We Will Be Like Him?! – November 4, 2026
See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him. Dear friends, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we will be like him, and we will see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope purifies himself just as Jesus is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (EHV)
We Will Be Like Him?!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Timothy always looked up to his big brother Joshua. Everything Joshua did, Timothy wanted to do. Everything Joshua was, Timothy wanted to be. Joshua was a wonderful big brother. He was kind, caring, and protective. He was a great example of wanting to do the right thing in every situation. He was exactly the kind of person someone should want to be. Timothy wanted to be just like his big brother.
You probably know what that’s like. Even if you don’t have a big brother in your family, you do have a big brother in God’s family. We have been adopted into God’s family, and we are his children. That means we do have a “big brother”: Jesus. And Jesus is the perfect big brother! He is exactly the kind of person we want to be like. John even calls him “pure” here in this letter. Jesus never sinned, always did what was right, and always showed the kind of love that a person should have. We want to be just like our “big brother” Jesus.
But when we look at ourselves, sometimes we don’t seem to be like Jesus at all. We have thoughts and emotions that show we’re anything but pure. We don’t always love as Jesus does. Many times, we can be mean, uncaring, and selfish. We know we don’t deserve to be God’s child. We can even question if we’re a part of God’s family at all. We want to be like our big brother, but we’re not.
So, what does John tell us to do in this letter? “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). He points us to the love of the Father that made us his children. In fact, that’s exactly why Jesus became our brother—and why he’s the best big brother! He lived a pure life as a human being so that he could give that purity to us through faith. That’s why John says, “We are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we will be like him” (1 John 3:2). While we have to battle our sins now, when Jesus returns, we will get exactly what we want: to be pure like our big brother, Jesus.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, though I am not pure, you have made me your pure child through faith in Jesus. Help me to live in perfect love like he did. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- Who is our perfect “big brother” in God’s family?
- In what ways do we want to be like Jesus?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- Give at least three ways God our Father has shown his fatherly love for us.
- When will we be perfectly pure like Jesus forever?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- What impurity of sin are you most looking forward to having removed when we’re fully “made like Jesus”?
- What piece(s) of “big brother” advice do you think Jesus would give you as you live for him?
