Believing Leads To Joy

Sep 30, 2017Written Devotionals

6 “[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.  Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.”   1 Peter 1:6-8  Amplified Bible

Verse 6 begins with a keen observation that is important for us to daily remember that we should be exceedingly glad!  Peter wants us to recall that we live under the superior covenant of Jesus Christ, which means that we have an inheritance in Jesus that is not subject to the things of this world.  Our promises in Jesus are not perishable as the things of this world are.  Despite the trials or afflictions, we all face while living life in this fallen world, His promises remain certain and untouched, uncompromised by anything that takes place in this world or your life.

Every promise of His for you is secure in the spiritual realm and just awaiting our reception of them, our reaching out in faith and possessing them.  When we stand in faith we are bringing those promises secure in the spiritual realm into this natural realm we live in.  We allow the promises of the spiritual realm to displace the perishable things of this natural world.  This is true no matter things look like or what you experience, never stop believing in His promises.  If you believe this then you can walk in exceeding joy regardless of appearances.

Look at how verse 8 ends, “…you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.”  If you believe these promises of Jesus for you then you have joy unspeakable (that is a lot of joy).  If you believe the promises of Jesus for your life then the natural result of that belief will be evident by your joy, even in the midst of the trial or struggle.  Conversely, f there is no evidence of joy through you during those hard times it is probably an indicator that you are not believing.  If you are filled with dread and worry instead of joy that is a signal to you that your mind is not where it should be, it is world centered and not Word-centered.  If there is no joy in you, turn your heart, thoughts and mind to Jesus and His Word.  Read your promises in the Word and stand on those promises as personal promises for you.  Release the fear and let the triumphant joy flow through you.  This is the way we can and should live out our lives in Jesus, with unspeakable joy no matter what.  Doesn’t that sound like where you want to be?  It is within your grasp.

J Todd Hostetler

www.cityonahillTC.org

Donate

Archives

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This