Called Children of God
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
John invites us to pause and marvel—not to skim past the wonder of it—that we are called children of God. This is not a small thing. It's a love so great that it reshapes our very identity, lifting us out of estrangement and into a family relationship with the Father himself.
Yet John also tells us something we might not expect: this identity sets us apart from the world in a way that isn't always comfortable. Because the world didn't recognize God when he came near, it often doesn't recognize us as his children either. Being loved by the Father doesn't necessarily mean being understood or embraced by everyone around us. That's part of what it costs to belong to him.
This is where hope becomes so essential to the Christian life. Knowing we are loved and named as God's children isn't just a truth for quiet reflection—it's meant to anchor us for what's ahead. The Aquila Report's piece "Those Who Hope Are Transformed" picks up this thread from 1 John 3, showing how the hope of Christ's return isn't a vague wish but a confident expectation that actually shapes how we live now.
Many believers know the feeling of being stuck—wondering if faith is more habit than transformation. But John connects hope directly to change: those who truly hope in what God has promised find themselves being made new. The love that names us as children is the same love that carries a promise of what we will become.
If you've ever wondered how hope and spiritual growth fit together, or felt like your walk with God has plateaued, this reflection on 1 John 3:3 offers real encouragement. Take a few minutes to read "Those Who Hope Are Transformed" from The Aquila Report for more on how this hope can move us forward.
Read the source: The Aquila Report →