Thursday 14 February 2013

Background

When a new child is born, it doesn't take long before someonesays "oh, doesn't she look like her mother" or "He's got hisfather's ears" or something to that effect. But it doesn't stopthere. As a child grows up it is not uncommon for them to take onsome of their parents' mannerisms or patterns of speech (often tothe amusement of other family members). It is only by being in thecompany of the family that these things are picked up.

There a parallel between this and today's passage. John iswriting about Jesus' followers being children of God. And aschildren of God living in the presence the Father we (hopefully)become more like God. If we read on in the passage, we learn thatbecoming like the Father means loving - "Little children, let uslove, not in word or speech, but in truth and action" (v. 18). Andthat is exactly what Jesus did - his life was a manifestation oflove.

Some of this may happen naturally albeit gradually, through alife of devotion and discipleship. But some of this will also be anact of will and determination: "And all who have this hope in himpurify themselves, just as he is pure" (v. 3). Purification doesn'thappen easily it requires effort and a cost. The Old Testament isfull of references to this, such as Psalm66:10-12 ("For you, O God, have tested us: you have tried us assilver is tried. You brought us into the net: you laid burdens onour backs: you let people ride over our heads; we went through fireand through water: yet you have brought us out to a spaciousplace") and Malachi 3:2-4 ("For he is like a refiner's fireand like fuller's soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier ofsilver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine themlike gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord inrighteousness").

To Ponder

• What do you see of God in others?

• What do you think others see of God in you?

• As you travel through Lent, what needs purifying in your lifeto become more acceptable to God? Pray for yourself and othersreading these notes, that you may live better lives oflove.