Day 234, 1 John 3
Today, John uses several examples of children in scripture to illustrate the unique place we have as children of God.
Firstly, we focus on Jesus, the Son of God. He has lived, died, and risen from the dead. Now He is ascended and we await His return. There is a day coming (with a spiritual sonrise) when we will be seen to be truly sons and daughters of God, just like Jesus.
When you are fathered, you bear your parents’ DNA; you resemble your forebears. In the same way, God’s seed is in every one of us who has become HIs child by faith. And so we can’t help displaying HIs likeness. That resemblance shows in both the way we are aligned with God’s nature, and the way we treat fellow believers.
The way we treat others says more about us than our wn declarations of faith. Just as Cain murdered Abel because Abel was righteous and Cain was not, so we take life from those around us if we refuse to love as Christ loves. Self-sacrifice, willing repentance, transparent living, and consistent trust are all hallmarks of a true child of God.
Have a great day!
Mark.