Read: 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
8Though 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, 9for you are receiving the end result
of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Reflect:
I’m
the youngest of four boys, so I’ve grown up to having a lot of people around
all the time. My oldest brother Fred just moved to Arizona. He has been gone
for five months, and my other two brothers are at college, so I’m the only one
in my house with my parents. Fred will be coming home for the first time at
Christmas. Just the anticipation of seeing him again gives me great joy, and
it’s just a visit from my brother. All the time spent apart makes that hello so
much sweeter because it helps you realize just how much they mean to you.
As
Christians, we are sure we will see God because we trust him and know that he
saved us. On Christmas morning, my brothers and I all sleep in the same room,
but the anticipation is enough to keep us up. When we wake up in the morning,
we have to go sit at the top of the stairs until our parents are done dancing
and take pictures. Then we can come downstairs. All the anticipation is leading
up to that moment. But when we open our presents, we are sometimes disappointed
because we didn’t get exactly what we wanted. With our salvation, there is no
disappointment because no matter how great we think being with God will be, it
will come nowhere close to what it will actually be like.
We
don’t see God right now, and we won’t see him in the flesh unless he comes
back. But we can take joy in knowing that, because of our love and our belief,
when we do meet him Jesus will step in and say “Well done good and faithful
servant … Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Mathew 25:21).
Act:
Take
the joy you have in your life and spread it wherever you can. Rejoice in the
fact that one day we will be with God. Live every day as if you’re living as an
extension of Jesus or a tool of God’s will.
Pray:
Dear
Heavenly Father, thank You for the joys You bring to our lives every day. I
pray that we will be able to spread Your joy and happiness to the rest of the
world. Amen.
Peter Fulton
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