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Inexpressible Joy: A Gift Beyond Words

Have you ever tried to put into words a moment when a wave of joy washed over you? You might describe it with words like happiness or excitement. But joy is different, isn’t it? Happiness can come and go, often tied to circumstances or events. Joy, however, is lasting. It doesn’t come from us or within us—it is a gift from the Holy Spirit.

Peter’s description of “inexpressible joy” in 1 Peter 1:8 points us to the profound and supernatural reality of the gospel:

“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.”

This joy is not something we can manufacture or muster on our own—it is a divine gift, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It flows from the assurance of what Christ has done for us and who we are in Him.

The Joy of Knowing Christ

Peter acknowledges a beautiful paradox: loving and believing in someone we have never physically seen. And yet, this faith produces a joy so deep that it defies language. Why? Because the gospel is not just information—it is transformation. Through Christ, sinners are justified, the condemned are set free, and those who were once enemies of God are now His beloved children.

How can we even begin to express such a reality? Words often fail us. We might explain the mechanics of justification or atonement, but the weight of God’s mercy and grace leaves us humbled, overwhelmed, and profoundly grateful.

Joy That Transcends Circumstances

This inexpressible joy isn’t tied to our circumstances. It doesn’t waver with life’s ups and downs. Instead, it is rooted in the eternal work of Christ. Yet, how easy it is to lose sight of this joy. The noise of life—its distractions, difficulties, and disappointments—can overshadow the beauty of the gospel. We may find ourselves weighed down, discouraged, or even doubting.

I know I’ve been there. Sometimes it’s subtle—a gradual drift. Other times, it’s loud and sudden.

But here’s the good news: the gospel invites us to refocus. It calls us to lift our eyes off our circumstances and fix them on Christ. In Him, we find a joy that no storm can shake, a joy anchored in the unchanging truth of God’s promises.

Reclaiming the Joy of the Gospel

So, let us ask ourselves:

• Have we let the noise of this world drown out the melody of God’s grace?

• Have we allowed temporary struggles to eclipse eternal truths?

If so, the remedy is simple: return to the gospel. Meditate on what Christ has done. Reflect on His love, His sacrifice, and His victory over sin and death. Let the Holy Spirit remind you of the “inexpressible joy” that is yours in Christ, and let that joy reignite your faith, gratitude, and worship.

Remember, this joy is a gift. It is always available to us because it comes from the One who is unchanging. Fix your heart and mind on Him, and let the inexpressible joy of the gospel flood your soul once again.

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Marvelous Light: God’s Promise of Transformation from 1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.– 1 Peter 2:9

I enjoy sunsets as the colors that are painted are extraordinary but I also really enjoy sunrises as light pierces the darkness. Instead of a fading light, a sunrise is bright and grows from the birth of the morning. 

Peter is writing about a new group who are made up of both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians- the church. In his encouragement of directing them in their position in Christ, Holy- their purpose, as priests and their freedom- from darkness to his marvelous light.

1. Understanding Darkness

It is show in the Bible as Sin, separation from God, spiritual blindness, or hopelessness (John 3:19-21, Ephesians 5:8). The Bible tells us our life outside of Christ as lost or dead in our sins and trespasses. We are not only without direction, more so, we were headed in the wrong direction (Ephesians 2:1-3). 

Have you ever felt stuck in a dark season of life?

Have you ever felt like you could not break free from sin? 

We have this great news- Jesus has brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

2. The Call to Marvelous Light

God is the one who calls us out of darkness through His grace (John 8:12). We don’t initiate this, but God does. As we know his motivation is his agape love that he has for us (John 3:16). What Is Marvelous Light? It is God’s presence, truth, and the hope of salvation. 

Just like actual like and darkness stand in contrast with one another, there is the stark contrast of God’s marvelous light with the darkness of sin. Some of those would be Salvation and sin. Forgiveness and guilt. New Life and bondage to sin

3. The Transforming Power of God’s Light

Notice the transforming power leads to this New Identity. What does this mean for believers today? It means that there is the transformation action for today and for eternity. 

The transformation action for today means we are to live differently because of the Jesus. We are to be a light to this world (Matthew 5:14-16). This means we reflect Christ likeness as we are called to love our neighbors and even our enemies. 

Transformation action for eternity means that this change will come fully complete one day. We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means we have received and are receiving all that we need for eternity. He who began a work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

4. Our Purpose in the Light

We are to reflect this truth, being brought into his marvelous light by reflecting him. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, we reflect God’s light through worship and testimony.

Worship is more than singing, but involves singing. D. A. Carson writes, Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so.” 

We are reminded that obedient living is an act of worship to God (Romans 12:1-2). This means our lives are to reflect who Jesus and why he came.

The idea of reflecting the truth that we have been brought from darkness into God’s marvelous light because of Jesus, this means we proclaim this through our testimony. We are to be witnesses and to make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 18:19; Acts 1:8).

What are some ways you can grow in sharing your faith?

The Christians life is to be of worship and testimony as it points to the marvelous transformation that God has done in us and through us because of Jesus Christ.

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What Do Christians Have in Common?

What the Church Shares-2
Photo by Sammie Vasquez on Unsplash

We have more in common with Chrisitans than we do have uncommon. I have written about this in the past which is a common thread found throughout the New Testament. You can read about how Christians share in weeping for one another here and how we share in rejoicing with others here.

Sometimes we neglect the aspect of unity among believers (I call it the togetherness of the Christian life). We read in the Bible that believers, the church, are called a body. Christ is the head of the body, but each member (believer) is part of this body. Just like each perspective part of your body has usefulness so does the body of Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us,

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 14-20 ESV).”

Continue reading “What Do Christians Have in Common?”

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Marks of Christian Unity: Weep with Those Who Weep

Growth in unity as believers is shown in how we respond when others go through joyous moments or are enduring trials. As believers, we know that we will face trials of various kinds (James 1:2). Jesus even warned us with the truth that in this life we will face tribulations but we can take heart because He has overcome this world (John 16:33). Going through trials is nothing new, it is matter of when we will face them not if we will face them. We should not be surprised when we face trials and suffering as though something strange is happening, as Peter reminds us (1 Peter 4:12).
As believers, we know that we will never face trials alone. There is something refreshing and encouraging to know that when we face different trials, we have the Lord, who will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We also have the physical presence of fellow Christians, who will weep with us as we weep (Romans 12:15). I am so thankful for the body of Christ! I personally have seen the unity of the body of Christ as they have wept with me as I wept. Their presence and love bring a whole new level of comfort that I did not know. Continue reading “Marks of Christian Unity: Weep with Those Who Weep”