Behold

1 John 3 begins in the KJV with the word "Behold". All the other translations use a less forceful statement though the NIV adds and exclamation point to the end of the sentence. Non of the other translations gives us the wonder of the word "behold" and it is too bad as John is filled with wonder when he stops to consider the fact that we are called the sons of God.
When do we use the word "behold"? We don't open our pay envelope and look at the cheque and say, "Behold, they paid me." Behold speaks of wonder. It is similar to what the disciples said then Jesus calmed the sea, they were astonished and wondered what kind of man this was.
Have we lost the wonder? Do we think that it is an ordinary thing to be called "children of God"? We need to renew the excitement of that statement. We are the children of God and it is because of His great love not because of anything we have done. Remember what Moses said to the Israelites, "The Lord called you because He loved you not because you were special."