Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of ]God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.. 1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
John invites us to reflect on the incredible love that God has shown us in this verse. “Behold” is the term he uses to draw our attention to something genuinely remarkable. The love that God the Father has shown us is beyond human understanding. His love makes us who we are and changes our life.
We are ‘God’s children’; what a remarkable identity! We are the Almighty’s offspring, heirs to His promises, and beneficiaries of His unending love. God’s love for us is because of His grace, not our deservingness. This love defines our individuality and makes us different from the rest of the world.
Because of our identity in Christ, we might not be fully understood or recognized by the world. We may be perceived as strange or out of place, just as it happened to Jesus when He was on the Earth. That should not deter us from following Christ; there’s no need to give up. Instead, it serves as a reminder that God’s Kingdom is our ultimate home and identity. Our life follows Christ’s example. By doing this, we show the world how powerful God’s love is in changing lives.
Let’s take a moment today to “behold” the Father’s love and think about the honor and duty of being referred to as God’s children. Let’s choose to accept and value our individuality, allowing it to influence how we connect with others, make decisions, and respond to the environment. Remember that the One who matters most knows and loves us, so let’s be a lighthouse of God’s love.
