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. 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. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure
Devotion:
What a sweet reminder these verses were for me today. He has lavished His love upon us, calling us His own children. Sometimes the simplicity, but also profoundness of being able to call Him my father, knowing He sees me as His daughter hits me so hard. What a privilege and honor it is to be called a child of God! He is a perfect loving Father. Over the years, I’ve struggled with learning what my identity is because I so easily find it in my “productivity”. This identity, a child of God, is not based on our own merit or worthiness, but solely on God’s great love for us. It has become my most cherished identity that I have to fight to cling to daily.
In claiming this identity, we are called to live in a manner that reflects our Heavenly Father and His heart for the broken world that we live in. We are called to walk in love, righteousness, and purity, just as Jesus did. Some days, this can feel impossible in a world that often promotes selfishness, sin, and worldly desires. However, because we are children of God, we are not expected to fight temptation on our own. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the temptations of the world and to live lives that honor and glorify God. He gives us strength to do what is impossible without Him.
Verse 3 reminds us of the hope we have as children of God: “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” Our hope is not in ourselves or in the things of this world, but in Christ alone. As we fix our eyes on Him and strive to live in obedience to His word, we are transformed by His grace. As we seek His face, He shapes us to reflect His heart to become more and more like Him daily.
Friend, remind yourself of the incredible love that God has for us and the privilege of being called His children. Remember where your true identity comes from. It is unwavering, grounded in the perfect love of our Savior. Let us strive to live in a manner that reflects our identity as children of God, walking in love, righteousness, and purity. Let our hope be found in Christ, inspiring us to purify ourselves and live lives that bring glory to His name.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for giving us our most cherished, unshakable identity. Thank you for being a perfect father, lavishing your love on us. Help me to stay rooted in my identity in you. Guide my steps to help me live in a way that reflects this identity, sharing your heart with the world. Holy Spirit, help me to walk in love, righteousness and grace today. We love you Lord, amen.
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