jesus “we are of our father Abraham”.
The verse above though tells me about being loved and belonging to God’s family, which then brings me to two questions how much am I loved? and how do I fit into this family relationship?
If you take time to read 1 John 3 the first two verses will give you the answer to question 1 and in verses 16 – 24 the answer to question 2.
Behold (Just look at it) John says this love is marvellous. It indicates astonishment, admiration (Matt. 8:27). John wants us to look upon and wonder at the kind and the degree of love the father has given us so freely and without merit (Eph. 3: 17-19 Rom. 8: 35-39)
God the father hath bestowed upon us :- we are allowed to call him our father. Surely we can have no higher degree than that. It also speaks of this wonderful relationship we have.that we should be called : the sons of God : (love is the expression in this calling).- John uses the Gk. Tekna – children.
How much am I loved? Well this love is
- An Unparalleled Love. There is no equal. it cannot be matched. 2 Sam. 1: 26.
- Unmerited Love. Romans 5: 8. Eph. 2. 1 – 7
- Unmistakeable Love. John. 3: 16
- Unending Love Jeremiah. 31. 3 Song I am so glad Jesus loves
How do I fit into this family?
Imitating our Father verse 7 says it’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah.
Loving everyone. One toward another is the trem used in verses 10, 11,14,17 and 23. but the key is in verse 18 – deed and truth. It’s not words but action. We are here to build each other up and support.
Supporting and caring
Verses 16-17 sum it up in our family relationship. This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.
If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
Finally: Have we answered our two questions how much am I loved? How do I fit into this family relationship? I hope we have seen just how much we are loved and the role we have to play in this relationship. Jesus loves me and I know I love him. Love sent him down my poor soul to redeem. Yes, it was love made him die on the tree. Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me.
Stay safe and Blessed