A Year with Jesus: 'Reason to Celebrate'

What Jesus Might Say

Dear Precious One,

In the face of life's irritations, what is your source of joy?

In the middle of life's biggest heartaches and wounds, what is your reason for hope?

In the moments of life's greatest blessings, what multiplies and deepens your joy in anticipation of a joy even greater than you can describe?

Peter reminds you in the verses below that your faith in My resurrection gives you

"a joy that is glorious and beyond words,"
a reason to "celebrate" and rejoice now as you anticipate a richer life, and
an even greater joy that I have waiting for you since "you are receiving the salvation" of your soul!

This salvation has begun, but even greater experiences and realities of this salvation lie on the horizon.

So in the most joyous moments of your life, remember that even greater joy is ahead. In your painful and most trying days, remember that a far better future lies ahead. In the everyday routine - no matter how filled with monotony or great blessings or deep sorrow - celebrate that you are caught up in the marvelous and astounding future promised in My resurrection from the dead. Life and joy are yours, both now and forevermore!

Verses Jesus Might Suggest

As you read these verses one more time, focus on the future joy that is promised. Notice especially the words "celebrate," "glorious," "greatly rejoice," and "beyond words." These words are used to describe the "joy" that is yours because of your faith in My resurrection that assures your salvation both now and throughout eternity!

Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope - reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. Through faith, God's power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last.

Although you haven't seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don't yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith.
(1 Peter 1:3-9)

Our Response in Prayer

Loving Father, open my eyes to the joy available to me because of the future ahead of me and the salvation You have given to me in Jesus, in Whose name I pray. Amen.