Stephan Hoffman

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. 1 John 3:1

Read the entire chapter, 1 John 3:1-24

Children of God. Do you realise what these words mean? You are God's child. Maybe we can try to understand the love that God has for us if we consider our relationship with our own children? Have you held your baby in your arms and known that you would sacrifice everything to protect and care for that child and to give him or her the best you possibly can? This is how God thinks and feels about you!

Lovelessness and sin are no longer part of you. You now have a Heavenly Father who loves you through Jesus Christ and leads and comforts you through the Holy Spirit. You cannot continue to sin, because sin is built on selfishness and someone who has received as much love as you have, cannot continue to live selfishly. No, you and I should share the love with which God has embraced us with the world!

Of course it will not always be easy, and of course, the world does not always appreciate the love and sacrifices that you make. It was humanity, after all, who treated Jesus, who showed nothing but love, with hate and envy and killed him. Fortunately, he conquered death so that we might have new life. Yes, we have received a different type of life, an eternal life which makes us prepared to sacrifice everything of earthly existence for each other.

Love is not just an empty concept, love is done, talked, lived. Real love does not come from us, but God's Spirit enables us to love others even though they do not earn it and without expecting anything in return.

Let us ask the Lord to once again pour out his love into our hearts so that we can live as his children. Let's live in a way that people will know we have new life. We can fearlessly live with the knowledge that we can go to God in confidence through Jesus Christ our Saviour!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that you have adopted me as your own child through Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord, that I belong to you and that you love me endlessly even though I do not deserve it. Help me to live as a new person so that I would be prepared to sacrifice my life for others. Amen