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This Week’s Passage and Memory Verse (in red): 1 John 3:1-3
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
John is making a statement in verse 1 about how great the love of the Father is. He gives one reason here, though I’m sure there were many that came to his mind. Such as…
- that He would allow His son to die for a bunch of reprobate sinners.
- that He would guarantee us a place in His eternal kingdom.
- that He would not count our sins against us.
- that He would inhabit us by His Holy Spirit.
- that He would choose us to be a part of His redemptive plan.
- that He provide for us our daily needs.
- that He invite us into His throne room through prayer.
Indeed, how great is the love the Father has lavished on me! I am His child. He claims me as His own. But do I claim Him and proudly boast of my Heavenly PaPa? He takes great delight in me. But do I take great delight in Him? He has demonstrated that He is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for me. But am I willing to make even a little sacrifice for Him?
I am His child! And one day, Scripture says, I will be like Him because I will see Him as He is. But what about now? Am I like Him now. The longer I know Him, theoretically, the more I should resemble Him. The older I get, I have been told the more I look like my dad. My folks divorced when I was six and my dad died when I was 13 (he was 42) so I have to rely on pictures to see this for myself but what do you think?
I wonder if people see the family resemblance between me and my heavenly Father. At Metamorphosis last week, one of the college leaders we recruited from NC State knows my son Tucker. We chatted at supper and when we were finished she sent a text to Tucker that said, “O my gosh, I can’t believe how much you act like your dad.” As people sit down and chat with me do they go away thinking, “Wow – he sure acts like his heavenly Dad.”
As we ponder passages I keep being reminded that I do not think often enough nor deep enough about “that day” – the day of His appearing. According to this Scripture, the hope of His return should be a HUGE motivation for me to live a holy life – a life that resembles my Father.
Note to self: Think intentionally this week about what it will be like when my Savior comes for me or when I die and go to Him.
You’ve no doubt heard the question: If you knew that Jesus was going to return tomorrow would that change the way that you live today? Definitely somthing to think about.
I’m just sayin’!
Next Weeks Passage: Ephesians 1:15-23
Next Week’s Memory Verse: Ephesians 1:17
You look so much like your earthly Dad, which I didn’t know until today. AND as I have known for years you definitley resemble your Heavenly Dad. I think that is why I’m such a Shay fan. I love Christ in you. Is anyone else pondering? You don’t have to keep doing this if it’s just me….but I sure am enjoying the pondering. My favorite part of the verse is the last part. I love how it says, “and that is what we are!” It takes a lot for things to sink into my brain and I think the repetition and the emphasis of me being HIS child is so what I need. I am LOVED as a father loves his child. I am PROTECTED as a father protects his child. I am CHERISHED as a father cherishes his child. I love that God loves me. I love that I am His. It helps when life and the future is so up in the air and filled with questions and unknowns to KNOW that even if my world as I know it changes….he does not. If I live far away from everyone I know and love He is still with me…. loving, protecting, cherishing me. The more I know Him the more I love him. Thanks for spuring me on towards continued growth.
Jesus love for me is wider than the widest, deeper than the deepest…and to me that is so hard to comprehend. And to have a Father that truly loves me and cares about me, is more than I can express at this moment. My deepest desire is for this love, HIS love, to radiate from me to others. For others to see me and know that I am different and that I belong to HIM. And the only way they can see this is for me to stay in His word, loving Him more everyday.
Shay, thanks for all you do to keep us thinking and studying. It’s appreciated!