Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
—1 Peter 1:8-9 (KJV)
Can you trust what you don't see? Of course! What kind of question is that? Our lives depend on trusting what we cannot see — things like gravity and the air we breathe. Faith in Jesus should be as natural as faith in those other things. The problem is that our hearts are sometimes weak, and our world is often skeptical. Sometimes, it is hard to believe that anyone divine would love us as much as Jesus. Our experience says, "If it seems too good to be true, it is." The world's skepticism wants to blunt and twist the response God longs to see from us: "an inexpressible and glorious joy" in Jesus. I don't know about you, but I've tasted both joyous faith and destructive skepticism. I much prefer joyous faith!
What joy fills my heart, Father, when I anticipate what it will be like to be in your presence — to have you wipe each tear from my eyes and introduce me again to those I love and those I've known only by reputation. Please never let me outlive that sense of anticipation and never let that hope dim in my heart, no matter what else may happen here. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—1 Peter 1:8-9 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Can you trust what you don't see? Of course! What kind of question is that? Our lives depend on trusting what we cannot see — things like gravity and the air we breathe. Faith in Jesus should be as natural as faith in those other things. The problem is that our hearts are sometimes weak, and our world is often skeptical. Sometimes, it is hard to believe that anyone divine would love us as much as Jesus. Our experience says, "If it seems too good to be true, it is." The world's skepticism wants to blunt and twist the response God longs to see from us: "an inexpressible and glorious joy" in Jesus. I don't know about you, but I've tasted both joyous faith and destructive skepticism. I much prefer joyous faith!
My Prayer...
What joy fills my heart, Father, when I anticipate what it will be like to be in your presence — to have you wipe each tear from my eyes and introduce me again to those I love and those I've known only by reputation. Please never let me outlive that sense of anticipation and never let that hope dim in my heart, no matter what else may happen here. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
