“8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” NIV

His name was Peter, and for a time he was the youth leader in a church I attended in my teen years. But prior to that I looked up to him as older member of the youth group, and valued him as a friend. Peter was a rugged, craggy individual. As I recall, prior to his conversion he had drunk deeply from the murky well of sin. He’d had his fill and found it unsatisfactory. But Peter was very much a man’s man. One night, a few of us were out ‘witnessing’ on the streets of Wigan, trying to engage people in conversation about Christ. This was something we often did. On this particular evening, I distinctly remember Peter saying to a group of people we were chatting with, ‘I love Jesus.’ There is something powerful, even now, about the memory of this strong man wearing his his heart so unashamedly on his sleeve.

The Peter who wrote this letter was also very much a ‘heart on the sleeve’ kind of guy. Here he writes about the love a believer has for the invisible Jesus – and the overwhelming joy which accompanies such faith.

I feel very much for those who are having to face the current situation alone. But remember, ‘’The Lord is near’’ (Philippians 4:5b). He loves you, and because He loved you first, you love Him. Today, this is cause for thankfulness, whatever else may appear difficult. You are deeply loved, and you love in return

PRAYER: Thank you Lord that Christianity is not a religion, but a most precious love relationship. I am grateful that, by your grace, I can say, ‘I love you Lord’, and mean it with all my heart. Thank you that I don’t have to see you to know you are real, and that you are with me.Thank you indeed that I do ‘see’ you by faith. You have made me certain of you. Thank you again.