1 John 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.” 

John begins this verse with an exclamation of pure amazement: “Behold!” He’s not just stating a fact; he’s calling us to stop, to intensely gaze upon, and to study the incredible love of God. It’s a love so profound, he calls it “what manner of love” – suggesting it’s an otherworldly, lavish, extravagant gift that transcends human comprehension. This love is “bestowed upon us.” This means it’s a one-sided giving from God. We didn’t earn it; we couldn’t prove ourselves worthy. It’s not a return for anything we did, but a free, unmerited gift of His abundant grace. It’s a love that makes no demand for us to be “good enough” before it’s given. 

The incredible result of this amazing love? “that we should be called the sons of God.” Think of the wonder here! God, the Creator of the universe, doesn’t just pity us or save us from hell; He adopts us into His own family. He calls us His children, giving us a new status, an eternal inheritance, and a secure identity. This is a blessing far greater than Adam ever possessed, a status confirmed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Himself. But this divine parentage has a consequence: “therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Because we belong to God, we are strangers to a world that lives apart from Him. We shouldn’t be surprised when the world misunderstands or even rejects us, just as it misunderstood and rejected Jesus Himself. 

Today, let us truly “behold” this extravagant, unearned love. Let us embrace our identity as children of God, living from that truth, and trusting His love even when life hurts or the world opposes us. This love empowers us to walk worthy of our calling, understanding our profound value and secure identity in Him. 

(Today’s devotion was authored by Bro. Joshua Soliz, a LIFE Group leader and preacher at RBC.)