Security In God’s Love
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and
that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 Peter 3:1
Friends in Christ,
The day I write this blog is the 102 nd birthday of the children’s author, Beverly Cleary.
She is best known for her two series of books, ‘Henry Huggins’ and ‘Romona Quimby’.
She lives southwest of Portland, Oregon in a town called McMinnville.
She once said, “In 50 years, the world has changed, especially for kids, but kids' needs
haven't changed. They still need to feel safe, be close to their families, like their
teachers, and have friends to play with.”
It is important for people to feel safe.
Martin Luther talked of people needing a sense of security. The idea being if a person
did not have a sense of security that person would always look for security in different
things.
I see this lack of security like leaves in the wind, blown from place to place.
Peter’s purpose in writing his letter was to give people a sense of security.
He writes in 1 Peter 3:1, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be
called children of God; and that is what we are.”
Peter’s purpose in these words is to comfort people with the assurance they are God’s
children through God’s love in Jesus Christ.
The word ‘what’ used in this verse is not the usual Greek word for ‘what’. The reason is
twofold.
First, it does not translate well into the English.
Second, the word is only used once in the New Testament. (The technical term for this
is hapax legomenon, from the Greek meaning ‘being said once’.)
Outside the New Testament the word is translated, “Of what country?”
Using that translation, the verse would read, “See from what country (is the) love the
Father has given us.”
God’s love is a ‘foreign’ love. It’s not like what we have experienced. It loves each one
of us not because of who we are but rather it loves us because of who God is.
People were telling the children of God they did not measure up to God’s love. This
caused insecurity. This caused them to feel unsafe.
However, Peter points out that God’s love brings true security and true safety.
The good news is that our security and safety are in God through Jesus Christ!
Christ’s Peace to each of you!
Ricky Adams
Pastor
Peace Lutheran Church
Mill Valley, California