April 14, 2015: 1 John 3:1-7

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

 
1 John 3:1-7

¹See 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. 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. ³And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. ⁵You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. ⁷Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

Reflection:

 
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world

Such a familiar tune to us.  We heard it growing up or sometimes before the children come up for the children's sermon.  The faith of a child is a beautiful thing. It is wonderful and so innocent.  The crazy thing is we are called children of God.  What if we lived into this faith as a child? We can be a child of God and live with joy and awe.  May we remember that we are precious in God's sight.  

Reflection Questions:

Morning: How do you have child like faith?

Noon: How do you understand others to be children of God?

Evening: What emotions or memories come up when you hear the song Jesus loves the little children?