Today, Saturday July 31
“What Kind of Love” 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
When we consider and think about the “kind of love” that our Creator God loves us with, we will want to live a life that pleases Him. Because the Father loved us and sent His Son to die for us, we are children of God. And because God loves us, He wants us to live with Him one day.
Salvation, from start to finish, is an expression of the love of God. We are saved by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-15), but the provision for our salvation was originated in the love of God. (John 3:16) All this is to remind us of the Father's love. And since we have experienced the love of the Father, we have no desire to live in sin.
Please read this next quote several times and think about it. “An unbeliever who sins is a creature sinning against his Creator. A Christian who sins is a child sinning against his Father. The unbeliever sins against law; the believer sins against love.”
This reminds us of the meaning of the phrase so often repeated in the Bible: "the fear of the Lord." This phrase does not suggest that God's children live in an atmosphere of terror, "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear" (2 Tim. 1:7). Rather, it indicates that God's children hold their Father in reverence and will not deliberately disobey Him or try His patience.
A group of teenagers were enjoying a party, and someone suggested that they go to a certain place for a good time.
"I'd rather you took me home," Jan said to her date. "My parents don't approve of that place."
"Afraid your father will hurt you?" one of the girls asked sarcastically.
"No," Jan replied, "I'm not afraid my father will hurt me, but I am afraid I might hurt him."
She understood the principle that a true child of God, who has experienced the love of God, has no desire to sin against that love.
"Sons of God" is not simply a high-sounding name that we bear; it is a reality! We are God's children! We do not expect the world to understand this thrilling relationship, because it does not know God or even understand God. Only a person who knows God through Christ can fully appreciate what it means to be called a child of God. (v. 1)
Remember what Jesus prayed just before His death. “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
Today, do you “know” Jesus Christ?
God bless!