1 Peter 1:8 – Verse of the Day 4/2/14

Sometimes it is hard to believe in things that you can’t see. We know for sure that Peter felt this way. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter couldn’t see that Jesus would rise from the dead just a few days later. He was scared, and because he was scared he denied that he even knew who Jesus was.

But then something happened – Jesus rose from the dead! And he appeared to Peter and made it clear that he was forgiven for his doubts. This time when Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, Peter didn’t hesitate. He believed Jesus and he told him so.

Peter’s experience of the risen Jesus made him the perfect person to write a letter to early Christians living scattered around and experiencing persecution for their faith, and this verse is from that letter. Peter knew that it was hard to believe in Jesus sometimes, and so he reminds us of the inexpressible joy of seeing Jesus raised from the dead. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you remember, like Peter, that Jesus defeated death, and ask God to give you joy and the ability to stand firm when your faith is challenged.