Joy inexpressible!
Joy inexpressible!
1 Peter 1:8 It’s time for Christians to always be in a “state of absolute happiness”
“and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”
1 Peter 1:8 NASB1995
If there’s one thing that our world is sadly lacking right now, it is joy. When I started looking for an image to go along with today’s devotional verse, this one jumped out at me. This little guy, the son of the photographer, personifies the words “greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible” quite well.
Kids don’t realize how lucky they are! Their lives for the most part haven’t been worn down by worries and sadness, so it’s more simple for them to experience and show joy than older children and adults.
In Peter’s first epistle, he’s writing to early believers who are scattered all over — “the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” to be exact. His exact term for these people was as “exiles”, “aliens”, even as “pilgrims of the Dispersion”, a phrase usually reserved for the Jews who were scattered after the fall of Jerusalem. Peter knew full well, though, that these were truly followers of Christ.
This beautiful verse finds Peter exulting in the knowledge that although most of the first Christians had never seen Jesus before or after His resurrection, they still believe in Him. They, like modern Christians, had come to love and believe in Jesus through the testimonies of those who lived and worked alongside Him. Peter knew that they found joy in their Lord and Savior — “joy inexpressible and full of glory”.
When we think of what Jesus did for us, we should also feel a thrill in our hearts, an indescribable happiness! One of the dictionary definitions of glory is “a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment, etc…” And why shouldn’t we all be in a “state of absolute happiness”? We’re loved by our Creator, He sacrificed His son for our sin, and we get to spend eternity with the triune God.
Now, don’t you feel like you should throw your hands up and cheer Your Lord?
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, although I have never seen You directly, I see Your image wherever I look. The work of Your hands is in everything, everywhere around me. I have absolute trust in Your goodness and mercy, and that makes me celebrate in “inexpressible joy” that You are Lord of my life. Let my joy be visible to others, so they can also accept the joy that comes with belief in You. AMEN.
Thank you, Joe! We have so much to be joyful about, even when things aren’t going smoothly…
Such a wanted and desired fruit of the Spirit...Joy! Thank you Steve!