Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:2
In the time of the New Testament, family names meant everything. Your value, your inheritance, and your future depended on what family you belonged to. Some people were born into affluent families who held a good standing in society, while others were born into families who were viewed as outcasts. This idea of "family names" even caused many people to introduce themselves by the family they belonged to. In other words, family names were a big deal. Who your parents were, mattered. Because of this, when Jesus shared that His followers become children of God, this was brand new news and meant everything about their future.
1 John 3 begins with the reminder of the incredible truth that we are God's children. "Dear friends," John writes, "we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is" (verse 2). This truth, that we are children of God, is not something to take for granted. You see, it changes everything about our identities and our future. Suddenly, we have a place to belong, as we talked about in yesterday's daily devotion, and that means you have been given a new name in Christ.
Because you have been given a new name as one of His children, everything has changed. You belong to Him. You are a valuable member of His family. This means that you can walk in confidence, knowing you are loved and valued as His child. It also means that one day, when Christ returns, you and I will be more like Him (1 John 3:2). Sin will be conquered forever, and we will no longer have to battle against it. This is the promise we have if we have placed our faith in Him. You see, He is in the process of making us more and more like Him. What a promise we have to claim!
Spend some time today, reflecting on the truth that you are a child of God. Pull out your journal, and ask yourself this question, "What does it mean that I am God's child?" As you ask this question, record your answer. Thank God for the hope that you have because you are His child.
Read 1 John 1:7-10 (NLT)
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
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