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. (1 Pet. 1:8)
OUR SON HAD JUST RECEIVED a package with the rings for his upcoming wedding. Opening the padded envelope, he found a sturdy white box with a decorative bow. Inside the box, he found the rings and a very small envelope that read, “Something extra for your wedding.” The envelope held a delicate silver charm of a dove for our soon-to-be daughter-in-law—an unexpected benefit from a master jeweler.
When Peter wrote his Epistles, the early Christians were often under persecution. If they found themselves anywhere that Rome had influence, they could count on trials. Peter never denied the real challenges of being a Christian in a frequently hostile world. Yet he also made it clear that there were benefits in trusting Jesus that might be unexpected this side of heaven: a deep love for a God they could not see, and a belief resulting in an “inexpressible and glorious joy”—a benefit provided by a loving Master.
The world system tells us that “seeing is believing.” Our challenge is to remember that belief results in seeing daily benefits we don’t always expect from our faith in Christ. A consistent love for God and the joy of the Lord were evidence Peter could point out to encourage first-century believers. Are they everyday reminders, like an extra charm, of the expansive love and joy God has for you today?
Watch this week for your “extra charm” of joy from God, and tell someone.
Annie Wamberg enjoys being creative and hosting friends and family for any reason. She and her husband Steve have two grown children who are launching families of their own.
