Summer Fruit Devotion: Joy Day 1

Joy in Salvation

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice,” 1 Peter 1:3-6a

Have you ever heard better news than this? The Gospel is The Good News and good news brings joy! Imagine being a shepherd in the fields that quiet Bethlehem night when angels appeared and said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” They went to Bethlehem “with haste,” and all who heard the good news from them were amazed. Sometimes we share good news in a way that is reluctant or even stingy. Or we don’t share at all because we have this irrational fear that sharing our salvation joy will somehow make it less. The opposite is true. When we share the joy of our salvation it magnifies that joy. God gives us living hope and makes us born again “according to his great mercy.” Not ordinary mercy or scarce mercy, He has great mercy, more than enough mercy for us all. In this we rejoice.

Journal time. Look up some definitions of our salvation inheritance. (dictionary.com)

Imperishable

Undefiled

Unfaded

Keep

Guard

Reveal

Rejoice

Pray with me today. Heavenly Father thank you for your great mercy! When we are discouraged and doubtful of your love for us, when we lack joy in our salvation, when we take for granted the Good News, please forgive us. Holy Spirit remind us of how treasured we are. Thank you for keeping and guarding our salvation so not even our sin on earth can defile or fade it. Father we look forward with living hope to the day our salvation is fully revealed when we meet you in heaven. Until then help us to rejoice and share that joy. In the merciful and joyful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.