God’s Beloved Children

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3 TPT (Click link for scripture in You Version)

1 Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. 3 And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure. (1 John 3:1-3 TPT)

Look with wonder! A couple of years ago, as part of my outdoor Christmas decorating, I got a laser projector. It projects a moving swirl of thousands of intense green and red dots of light onto the bare branches of the poplar trees that line my back fence and extend high above the house. One night, shortly after I got the device, I invited my grandsons over to see the lights. It happened to be snowing and as I led them out into the darkness, the lights were projecting high into the trees and on the swirling, falling, snowflakes. It was a “catch your breath” moment of sheer beauty and wonder!

Catch your breath in wonder! Think of the incredible love God has lavished on us! He has made us his very own children! We Are God’s Children Right Now!

  • Who we are: God’s beloved children. Our identity is based on our relationship with our Father. Our worth is based not on personality, performance, production, comparison, or measurement. It’s based on how much God loves us.
  • Who we are becoming: Reflections of God. We’re being transformed into the likeness of Jesus! As we grow, how we look on the outside matters less and less, and who we are becoming on the inside shines through more clearly and brightly.
  • When we are finally able to see what we will be we’ll see a stunning reflection of Jesus! Just like the Father, Son, and Spirit. Can you imagine? Of course not! But don’t stop trying. It’s like the Bible says about heaven, “No eye has seen, nor mind imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Let’s look with wonder at what we are, and with hope at what we are becoming. Let’s keep changing, growing, loving, serving, and becoming more and more like Jesus!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for what we are and what we are becoming! It’s all because of your amazing, transforming, wonderful love! We love you! Amen!