1 John 3:1, NLV

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

The love of a father runs deep. Many people never experience or see the deep love of a father. The things that we believe about ourselves and how it affects our lives go unnoticed for the most part. It leaves a hole and a longing to fill that hole with something that will take away the pain of an absent father, whether emotionally, physically, or spiritually. A father plays an important role in their child's life, whether they realize it or not. Fortunately, we have a heavenly Father who fills the role of perfect Father when our earthly fathers fall short. If we are willing, as sons and daughters of the King, we must open not just our hearts, but our eyes to see His love for us. This is so we can begin to heal and to recognize our value and worth and importance in creation. Our identity is established, and we are no longer wondering who we are.

1 John 3:1 (NLT) says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

This world continuously tries to put a label on us. They want us to fit into their mold of what they think we should be, what we should look like, and how we should act. Why do they do this? Just as the scripture above says, they don't know Him. If they don't know Him, they don't know His character, His nature, His word. They don't know or trust the Word which is Christ. Jesus had just finished giving a hard teaching. As people walked away, He asked His disciples if they too would leave. 

Peter replied, "… Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God. " (John 6:68-69, NLT) Reading the words that Peter said, do we believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God? Do we believe His word and that He is the Word? Do we believe that we are His children and that we don't belong to this world? If we believe these things, then we should not be letting the world define who we are, but let God define who we are.

Scripture tells us, "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16, NLT)We are the light of the world. We are children of God. Now more than ever, it is important for us to stand firm in our identity as children of God. Now more than ever, we must stand on the Word and develop this relationship with Father. His love is perfect and fills every need. His love will open things for us that this world cannot and will not open for us. We find shelter under His wing, favor under His wing, protection under His wing, and provision under His wing. He will and has equipped us for the work He has created for us to do long ago. He is a good Father and a perfect Father. Through His word, we allow Him to minister to us, to strengthen us, to encourage us, to fill our cups so that we can go out to love God and love people. Receiving His love equips us for the world we live in.  

Love is important. It reaches where nothing else can. It lights up the dark. The Bible tells us that it covers a multitude of sins. If you are struggling to feel loved or know that you are loved, I would encourage you to pray, to seek, and to keep knocking; do not isolate yourself from other believers. We must seek God first but also recognize our need for one another. Proverbs tell us, "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." (27:17, NLT) I pray, now more than ever, that we will receive this gift from our Father, eyes to see and ears to hear. We would recognize the Father and His love for us. We would be overwhelmed by His loving kindness, goodness, and mercy to us. As we receive His outpouring of love upon ourselves, that we would allow that love to freely flow from us. Freely we receive, freely we should give. May His love cover a multitude of sins and guide us in these trying times we live in. In Jesus name. Amen.