WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” ~ I John 3:1

REFERENCE:

I John 3:1-3

Everybody needs love. A loveless world will soon witness chaos and the vilest atrocities of man towards one another. Selfishness is on the rise; many are so self-absorbed that they do not notice those around them, and no one takes note of them. God offers His love as a remedy to this need.

Love becomes weighty when we receive it from someone better and of a higher status than us, who does not expect to get anything in return from us. It is like receiving a cordial, loving letter from the monarch of England or a notable celebrity; myriads of emotions will run through you. You will feel big, and the same time, so little; it will be a mix of awe, wonder, and humility.

That is the sense of bewilderment the apostle expressed in our text. He said, “What manner of love?” It is a strong and probing phrase; he meant, “What sort or kind; of what origin or surpassing excellence is this kind of love?” John wondered that such love existed and if it was possible for a holy God to lavish such on frail and sinful man. John is justified when we look at the objective of such love: to make us offspring of God, that is, little or junior gods.

What sort of love will confer divinity on us, mere mortals? It would be understandable if we attained it by individual heroic acts or by a high level of holiness of life, but not so. It was gifted to us and credited to our account though we did nothing to deserve it. This love is the love of God (agape); it is an act of His choice. It is love that is sovereign, gracious, merciful, continues forever, adopts us into the family of God, and will restore us to His image at last (I John 3:2).

Beloved, God is now your parent by adoption. You have His surname and access to everything that is His. You are no mere man subject to the manipulations of the devil and life. He loves you as His precious child; your name is in His will, and He will do good by you. He is not looking at your weaknesses, wrong judgments, mistakes, etc. He loves you just the way you are. Rest in His love for you. Do away with every sense of shame or condemnation. He loves you even in your present setback and will bring you out of it. What manner of love the Father has given us!

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Romans 8:14-17, I John 4:16-19, and Jeremiah 31:3

13Like
0Dislike
100% LikesVS
0% Dislikes

 PRAYERS:

+ Dear Father, teach me to believe in, receive, embrace and constantly walk in Your love.

+ I bind the voice of the stranger in my ear. I only hear Your voice of love, forgiveness, and acceptance.

+ Because I am Your heir, Father, arise for my help. Fight for me and answer my deepest desire, as a father does his child.