How can we love someone we’ve never met or seen? The Apostle Peter addresses this question in 1 Peter 1:8–9:
"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Peter, who had seen Jesus, wrote (writes) to believers who hadn’t. Despite their lack of firsthand experience, these early Christians loved Jesus and rejoiced in Him. Why? Because they believed. Faith bridges the gap between the unseen and the heart that longs for truth.
A Love Grounded in Faith
Loving someone unseen is not impossible. The Christian life is rooted in faith, not sight. Jesus said to Thomas, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29). This is our calling: to believe in Jesus, even without physical evidence, and to trust His Word.
Belief comes by hearing, as Paul explains: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). The early Christians loved Jesus because someone preached the gospel to them, and they believed. This pattern continues today.
Faith That Produces Joy
Peter describes this faith as producing “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” The joy that comes from knowing Christ is not tied to circumstances. These believers were suffering persecution, yet their faith sustained them with hope and gladness.
This joy is a foretaste of heaven. Paul and Silas experienced it when they sang praises to God in a jail cell at midnight (Acts 16). Joy rooted in Christ can shine even in the darkest moments.
Why We Love Him
The Bible teaches that we love Jesus because He first loved us: "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). His love is seen in His sacrifice on the cross, where He bore our sins and made a way for us to have eternal life.
When we consider the depths of His love, it transforms our hearts. Even those who once loved their sin are drawn to Him. How can we not love someone who gave everything for us?
Faith That Becomes Sight
Although we haven’t seen Jesus yet, one day our faith will become sight. The promise of heaven is that we will see Him face to face. As the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” says:
"And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,Even so, it is well with my soul."
Like Anna and Simeon in the temple, who longed to see the Messiah, we live in hope. One day, we will stand before Him and our joy will be complete.
A Love That Changes Lives
Faith in Jesus isn’t just about intellectual agreement; it transforms lives. Consider the story of a widow who trusted Christ through poverty and trials. When challenged by an atheist to explain her faith, she boldly declared: “I’ve trusted Jesus through it all, and He’s never failed me. Tell me something better than what He’s done for me.” Her testimony silenced the skeptic.
When we love Jesus, our faith shapes how we live, even in difficult times. King David, after the loss of his child, found strength to worship (2 Samuel 12:20). This kind of trust and devotion takes the sting out of life’s hardships and replaces it with healing and peace.
Sharing the Love
Our faith and love for Christ are meant to be shared. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who didn’t recognize Jesus until He pointed them to the Scriptures, we are called to direct others to God’s Word.
The world may doubt and mock, but the joy and peace found in Christ are unshakable. Our lives are living testimonies of His love, drawing others to Him.
So, how do we love someone we’ve never seen? By believing in His Word, trusting His promises, and experiencing the joy of a relationship with Him. As we wait for the day our faith becomes sight, we can rejoice in the hope of our salvation.
Do you love Him? If not, consider His love for you. The Savior gave everything so you could know Him. Faith begins with hearing the gospel, believing in His sacrifice, and trusting in His unfailing love.
Let’s walk by faith and love the One we’ve never seen—but who first loved us.
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