Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
Read: 1 Peter 1:1-12
Consider: Christmas is over for another year and we can all look back on the highs and lows of the festivities. For some people Christmas has been a very lonely time, without close family with whom to celebrate. For others it has been a reminder of loved ones who have died and of how much they are missed. For many of us it has been a time for family to be together.
Peter in his first letter greets the believers in the Roman provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (modern day Turkey). In his initial introduction he reminds them that they are ‘God’s elect’ and ‘chosen’. Because the church was being persecuted, Peter wrote to remind them of who they are in Christ, so that they might be encouraged. After his brief introduction he says: Grace and peace be yours in abundance (1 Peter 1:2). What a wonderful thing to wish for God’s people.
Later in 1 Peter 1 we read: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1:8-9). Peter is telling them that because of their faith in Christ, they have an inexpressible joy, even in the face of persecution and opposition.
As we look forward to the start of a new year in a few days, what would my wish be for myself and you? It might be that the COVID pandemic would subside and that we would return to normality. However, more importantly, I would pray that in the coming year, grace and peace would be ours in abundance and that our lives would be characterised by an inexpressible joy.
Pray: Father, we thank you that we can have an inexpressible joy in our faith because it is founded on the certainty of our salvation. We pray for ourselves and our fellow Christians that grace and peace would be ours in abundance. Amen
Every blessing
No Condemnation 