“How great is the 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.”

This week in our Everyday Evangelism series, we’re looking at what it means to be loved by God. This passage in 1 John 3 doesn’t merely talk about being loved by God, we’re told we are his children! How much better is that? Whether or not you had great parents, or are a great parent, I hope we can agree that belonging to a family unit is something special. To be chosen to be in God’s family – that really indicates something about God and what he believes and feels about us! He didn’t have to call us children, you know. But he does!

I know lots of us struggle with the idea of the free gift of grace, so adoption into God’s family might seem hard to accept as well. 1 John 2:29 says we are “born of God.” By the redemptive acts of God, we are born of him – not just welcomed, but rebirthed. As we become more and more like Christ through the renewal of his righteousness and holiness, we may not be recognizable to those who knew us before. We belong to a new family and are totally changed into someone Scripture says they don’t know. Furthermore, people who are birthed into a family carry DNA that makes them alike, so it is with us and God. As others begin to know the newly “birthed-in-God” us, they begin to experience God through us.

When I was a youth pastor, my youth group kids would often show trepidation about the first days of school. I would often remind them the keys to success were to obey the rules, be kind, and ask good questions. In time, their grades and social life would reflect their efforts. Peers and teachers would love them, and they would have no more fear. Can you remember the feeling? Maybe this is how you feel when people find out you’re a believer…a little nervous about if they’ll like you and if you can hold up to expectations.

We’re told the same advice in 1 John regarding life in God’s family. Chapter three says “do what’s right” and “love one another,” while Chapter 4 discusses “testing the spirits.” All these things lead to us having confidence before Christ at his coming and when we approach God in prayer. We can be confident in our relationship with our Parent.

You are so loved by God; there is nothing to fear. There is no need for reservation. Live in the truth that he has set you free and made you a co-heir with Christ. By faith, you have his righteousness, and the Spirit of God pushes you toward even more holy living. The big truth to grasp here – God loves you right where you are, and his loving Spirit is ready to grow you beyond what you could have dreamed. Take some time to feel that love and express it to someone else today.

Lord, thank you for bringing me into your family through your actions, not my own. May I be aware of your Spirit leading me toward what is right and have the patience to love others. Teach me what is good, to test and discard what is not, that I can be even closer to you, my loving Father. Amen.