Spiritual Practices: Keyword Listing
Keyword listing is a method of observational Bible study. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or training. You can read more about the process of keyword listing here. You can choose any word or short phrase to study using keyword listing. For this passage, we suggest the following keyword(s) to start your study.
Starting Points
Keyword listing is a method of observational Bible study. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or training. You can read more about the process of keyword listing here. You can choose any word or short phrase to study using keyword listing. For this passage, we suggest the following keyword(s) to start your study.
Starting Points
- God/Father (and related pronouns) - Explore what John says about God in this passage
- Sin - Explore what John says about sin and the child of God
Spiritual Practices: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
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. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2)
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
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. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2)
Exploring the Text: Like our Father
As I read this text, I am reminded of an old Country music song by “Alabama”. It is sung by a dad and is about his son. The lyrics say, “The boy tries to be just like me. I’m all he tries to be. Momma's little man and me.” The boy obviously looks up to his daddy and tries to emulate him.
This is how our relationship with the heavenly Father should be. If you have accepted Jesus as your savior, you are a child of God. You are a joint heir with Jesus himself (Romans 8:17). As a child of God, our goal should be to “be perfect just as our Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). We are to emulate our Father, just as this little boy did with his earthly Father.
Obviously, as humans, we will never reach absolute perfection. Sin still makes its way into our lives. However, as verse six points out, we should not continue sinning. Sin should no longer be a way of life. When we do find ourselves falling into sin, we should be repentant.
As we follow God and lead lives that are pleasing to Him, He declares us righteous. We are in the image of God. This is not in physical features alone, but is also in attitude and character. There is not a more honorable thing, than to be like God himself.
Let us live our lives in such a way, that God can say, “The boy tries to be just like me. I’m all he tries to be.”
Rick Heinrich
As I read this text, I am reminded of an old Country music song by “Alabama”. It is sung by a dad and is about his son. The lyrics say, “The boy tries to be just like me. I’m all he tries to be. Momma's little man and me.” The boy obviously looks up to his daddy and tries to emulate him.
This is how our relationship with the heavenly Father should be. If you have accepted Jesus as your savior, you are a child of God. You are a joint heir with Jesus himself (Romans 8:17). As a child of God, our goal should be to “be perfect just as our Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). We are to emulate our Father, just as this little boy did with his earthly Father.
Obviously, as humans, we will never reach absolute perfection. Sin still makes its way into our lives. However, as verse six points out, we should not continue sinning. Sin should no longer be a way of life. When we do find ourselves falling into sin, we should be repentant.
As we follow God and lead lives that are pleasing to Him, He declares us righteous. We are in the image of God. This is not in physical features alone, but is also in attitude and character. There is not a more honorable thing, than to be like God himself.
Let us live our lives in such a way, that God can say, “The boy tries to be just like me. I’m all he tries to be.”
Rick Heinrich