The Joy of the LordSample

Perspective of Joy by Pastor John Cabello

Senior Pastor of New Hope Lihue – Kauai, Hawaii

Scripture

1 Peter 1:8-9, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”

Observation

Peter puts joy into the perspective of what we choose to trust. Peter was an apostle enduring, as the other apostles, significant persecution for following Jesus.  Indeed, such persecution fueled his faith in Jesus even more!  How?  As Peter explained, our joy should always come from Jesus by trusting Him through all circumstances, even though we cannot see Him now.  Our perspective of joy should come from our trust in a savior whose reward is the salvation of our souls.  This is eternal joy. The reward is based on Christ’s love for us and cannot be taken away, ever. This means our joy is foundational because our trust is founded in the love of Christ. By keeping our trust in Christ, we maintain our perspective of true Joy.  

Application

I can find myself losing my perspective of Joy when my trust is misguided by focusing on what I am seeing. This misguided focus can have me trusting more on what the world has to offer and forgetting what Christ has already offered. My love, trust and focus need to remain in Christ and offered as joy to the world around me. This perspective of joy can change the world because I am trusting Him. By aligning my perspective to trust, I produce a heart of “inexpressible joy” towards those around me. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, Your Joy is my strength which comes from trusting You in all circumstances. Teach me this perspective of joy by trusting You alone so I may be a witness of joy to my family, church, community, and a beacon of light and hope for the lost to come home to You.  

Reflection

What area of your life do you need to trust back to God for a greater perspective of joy?