I John 3

Day 3

So many of the great hymns of the faith come right out of scripture. The hymn, "Behold What Manner of Love the Father Hath Given Unto Us," is an excellent example. Pardon the advertisement. The passage starts out with a huge blessing of telling us how blessed we are to be called God's children. John tells us that this is a way we can know that God, our Father in heaven, does indeed love us. I don't know about you, but for me that has a great deal of meaning. Sometimes my days are a struggle, and this passage provides a great deal of comfort.

As we move along in the passage we see something very interesting. This passage always sparks my imagination because it tells me we don't know what we will be yet, but that it will eventually be revealed to us. We do know that we will be like Him, Jesus, and that when He is revealed, what we shall be will be revealed too. This book was written after Pentacost, after the Holy Spirit came to live within us, so the passage isn't talking about this. It has a different meaning. It says we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He really is. I cannot help but think of how Jesus is revealed to us in Revelation. John sees Him in all His glory, and John hadn't seen Him yet here in this book. John does not go back though to this book and make any kind of amendment saying, "see this is what I meant!" He lets is stand, because God has a purpose for it just as it is. It gets my heart and mind pondering deep things to read this passage. It causes me to be intrigued by God and His Word. I believe that is always a good thing. It draws me into His depths and gets me excited to know Him better.

Verses 4-9 sometimes make my heart quake. I sin every day. I don't want to sin, but I do in a variety of ways. Does this passage mean we can be perfectly obedient and that when I fail it somehow means that I am not really saved? I have  heard the cry of others asking this question. It does not mean this. This passage is about those that sin, don't care that they sin, profess the name of Christ while they don't care that they sin, and are truly lost. A child of God, even when we sin, still desires somewhere in us to turn away from that sin, to repent when we do sin and to turn back to our Lord and seek forgiveness.

Verses 10-15 talk about loving others. Loving family, friends, strangers, and that if our hearts are filled with hate, we don't love God because God is love and we cannot hate others and love God. Cain is used as an example of this. Once, many years ago, I hated my earthly dad. I really did. Along the way I received Christ and had an encounter with this passage. God opened my hardened heart up through a great deal of soul searching and pain and helped me first to love my dad with His love, and then over time with a genuine love of my own. Only God can transform hearts like that.

Verses 16-23 talk about how important it is not only to love others, but to do it in very practical ways. To show love for others. Don't pass a brother or sister by if you can help them. Prayerfully ask the Lord to direct you how you can help. If you have something you are not using and another has need of it, then be generous of heart and share it. This isn't talking about satisfying other's wants, but genuine needs.  We show the love of Christ in us when we let our love be real, genuine and practical.

Our final verse, 24, makes  it clear that we are to live by His commandments. When the world sees us doing this, they see the light of Him who we belong to in us and that, Him in  us, has the ability to make a difference in this dark world we rattle around in.

Thought Questions.

1. When you hear about God's love for you, is it real to you? Do you believe you are loved by Him? What needs to happen inside you to embrace the reality and truth of His love for you?
2. What gets you excited about reading and studying the Word of God for yourself?
3. When you sin, what is your response? Be really honest with yourself. Do you want to be like Jesus, or are you too content with the world? What needs to be stripped away in regard to personal sin so that Jesus is the One you yearn for?
4. Is there anyone in your life you hate? How about just dislike? Who do you need to ask the Lord to help you love with His love so that you are learning to put away the negative, painful emotions that are holding you back?
5. Who in your life needs you to practice that practical love toward them? What is God revealing to you about the steps to practice that love toward someone else? 

Be a light set on a hill. When you follow and obey our Lord, then others will see your love for Him and for them, and it will either plant a seed, water it, or cause God to reap the harvest in that person's life!