"Whom Having Not Seen"

Our pastor is teaching from I Peter. In verse 8 of the first chapter, we see these words: "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."

It reminded me of a book I once read,
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Watson .
A young girl in an orphanage becomes the beneficiary of a man whom she never saw--except the shadow of his long legs. Over the years, she begins to know him and love him through the letters he writes.

My daughter met her husband via a mutual friend and the internet. They talked on the phone and wrote letters. They already knew each other before they ever saw each other.

Last year, I went to a writer conference. I had been emailing a few of the members for quite awhile--some everyday. I knew them, but I had never met them. I loved them as special friends, although I had never seen them face to face. What a joy to finally hug and laugh and talk together!

That's how it should be with us toward God. He loves us and wants us to love Him, too. He has sent us His letter, to show us this love. When we see Him, we will already know Him. We should be looking forward with great antcipation for the day when we will finally see Him face to face.