1 Peter 1:8 (b) — Joy

…and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…

Who could object to having inexpressible and glorious Joy? Even for a moment, let alone for a lifetime. But for eternity? Really?

To put this verse in context Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and…you believe in him … and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…”

In yesterday’s post, “Testimony,” we discussed why people believe in Jesus even two thousand years after he lived on earth. The answer, it seems, is that God calls us to believe and makes it possible for us to believe. But how? How does God do this?

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1 Peter 1:2 (c) — Pirate Talk

A pirate ship sails a stormy sea against a yellow sky.

… to be obedient to Jesus Christ …

Just for the record, I don’t claim to know how all this works. Also for the record, I am suspicious of anyone who does claim to know how this works. Jude 1: 8-9 reads:

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’

Just as Jude defers to God’s judgment in disputes with the devil, I’m prone to defer to God’s judgment if there is any mystery about something in the Scriptures. What is very clear is Peter’s understanding of why we are chosen.

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