September 11

Now are we the sons of God: and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. — 1 John 3:2

“Now are we the sons of God.” That is the pier upon one side of the gulf. “It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but when He shall appear we shall be like Him.” That is the pier on the other. How are the two to be connected? There is only one way by which the present sonship will blossom and fruit into the future perfect likeness, and that is, if we throw across the gulf, by God’s help day by day, the bridge of growing likeness to Himself, and purity therefrom. — Alex. McLaren.