Becoming

Verse: 1 John 3:1-3
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Devotion
This beautiful passage points to three amazing truths. First, out of his great love for us, God has called us his children. He has brought us into his family. He has made us sons and daughters of God the Father, and brothers and sisters of Jesus. This is who we are right now. “Now we are children of God.” We don’t have to earn this, or wait for it, or measure up. You and I have been given this as a gift. It is an identity that is received not achieved. Praise God!

It also promises that one day, when we see him face to face, we will be fully made like him. The new heaven and the new earth awaits, the restoration of all things, including us! We are promised to be in his presence, to know him fully, and to be fully known. What an incredible promise!

Thirdly, we are in process. “What we will be has not yet been made known.” There is some mystery to following Jesus. There is a process of becoming like him in this life. Our identity as beloved children of God is settled in the right now. But our character formation, calling and destiny is something that we work out with him day to day as we follow the Spirit. The process of becoming more like Jesus is the adventure we are on till the day we see him face to face!

So let’s not waste time doubting our identity in Christ. We know who we are, even if the world doesn’t understand it. But let’s instead lean into becoming all that he has called us to. Let’s lean into his Spirit, and his Word, so that our hearts, minds, and actions can fully love him and become more and more shaped by him.

Prayer
I want to be more like you Jesus. I pray that you would lead me, shape me, speak to me, convict me, and encourage me to that end.

Author: Christian Dunn