1 John 3:1-3

witness

1 John 3:1–3 NRSV

See 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. Beloved, 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. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

On days like today there are a few things I want to know. I want to know that I am loved. I want to know that I am valued. I want to know that this life isn’t all that there is. I guess that is what drew me to this passage for today, because it does all of those things. For some of us days like today are difficult. We will hear our family members names read and be reminded yet again that they are no longer with us. For others we will hurt with those who hurt today, as we empathize with one another. Still others of us will be transported back to when our loved ones names were read in years past. No matter where we are though we can know that we are loved, we are valued, and that there is more to existing than what this life has to offer.

1 John 3:1 NRSV

See 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.

We are loved. God has given us love. Not just any love but a love that can only come from God, a special love, a deeper love. Just sit in that for a minute. The God of the universe. The God of all creation. God loves you. God loves us enough to give us the opportunity to be called Children of God. This is where we find our value. This is where we see our worth. We are call

1 John 3:2 NRSV

Beloved, 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.

There is still more to come. There is still greater hope yet to come. We can not even imagine what there is in store for us. We can get a glimpse here on earth of what it will be like to be connected to Jesus Christ in this way. To share in eternal relationship with him. We get that through Communion, as we take the bread and the cup as we remember the sacrifice, as we remember that night that Jesus had his disciples around him as he prepared to give himself up. We remember this and in our remembrance the space between heaven and earth becomes thin and the connection becomes

1 John 3:3 ESV

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.