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Daily Devotions

1 Peter

1 Peter 
Day 
Day 15

"Whom having not seen you love"

Text: 1 Peter 1:8

SEEING THE LORD JESUS

It must have been a very special privilege to have actually seen Jesus! As we read the Gospels, we can “see” Jesus in ministry. He was always teaching, preaching, healing the sick, casting out demons (Matthew 4:23-25).

Jesus performed many mighty miracles so that the multitudes could believe that He was the Son of God and the Bread of life. But sadly, there were many who saw Him but did not believe (John 6:36).

NOT SEEING BUT BELIEVING

Seeing does not necessarily lead to believing! When the Apostle Peter wrote his first Epistle, he was conscious that many if not all of his readers had never seen Jesus.

“Whom having not seen you love.
Though now you do not see Him, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory .”
1 Peter 1:8

1. “Whom having not seen you love”

a) Peter was very direct in writing to his readers.
b) They did not have the privilege of seeing Jesus as Peter did.
c) But Peter commended his readers:
i) For having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
ii) For having love for the Saviour whom they had not seen.
d) Love for the Lord Jesus.
i) It starts with knowledge of Jesus.
ii) That knowledge leads to faith.
iii) That faith blossoms into love for the Saviour.

2. “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing”

a) The readers had not been given any special manifestation of Jesus.
b) Jesus had not specially revealed Himself to any believer.
c) The believers were in fact being tested by fiery trials.
d) Nevertheless, they held fast to their faith.
e) They continued to:
i) Believe in Jesus.
ii) Love Him as their Saviour and Lord.

3. “You rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”

a) The word “rejoice” had been mentioned earlier (1 Peter 1:6).
b) What was joy that they had?
i) It was a joy that could not be fully described by words.
Thus, it was called “inexpressible”.
ii) It was “full of glory”.
The joy that God had given with faith in Jesus had been endowed with glory.
The fullness of this joy would not be less because of fiery trials.
c) This Joy must not be taken for granted.
i) This joy was described by the Lord Jesus (John 16:20-24).
ii) It was compared to a woman who finds joy at childbirth.
Pain is forgotten because of sheer joy.
iii) This is a joy that no one can take away.
iv) This is a joy that may be described as “full”.