1 John 3:1-7 (NRSV)
Read 1 John 3:1-7 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3See what love the Father has given 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. Verse 2Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. Verse 3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Verse 4Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Verse 5You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. Verse 6No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Verse 7Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Devotion
Beloved, we are God's children now, John writes. It's another wondrous gift—we are God's children now! This is not a promise whose fulfillment we await; it's a promise God has already kept. We are claimed as God's children in the waters of baptism, dripping with God's word of promise and overflowing with God's love in Christ.
And we still look forward to even greater wonders. One day, John says, Christ will be revealed and "we will be like him, for we will see him as he is." We are already created in the image of God, precious in God's sight. We are already being conformed more and more into the image of Christ, as the Holy Spirit works through us, answering baptismal prayer. Finally, one day, we will be made completely like Christ, with whom we will dwell face to face in resurrected glory.
Prayer
God of glory, you have called us your own and made us beloved children. Fill us with the joy of this identity. Inspire us with the hope of our bright future, made certain in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.