The Father’s great love should both amaze and instruct us. (Part One)

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible expositor & teacher. John says to every believer, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). In the Greek language, the word “see” is often translated, “behold.” It means to look upon in amazement! It’s an exclamation. As an exclamation, it shows that the Father’s great love should amaze us. We know that some experiences grow commonplace over time. In other words, when it was new, it greatly affected us, but over the years, the effect grows weaker and weaker, until finally it’s just a far-distant memory. But the Father’s great love for us is the kind of experience that should grow stronger and stronger over the years, until it totally dominates and controls every aspect of our lives. The Father’s great love for us should consume our thoughts and control our behavior. It should motivate us to serve God and to live holy lives. It should give us comfort in all our trials. It should fill us with the eager and confident hope of being with Him in heaven. It should fill us with awe and worship, that He, the holy sovereign of the universe, would set His love on a sinful, self-willed rebel like me! “Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou, my God, should die for me!” Don’t let yourself ever hear of the Father’s great love and feel indifferent! It should always fill you with wonder and astonishment! Be encouraged!