Ezekiel
44:1-45:12; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 28:8-10
I
have loved this passage in 1 Peter for some time now. Several years ago,
our church was in the midst of what eventually became a church split. It
was a terribly painful and confusing time, for people on both sides of the
issue. As church staff, Eric and I felt attacked and maligned and
persecuted and also called to sit meekly before the onslaught.
I
memorized verses 2b through 9 during these days. Peter's words to the
church scattered abroad were - and are still - very comforting. Our
inheritance could never perish, spoil or fade (1 Pet. 1:4), though our job was
certainly on the line. We were shielded by God's power (vs. 5), and
therefore did not need to manufacture our own rescue; we could wait on God's
timing and activity. We suffered grief in all kinds of trials (vs. 6),
and it was reassuring to know that we were not alone in the history of God's people.
My
favorite section of this passage, though, is verse 8. "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). (I thought about italicizing some words in that quotation, but
realized that I'd basically end up emphasizing the whole verse, so refrained.)
Look
at those words again:
"Though you have not seen
him" - this is me! I have not seen our Jesus.
But "you love
him" - yes! Yes, I do.
"Though you do not see him
now" - in the agony and uncertainty of our church situation, it was hard
to see the presence of God.
But "you believe in
him" - and this was what we clung to.
You "are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy" - this description of joy just overwhelms
me. "Inexpressible" - beyond my ability to articulate or
understand. "Glorious" - majestic, holy, powerful, awesome.
That's some kind of real joy, ladies and gents!
This
section of Scripture became meaningful during a dark period of time. You
are probably not in the midst of a church divide, but you may be in the middle
of a cancer treatment or a divorce or a job change and you feel this same sort
of pain and uncertainty. This is for you today:
"Though
you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, [I
pray that you will] believe in him [and be] filled with an inexpressible and
glorious joy." Amen.
- Sarah Marsh
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