1 John 3:1

New International Version

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

For Meditation.

Look at the beauty of the Planet Saturn. Marvel at its magnificence—its design and colorful rings. Consider its size—nine piles of earth lined side by side will span its diameter, excluding its rings. Contemplate this beautiful planet among our solar system and the entire constellation of planets, stars, and galaxies. Then marvel at the power and artistic prowess of the Creator of them all—God Almighty. 

David has it right in Psalm 19. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; [and] the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). 

And as he marvels at the wonder of the heavens above him, probably on a star-studded night in the open fields as he tended his flock, David bursts forth praise:

 Lord, our Lord,

    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

    in the heavens (8:1).

He might have turned his gaze on himself and wondered aloud. 

When I consider your heavens,

    the work of your fingers,

 the moon and the stars,

    which you have set in place,

 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    human beings that you care for them? (3-4).

David’s wonder is my wonder this morning, as I remember one night in a village in Senegal where we had gone for a crusade. It was as if God wanted us to remember His majesty and declare His glory to the people. The star-loaded heavens hung so low we could virtually touch it. It was surreal. But the crown of this amazement is how this glorious God would consider us His children. That was the marvel of the Apostle John in 1 John 3:1:

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of [God!”

Those words are so sweet and humbling. They invoke peace and hope in my heart, and I pray it does so in yours today. It is my wonder this morning that this powerful and magnificent Creator of the entire universe will love me so much that He calls me His child, and I know it is yours too if Christ is your Savior and Lord (John 1:12-13; Romans 10:9-10, 13).

We were by nature rebellious, arrogant, boastful, disobedient, corrupt, guilty of every kind of sin, and under the curse of God—in every way, candidates of hell. But, O, the love of God! He has demonstrated it to us in the giving of His Son for our salvation (Roman 5:8). That is divine love, and I celebrate it today. 

So, celebrate with me this morning, and let us praise God through Jesus together.