Read 1 John 3:1-6 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. What does God call us, and what does this reveal about His view of us?
2. According to these verses, what do we know?
3. Who doesn’t know God or understand who He is (verses 1 + 6)?
Reflect
John leads out chapter 3 by reminding us how loved we are, so much so that God calls us His children. This leads to an invitation to enter into His presence and see Him for who He really is. One thing that can keep us from entering into God’s presence is the unknown – not knowing if He sees or hears us, wondering if He really cares about who we are or who we’re becoming.
Today’s verses invite us into the known. To know we’re loved by a God who calls us His children. To know He invites us to reflect His love and character, not just some far-off day in heaven but right now. To know Him deeply, not just head knowledge but heart knowledge and personal experience.
God wants a real relationship with us, and one way He invites us to that is prayer. Being known means being fully present with Him and recognizing that He is fully present with us. It’s sitting and listening, a child spending time with the Father. That’s what He wants for us. That’s how we look more and more like Him.
Respond
• Do you find yourself wanting to be known by God, or do you tend to resist being known by Him?
• How often do you sit in the presence of God, seeking to listen to Him and learn from Him? Is there anything that needs to be adjusted in your weekly routine to make this happen more?
• In what areas of your life would you say you don’t reflect God the way He calls you to in His Word? Is there anything that needs to be confessed today?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.