“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” – 1John 3:1
LIGHT FOR NOW: Christianity is not merely the story of man searching for God; it is first the story of a loving Father seeking His children.
One of the greatest revelations in scripture is the revelation of God as Father. Many people know God as Creator. Others know Him as Judge. Some know Him as King. While all these descriptions are true, one of the deepest revelations brought by Jesus is the revelation of God as Father. John writes: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…” The word “behold” is an invitation to stop, look carefully, and meditate deeply. John is essentially saying, “Pause and consider the greatness of this love”. The phrase “what manner of love” comes from the Greek expression “potapen agapen”, carrying the idea of a love that is extraordinary, foreign to human experience, astonishing in its nature and origin.
In other words, John is saying: “This kind of love is unlike anything the world has ever known”. Human love often fluctuates. People may love because of beauty. People may love because of usefulness. People may love because of performance, but the Father’s love is different. His love is not rooted in what we have done for Him. His love originates from who He is. The Apostle John later writes: “God is love” (1John 4:8). Notice scripture does not merely say God has love. It says God is love. Love is not merely one of God’s attributes among many. It is part of His very nature. This is why even before man sinned; God was already love, before creation existed, before the stars were formed, and before the foundations of the earth were laid. The Father existed in eternal love within the fellowship of the Godhead.
The Father’s love is therefore not a reaction to man’s need; it is an expression of His nature. John says this love has been “bestowed” upon us. The word “bestowed” speaks of something freely given, lavishly granted, and generously poured out. This means the Father’s love is not earned, it is given. Religion often teaches people to spend their lives trying to become worthy of God’s love. But the gospel reveals something different. God loved us before we became worthy. Romans 5:8 says: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Notice Christ did not die after humanity became righteous; He died while humanity was still lost. This is the nature of the Father’s love:
• It moves toward the undeserving.
• It seeks the lost.
• It pursues the broken.
• It restores the fallen.
John then reveals the purpose of this love: “That we should be called the sons of God”. The word “sons” comes from the Greek word “tekna”, meaning children born into a family relationship. This is powerful. Salvation is not merely legal forgiveness; it is adoption into God’s family. The gospel is not simply about escaping judgment; it is about being welcomed into the Father’s house. This means every believer must learn to relate to God not merely as a servant relates to a master, but as a child relates to a loving Father. The Christian life begins with this revelation: You are loved by the Father. Not because you are perfect; not because you have achieved enough; not because you deserve it. You are loved because the Father chose to set His affection upon you through Christ. And every other revelation in the Christian life flows from that foundation.
INSTRUCTION: Spend time today meditating on the Father’s love. Stop measuring God’s love by your performance and begin measuring it by the cross of Christ.
CONFESSION/PRAYER: Father, thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Thank You for receiving me as Your child through Jesus Christ. Help me to live daily with the confidence and security that I am deeply loved by You. Amen.
For More light; get the message, ‘The Love of God’
QUOTE: The greatest revelation of the gospel is not that man found God, but that a loving Father came searching for His children.
DAILY READING: MORNING: 1JOHN CHAPTER 3; EVENING: ROMANS CHAPTER 5:1-11
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 