November 26, 2023 - 1 John 3

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and so we are” (3:1). This is just an amazing thing, i.e., that we are called children of God. That phrase is thrown around so loosely these days. You know how it goes: “We’re all God’s children,” “the universal brotherhood of man,” etc. But John’s readers (and we) are not only called children of God; John wants us to know that we are indeed children of God.

And what does this mean? Our Father loves us with so great a love! We will be like him, in all his purity. Our sin has been taken away. We have been born of God. We love one another. Our hearts do not condemn us, and we have confidence before God. We keep his commandments and do what pleases him. We abide in God. Whatever we ask from God, he gives us. We have his Spirit within us. Now, that’s the way to live! As a child of God!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul. –Anonymous (1811)