The Joy of Glory

1 John 3:1-3 (click here)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)

Reflection
Christians are strange.

I mean…let’s just be honest about it. Our values, our way of thinking, our worldview is very odd to the culture at large. We think the pursuit of happiness through wealth, fame, and sex is folly. We base our lives on a book that is over 2000 years old. We even see death as gain!

Not to mention we believe that God took on flesh, lived, died, and rose again.

I mean…we are just a little bit strange and even increasingly so in our modern western culture. Secularism has been on the rise for generations and culture Christianity in America has all but met its demise.

And this is good news.

We are strangers and exiles in this world, and now we look like it. “The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know [Jesus].” Our western world once thought it understood and even liked Jesus, but now recognizes that they don’t recognize him.

A world that once would have said, “oh yeah, we know Jesus,” is now ready to declare the opposite. And this is good news. The lost know that they are lost… and we have a Gospel to give! We have good news that the Father has given his love to us by making us his children through Jesus…and he does this to all who believe in Jesus!

We have news that is finally heard as news! Whether people in our culture accept it or reject it is one thing, but at least they can finally hear it! At least they finally recognize that they don’t recognize us or Jesus!

It’s good news that we, Christians, are finally seen for what we are… strange.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.