Though you have not seen him (Jesus), 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, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1 Pet. 1:8-9 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, this explosive declaration by Peter is exactly what our dull and distractible hearts need on this first Monday of March. By your Spirit, refresh and deepen our love for you. Light. Us. Up. Lord.
More than ever, we crave the Day when knowing you in part will give way to knowing you fully, Jesus—the instant when seeing you will no longer require faith or imagination, waiting or repentance. Indeed, we’re ready for the process of our sanctification to burst forth into the fullness of our glorification. We’re tired of being us, and ready to be like you.
And there’s so much more to know and love about you, Jesus. We’re mere babes-in-the-woods of gospel-wonder; neophyte prospectors of the riches of the gospel; children with water wings, wading into the bottomless ocean of your grace and love. Continue to open the eyes of our hearts, Jesus. Expand our capacity for loving and marveling at you.
The peace we get from being known, pursued, and loved by the Creator of all things is immeasurable. The delight born from knowing you gave your life for us—fulfilling the law, taking our judgment, becoming our righteousness, is incomparable. The joy we feel pondering your return—Bridegroom for his bride, Lover for his beloved, King inheriting his kingdom, well… it’s off the charts!
Until that Day, keep us hungering and thirsting for you, Lord Jesus. May every idol we reach for fail us miserably, and all our broken cisterns remain broken and dry. Jesus, only you can fill the vacuum, heal the ache, and set us completely free. So very Amen we pray, in your peerless and precious name.