Christian Joy

1 Peter 1:8 is a magnificent statement that one effect of faith in Christ and love for Him is that “you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”  While the overall thrust of this verse is clear enough, getting a practical handle on it is more elusive, at least it has been for me.  Thomas Manton’s thoughts on this passage have been very helpful to me, the gist of which follows.  He said that this is a joy that can better be felt than explained.  No one can know the strength and sweetness of this glorious joy until it is experienced.  Those who do not believe cannot conceive of such a profound and holy joy.  One drop of this is more than an ocean of worldly pleasure.  Jonathan Edwards penned a famous description of the joyful raptures of his wife Sarah.  Once you have enjoyed something of this godly joy in your soul, no power on earth can turn you away from Christ.  Generations of martyrs stand as a shining monument to the power of rejoicing in Christ.  Those who believe in and love Christ will taste this joy, even in the midst of life’s trials (1 Peter 1:6), and such glorious experiences are unshakable evidence of salvation.