This post was last updated on March 26, 2026

Day 2 (Year 2)

The Father Delights in Bestowing His Love

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1a NASB)

When people believe that the heavenly Father is loving, it is easier for them to trust Him. Believers are not only called to understand the Father’s love intellectually — we are invited to open our arms wide, receive His love, and experience His goodness. Conversely, if someone perceives the Father as harsh or harmful, it will be difficult for them to believe in Him.

The sufferings of this world put many people to the test. Broadly speaking, all sufferings originate from the devil and sinners. And it is precisely because suffering exists in this world that believing in the Father’s love requires both wisdom and faith. Perhaps it also requires a fundamental conviction that this world was never meant to have suffering, and suffering was never designed for humans. In other words, when we sincerely take the Scripture at its word, we will naturally shed every belief or theory that contradicts a loving heavenly Father — and in doing so, we can wholeheartedly trust the Father and receive His love.

Believers are called to trust in God’s precious promises, which flow from the Father’s love. Though He once called us sinners, He now invites believers to become His very own children. Receiving the identity of God’s child requires no achievement or merit, but it does require genuine faith and ongoing submission. Once a believer becomes a child of God, the process of transforming one’s thoughts, emotions, and conduct to align with the Father’s expectations must then begin. It is a mistake to think that we must first accomplish something to earn the status of being God’s child, for the identity of God’s child is not something attainable through personal effort. Rather, it is freely received through the saving work of Jesus Christ. Worst still, however, is accepting the promises of Scripture while continuing to indulge in sinfulness, as having become children of God, we simply cannot live like children of the devil.

When the loving heavenly Father calls believers His children, it starts a joyful life under His unconditional love. From there, out of a heart of righteousness, integrity, and gratitude, we will continually receive His wisdom and strength, being transformed according to the Father’s loving character. The Father will not hold against us the sins committed in ignorance, but is willing to forgive our transgressions through Jesus — yet He will never indulge those who bear His name while willfully doing evil and living in wickedness. The Father’s judgment may be slow in coming, but it will come without fail.

Reflection questions:

1) According to the scripture, are you willing to cast aside every thought or belief that contradicts the loving heavenly Father?

2) On one hand, receiving the Father’s unconditional love; on the other hand, responding to Him with a heart full of endless gratitude — are you willing to live in this way? Why or why not?