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. [²Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.]—1 John 3:1-2
We still have young children in our home, so one phrase we hear a lot is “Look, Daddy, look!” My kids love showing me things they can do, or have made, or are excited about. They want me to share in their joy, and I am (usually) excited to jump in. I generally feel like I have outgrown that kind of behavior, so you will rarely hear me say to my kids, “Look, kids, look!” But the Apostle John seems to have no problem with that approach. It’s exactly the approach he takes in 1 John 3:1. He says, “See! Behold! Look!”
Picture the elderly apostle as a spiritual daddy with spiritual children (see 1 John 2:1, 12, 13, 18, 28 and more). He loved these children dearly. He wanted them to embrace the fullness of the gospel and all its implications in their lives. He wanted them to be ready to meet Jesus with confidence when He comes again (see 1 John 2:28-3:3). He wanted them to be assured that they would see Him on that day and be like Him (1 John 3:2).
What will prepare these children to see Jesus in the future? They must see the Father’s love in the present.
And it’s the same for us. Let’s look at the Father’s love. Not in general, but look at the kind of love it is. The Father’s love is the kind, or sort, or type of love that goes after far-off orphans and says, “You are mine.” And that is what we are: His, Children. This Father loved us so much that he sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). When we received His Son, he brought us in as His children, “who were born, not of blood nor of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Look at the miracle language. Look at the sacrifice. Look at the spiritual birth. The death of one Holy Son brought life for many sinners. That’s how the Father showed His love and made us His children. Seeing this love, embracing it, and living in its reality prepares us to see Jesus.
So look at this love. Turn it over in your mind. Ponder it anew. Roll it over and over in there, not until you get it, but until it gets you.
For Reflection
Moms and Dads, how could a little more “Look, kids, look!” serve to point your children to the love of our Heavenly Father? Could your thrill over God’s love be contagious with your kids?
If you are not thrilled over God’s love, look again in God’s Word and pray for eyes to see. That’s what I plan to do!
What distractions might hinder you from seeing the Father’s love? Let’s pray for grace to remove those distractions so we can see the sort of love our Father has for us in making us His children.