God Thinks You're Great
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. (1 John 3:1)
Do you ever have those days when you doubt your worth? Situations or circumstances have you wondering why you can’t do things right all the time? These feelings weigh you down and make you feel less than important. On these days we certainly need to be reminded that one’s value is based on what God thinks of us and not what we might see in the mirror.
Today’s verse expresses our worth to God. The good news is that God thinks you are great. He knows you already and He desires nothing more than to have you know Him. Sounds like a relationship to me. Because of this, you know you have purpose and value. The things that tend to make you feel worthless or that create those feelings of self-doubt are superficial things, mostly those of “worldly” influence.
God loves you with a greater love than you can ever expect to really know. It is this perfect love of God that caused the Father to give His only begotten Son to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. It is this divine love that caused Jesus to willingly stretch out His innocent hands to be pierced by the nails. It is this divine love that sent us the Holy Spirit to be our companion and our always present, indwelling Comforter. We are sinners, saved by the grace of God through faith in His Son, and such grace proceeds from the heart of the Father – wonderful, perfect, divine love.
John then notes the special value of “knowing” Him. Unbelievers, John states, do not know Christ. You see, “knowing” involves more than just having intellectual knowledge of or information about Christ. John is speaking to a sense of intimacy, fellowship, and connection – in other words, a relationship. The unbeliever does not have a relationship with Christ. Because of this, the unbeliever doesn’t have a relationship with His children. Therefore, the unbeliever cannot recognize those who are growing “in the image of God.”
If we start our day working on our relationship with the Father, He will send us into the day with the knowledge that to Him we are a priceless treasure. And may we remember what Paul says about love in Corinthians 13:4-7– it is patient, kind, without boasting or pride, never used to tear down others, always rejoicing in the truth, trusting, steadfast and hopeful. These are characteristics a loving Father imparts to His precious children.
Loving Father, I praise Your name for Your great love toward me. Thank You for loving me enough to save me and thank You that in Christ, I am called Your child. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.