1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
For whatever reason, I remember this verse from the old King James Version which reads, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I guess I like this because it raises the question “what manner of love hath the Father bestowed upon us” or, to my mind, what is the love of God like? I have been blessed to be loved by parents, a wife, children, friends, and church family. Each is a type of love but each is a different type of love. So what is this type of love that God the Father has for us? The answer is that it is the love of a parent to a child, a good parent to a, sometimes at least, ungrateful and selfish child. Parental love gives life, nurtures, provides for, protects, instructs, disciplines, and rebukes when appropriate. I’m sure that the parental love we experience from our human parents is only a glimpse of the love God has for us and all God’s children. The reality is probably far beyond what we can imagine in our present, finite condition. But it is still love and a true taste of something much greater. How great is the love of God for us that makes us God’s children? How will you live in that reality this week?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 