November 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

1 John 3:1-11:

¹Behold, 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.
²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
⁴Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
⁵And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
⁶Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
⁷Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
⁸He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
⁹Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
¹¹For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Devotional

The love of God is like the ocean. Who can fathom its depth? Who can measure its waters? How shall we describe it? John says, "Behold!" Here is something marvelous to see: Such love, such wondrous love! The Berkeley Version has it: "See what a wealth of love the Father has lavished on us." It is a wonder that He could love us at all. We were his enemies. How was it pos­sible that He should love us? And now He overwhelms us with his love! His Father's love.

We must remember, He loved us in Christ Jesus. Christ came into the world to suffer and die for us, to obtain for us right­eousness and life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (or the right) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." All that believe are God's chil­dren, and are the recipients of God's love. We are not only called God's children, but we actually are his children, because we are born of God. Such we are now, "and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2.

Prayer

Our Father, we realize that we are not worthy to be called Thy children, for we are sinners. We have transgressed Thy holy law in thought, words and deeds. We have therefore deserved Thy wrath. But now instead of wrath, Thou dost be­stow Thine infinite love upon us. We cannot sufficiently thank Thee for the gift of Thy Son, nor for what He has done and suffered for us. Be pleased to accept of us in him, and pardon all of our sins for his sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: John 3:16; 1:11-13.

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