Devotion:
Read 1 Peter 1:3-8.
As Christians, we are saved because of our faith in Jesus. We believe in Christ and love him even though we cannot physically see him. Peter writes that we trust him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy because of our relationship with him. Peter reminds us that we will endure many trials, but when our faith stays strong there will be wonderful joy ahead. How do we experience this great joy? The great Christian author C.S. Lewis writes about this inexpressible and glorious joy in his book Mere Christianity.
“There is no other way to the happiness for which we were made. Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire; if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy… you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has it.”
We experience this joy when we stay close to the source of joy: Christ. We get a taste of this joy on earth but will experience much praise and glory and honor when Christ comes again. We have this complete salvation and a rich inheritance to look forward to! As Peter says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for such a gift, such a salvation!”
Personal Worship Option:
Think today about the difference between inexpressible joy and happiness. I heard Rabbi Steve Leder say this week, “Joy must be grown like the sweet fruit of a slow growing tree.” Joy is what we reap. Joy is what we have after we have cared for something, sacrificed for it, and have then grown through it over time. Doesn’t that describe what happens in our relationship with Christ? Happiness is enjoyable but temporary, like eating an ice cream cone. (I’ll take mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone, please!) It’s good to enjoy happy things, but it is joy that we as Christians want to cultivate through a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the source of all our joy. Commit today to stay close to the source of joy.
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