See what kind of love the Father has given to us

 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1 ESV

At the beginning of chapter 3 John reminds his readers of the love that God has for us. He points out the fact that God calls us His children. He finishes that statement with “and so we are”. He declares that, yes we are are children of God. What a wonderful gift God has given us in Christ, we are His children.

He goes on to explain that is why the world looks at us the way they do. Because as Christians we are different than they are, they don't know us. Why? Because they don't know God, He is foreign to them. If God is foreign to the world, then so are His children. When we become children of God (christians) we become strangers in a strange land.

But we are at home somewhere else where we are recognized and loved as Paul said: “so then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” Ephesians 2:19 ESV We are members of the household of God. We are under His love, leadership and protection.

What an amazing love God has for us! He has taken us in to His household and given us all that He has through His Son. God is no longer a stranger to us, He is our Father. This was His plan for us, that we would be adopted as sons; “he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” Ephesians 1:5 ESV The whole purpose in sending Jesus was to bring us back home.

So today, meditate on this verse and God's love for you. Thank Him and praise Him for His love toward you. Remember to day you are a child of God.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman