Amazing Love

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.
1 John 3:1


I would like to just let you read these words over and over again and consider them carefully. If you are not stopped in your tracks to be amazed at what God has done, you are not paying attention.

Behold – “to see,” “to know,” “to be aware.” We have to stop and take some time to see and know and be aware of what God has accomplished for us. This is not something that we should just pass by lightly.

What manner – “what possible sort.” What kind of love reaches out to one’s enemies (Romans 5:10)? What kind of love offers freely a perfect and innocent life for the life of a transgressor? An enemy?

Hath bestowed upon us – “given freely to us.” No cost on our part. No requirement for repayment. We are recipients of this love. If you ever get to thinking that you have done something to deserve this privilege, you are absolutely wrong. God in His sovereignty bestowed this love upon us before we even sought for Him.

That we should be called the sons (children) of God – He has called us His children, not because we made ourselves fit for His family, but because He gave us a new birth into His family. He makes us fit for His family (Ephesians 1:4-6) in His sovereign grace. We were not even worthy to be called His friend, but He makes us His children. It is beyond amazing to consider this. Take some time to just meditate on what it means to be called the children of the Living God.

We should be exceedingly humbled by this verse. When you get to thinking too much of yourself and taking yourself too seriously, think about this. We were nothing without Him, but we are everything in Jesus.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are now a child of God. In case that is not enough, there is something still to come. He has given us so much more than we can imagine. Someday, we will be like Him, when we see Him in glory.

These verses continually amaze me. How can we not continually worship and praise our Lord for His amazing love? I’m not just talking about singing in church, or mouthing some words, but rather our entire life should be in worship of Him continually. He deserves to be worshiped because He is God, but doubly so because He has bestowed upon us an amazing love that cannot be fathomed.


Gordon Crook