Behold What Manner of Love
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About-Him.Com Devotional 09-08-2018
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Behold What Manner of Love  
  1John 3:1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us:

John, writing to folks just like us asks them to behold or take notice, remember and consider, “What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us.” Love is a pretty cheap word nowadays. Quite often a person’s love toward you is determined by what you have done for them lately. Out of sight, out of mind. Not so with the love of God. He loved us before the foundations of the world were laid. He saw us then and knew our names. He loved us when we were unlovable. He loves us still even though we are still often unlovable. He saw and knew every ungodly thing we would ever commit. He knows all about our baggage (yes, we all have some) but He still loves us with His unfailing unconditional love. He didn’t pick and choose in bestowing His love, He bestowed His love upon “us,” upon the whole human race (John 3:16-17), by shedding His own blood on the cross of Calvary (Acts 20:28).

Jesus shed His blood that we might live, not just now but for eternity. It wasn’t because that we had done anything to earn it or to impress Him. He loved us because His very nature is love (I John 4:8,16).

We all know the story of an angel telling Mary that she would conceive in her womb by the power of the Holy Ghost and would bring forth a Son who would be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). This Son was born for the sole purpose of redeeming us who were under the curse of the law (Galations. 4:4), for a purpose:

that we should be called the sons of God:

Jesus paid the required penalty (I John 4:10) for all of our sins and wiped the slate clean and of course He expects us to keep it that way by daily availing ourselves of the precious blood that He shed for us. Yes, He died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8) but things are different now. We have been washed, cleansed and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God (I Corinthians. 6:11). We (both male and female) are now sons of God and with this new relationship comes vast privilege and also responsibility. We now are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans. 8:17). Have we taken time to really ponder just what it means to be an heir of God? It boggles my mind.

therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

The world didn’t recognize the babe of Bethlehem as the Father of all eternity. They didn’t recognize Him when He suddenly came to His temple as a 12 year old boy (Malachi. 3:1). When He claimed the name of the eternal I AM (John 8:58, 10:33), they crucified Him.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.


Now here’s the upside: When we, like Thomas of old, considered the scars in his hands and side and received Him we also cried out, “My Lord and my God,” and an immediate transformation took place, “We were born of God and allowed to be a recipient of His precious Spirit.” Therefore we and the world just don’t jive. We have different perspectives. We are now kingdom minded. We know that all the glitz and glamor of this world is going burn, but we are members of an eternal kingdom. Our citizenship is now in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Jesus said:

John 15:18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.


So friend, once we claim the name of Christ, the world doesn’t want us and we shouldn’t be wanting the world. There is no accommodation and no co-existence (I John 2:15-17). The One whom the world didn’t recognize as a babe in Bethlehem speaks to us from the throne of heaven with the voice of Jesus and makes us an absolute promise, we will be His sons if we endure to the end.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Thank you Lord for your unspeakable gift (II Corinthians 9:15). Now Lord, what can I give you? Nothing, except my total self.  

Song: My God, My King and My Redeemer

Somebody Has Said
"There is no mystery in heaven or earth so great as this - a suffering Deity, an almighty Saviour nailed to a Cross." Sameul M. Zwemer

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Don and Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries

Last modified:09-21-2018
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