1 John 3:1 - Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Have you ever had insomnia? I read a quote this week by a fellow pastor about sleep. He said that if you have to sleep all night then you will probably need to get out of leadership. My sleep is often disturbed by the broken lives of the people, decisions that must be made, and the restless rigor of the work. Sometimes, I turn on the TV to try to become sleepy. One night, the emergency broadcast system decided to do a test at 3:00 AM while everyone but me slept. The screeching sound of the alert could be heard throughout the house as it pulsed to get the attention of the listening audience. “Behold” is a word that the Lord uses to get our attention, to wake us up, to invite the readers to contemplate the truth presented.
In today’s text, John calls us to contemplate the love of God. The love of God astonishes me. God loved us while we were His enemies. God loves His enemies so that He might bring them to Himself. God found a people to love among those who were strangers and aliens to God. He gifted us with His love. He displayed His love by dying on the cross for our sins. God gave His one and only righteous Son so that He may reclaim and redeem many others to be His sons. God did not make us servants and slaves. God made us His sons. We belong to Him. We have His name. Don’t sleep on this - God has made you one of His. Love Him today! Serve Him today! Behold