February 14: Behold What Manner of Love
1 John 3:1 (ESV)
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."
Read The Full Devotional Below.
A Love That Rewrites Identity
There was a boy named Logan who had spent most of his childhood bouncing from one foster home to another. Each time he started to believe he belonged somewhere, reality would remind him otherwise. The paperwork never lasted. The smiles of potential parents often faded. The words “You are wanted” turned into “It’s just not working out.” He learned not to get his hopes up.
One day, Logan was placed in the home of an older man named Samuel. Samuel was different. He didn’t fill the air with empty promises. He didn’t try to win Logan’s trust overnight. He simply stayed. Every morning, he made Logan breakfast. Every evening, he asked about his day, even when Logan gave him nothing but silence in return. And, most baffling of all, when Logan acted out—pushing him away like he had done to everyone before—Samuel remained.
Months passed, and then, one evening, Samuel handed Logan an envelope. Inside was a document: adoption papers. Logan had been here before. He had seen these forms before. He had signed them before. And yet, every time, something had gone wrong.
“I don’t want to get my hopes up,” Logan muttered, staring at the papers in his hands.
Samuel smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Logan’s shoulder. “You don’t have to. Because this isn’t about what you believe—this is about what is true. You are my son. No matter what.”
Logan hesitated, heart pounding. “What if I mess up?”
Samuel chuckled. “You will. And I will still be here.”
That night, as Logan signed his name on the line, something shifted in his heart. He wasn’t just a guest in someone’s home. He wasn’t a temporary visitor. He was a son. Not because of anything he had done, but because Samuel had chosen him.
And nothing would change that.
As the days passed, Logan tested the boundaries of this love. He acted out, expecting rejection. But Samuel never wavered. His love remained steady. Even on the days Logan doubted, even when he feared he wasn’t worthy, Samuel would simply say, "You are my son. That doesn’t change."
One night, Logan asked Samuel why he had chosen him, of all kids. Samuel replied, "Because love isn’t about what you bring to the table. It’s about who you are. And you are mine."
For the first time, Logan believed it.
Beholding the Love That Makes Us His Children
John’s words in 1 John 3:1 call us to see—to truly grasp—the kind of love God has given us. Not a love that tolerates. Not a love that merely offers us a place to stay for a while. But a love that adopts. A love that permanently claims us as His own.
This love is scandalous. It is relentless. It is undeserved. And yet, it is ours.
Just like Logan, many of us struggle to believe this truth. We wonder, What if I mess up? What if I fail? What if I push God away? But the answer remains the same: You are His child. No matter what.
In Roman times, adoption was irreversible. A biological child could be disowned, but an adopted child was permanently secured into the family. When God calls us His children, He isn’t offering a temporary home. He is sealing our identity for eternity.
God does not second-guess His decision to call us His children. He does not look at our failures and reconsider His love. His declaration is final: You belong to Me.
How This Truth Changes Everything
If we truly understand that we are children of God, it changes the way we live.
We stop performing for love and start resting in it. Just like Logan had to learn that Samuel’s love wasn’t conditional, we need to embrace that God’s love for us isn’t based on our perfection. We don’t have to prove ourselves—we are already His.
We live with confidence, not fear. Fear whispers, You’re not enough. But love declares, You are chosen. When we know we are fully and permanently loved, we stop striving for approval and start walking in security.
We extend grace because we have received it. When we understand the depth of God’s love for us, it transforms how we love others. We stop keeping score. We stop loving only when it’s convenient. Instead, we love with the same relentless, unshakable grace that has been poured out on us.
We walk in freedom, not guilt. Knowing we are God’s children means knowing we are forgiven. We don’t have to live under the weight of past mistakes. Instead, we embrace the grace that comes with being part of His family.
We trust even when we don’t understand. Logan didn’t fully understand Samuel’s love at first. We may not always grasp the fullness of God’s love, but we can trust that He will never let us go.
The Moment You Realize…
That moment when Logan signed his name? That’s the moment everything changed. Not because he suddenly became a better person, but because he finally believed that he was wanted. That he was chosen. That he was home.
That moment is for you too.
God isn’t waiting for you to earn His love. He isn’t holding a contract over your head, threatening to revoke your place in His family if you fall short. No—He has already signed the adoption papers in the blood of Christ. The question is, will you embrace the truth? Will you let go of your fears and behold—truly see—the love that makes you His child?
Living It Out
Take five minutes today to meditate on 1 John 3:1. Write it down. Speak it aloud. Let it sink in.
Replace lies with truth. What lies have you believed about your worth? Write them down, and then write God’s truth next to them.
Live like a child who is loved. Walk in confidence. Pray with boldness. Extend grace. Love freely—because you are loved freely.
You are His child. No matter what.
A Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for loving me with a love that is unshakable, undeserved, and unstoppable. Thank You for calling me Your child—not because of what I have done, but because of who You are. Help me to live in the security of that love. Silence my fears, quiet my doubts, and let me walk as one who is fully, completely, and eternally Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
