1 Peter 1:8: Though You Have Not Seen Him, You Love Him

1 Peter 1:8

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, (ESV)

In this magnificent verse the Apostle Peter captures the heart of every true believer in Jesus Christ. Peter knew that he was privileged to walk with Jesus. He lived with him for three years. They ate together. They laughed together. They grieved together. They had a wealth of experiences that we could only imagine having. He writes to some who had never seen Jesus. He writes to us as well. We long to see him.

It is not a requirement that we physically see Jesus in order to love him. When the Holy Spirit transforms our heart (theologians call this regeneration) we see Jesus as the risen Savior who died to save us from our sins. We are filled with a joy in our hearts that nothing in this world can duplicate. Peter describes this joy as being inexpressible and filled with glory. Take a moment and say, "Hallelujah!"

This verse is positioned after several verses that talk of the trials and persecutions that Christians are certain to face at times. They are even described as necessary. This truth about the love that we have for the Savior whom we have not seen is the very thing that helps us to get through the trials that God has deemed necessary for us to endure. 

The world around us needs to see a church that is known by our intense love for the Savior that erupts in inexpressible joy. So often the church is known by her failings. She is known by her complaining about the suffering she endures. She is known for fighting with her siblings. A proper understanding of this verse should help us to share with the world what our salvation is all about. 

Take a moment. Right now. Think about your Savior. Tell him how much you love him. Allow your heart to be filled with inexpressible joy. He is your strength. He is your salvation. He loves you.