Be Joy-Full

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 1

Scripture Focus: Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1.8-9)

Devotional Thought: On the day that Jesus arose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples – ten of them that is – in the upper room.  There were only ten because Judas and Thomas were missing from the group.  Thomas made a rash statement when the ten told him that they had seen Jesus: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20.25).  Peter was in the room that day.  He had been deeply moved by the Lord’s resurrection.  He also was probably taken aback by Thomas’ statement.  A week later, Peter was there again with the other ten – Thomas included – when Jesus appeared to them again.  He heard the words of Jesus to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20.29).

I don’t know if any of you are from Missouri or not, but that state is known as the “Show Me State.”  Missourians – some of them at least – are known to be prone to stubbornness and common sense: “If you expect me to believe it, then I have to see it.”  Jesus, counter-intuitive to what a Missourian might believe, says just the opposite: “If you expect to see it, you have to believe it first.”

We have never seen Jesus.  Yet we believe in him.  This gives us a "joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory," for one day we will.  Be joy-full!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, though I have never seen you, I believe in you, and I love you.  Thank you for the joy that fills my soul.  Oh, I long for that day when I shall see you and be with you forever!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 56.1-6

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;

2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.