The Great Price of Inexpressible Joy

Peter knew something about God's great mercy which was demonstrated to him by Jesus, over and over again.  Peter could be presumptuous and brash and he often spoke before he thought.  He often needed correction, redirection, forgiveness, and reassurance and he would eventually find true security in the Lord as He placed his faith in Jesus' righteousness and not his own.  As a result, Peter found true joy (joy unspeakable!) even in the midst of his trials and failures.  We are wise not to criticize Peter because we resemble him more than we might like to admit.  Assured of his own blood-bought inheritance in heaven (which could never perish, spoil, or fade) he exhorts us with these words regarding our inheritance in Christ: "Though you have not seen Him, 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 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)  Those words should put joy in our hearts and big smiles on each of our faces.