Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

October 2, 2019

by Pastor Hawtree

BIBLE READING: I JOHN 3

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The first subject we see here in this passage is the LOVE OF OUR FATHER.

John tells us we should be AWARE of The Father’s love. He says “Behold”. This means to consider, to look at, to notice, and to be aware. Our life is surrounded every day by God’s love and so often we don’t even notice. Even though we often overlook it, God continues to show it. It always means a lot to a person when someone notices the little things that they do. It motivates you to keep doing those things. Imagine how much it would mean to God our Father if we would behold, take notice of his love throughout the day.

John says next that we should be AMAZED by our Father’s love. John says to behold “what manner of love”. In other words, can you believe that God loves us with this kind of love? How amazing is that? This word “manner” in the Greek means what sort, what is this, or unfamiliar. It means that John is saying that he has never seen a love like the love God shows us. We are unfamiliar with that extent of love. We have never seen anything like it.

Lastly, John says that we should show APPRECIATION for our Father’s love. John says that God has “bestowed” this love upon us. It means that He has delivered it to us, and committed it to us. We should be so appreciative of the love that God has given, that we should desire to show that love to others. That is why John says in the next verse:

* Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him…

John says we are loved by God. We now are in the lineage of God, and we should be looking for His return. “We shall be like Him”. We sure do have a lot to look forward to. I encourage you to notice God’s love throughout the day. Notice the little things that happen that should remind you that God loves you.