Advent Before Thanksgiving

Scripture — 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Devotion

In just over two weeks, the season of Advent begins. As you may know, this Christian season focuses on the two “advents” of Jesus Christ (from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”). On the one hand, Advent helps us prepare to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, namely his birth in Bethlehem. On the other hand, Advent looks to the future, to the second coming of Jesus, when he comes in glory to reign over all things. Thus, Advent is a season of hope, one in which we look to the future with joy. This is especially true on the third Sunday of Advent, when we remember the joy of Jesus’s birth and the coming joy of his future kingdom. (Note: This is true in the most traditional Advent celebrations. There are many other options for what the Sundays mean.)

The first chapter of 1 Peter features several Advent themes. Verse 3 says that God the Father, because of his “great mercy,” “has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Hope, of course, is central to Advent. Living hope is Advent in abundance.

Verse 4 of 1 Peter 1 develops the focus of our hope even further, noting that we will have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,” which is “kept in heaven” for us. We will receive this inheritance when the fullness of our salvation is “revealed in the last time” (v. 5). Once again, the future orientation of this passage fits perfectly in Advent.

Though 1 Peter accentuates what we will receive in the future, the letter adds “in this you rejoice,” using a present tense verb (v. 6). We might make Peter’s thought even clearer by paraphrasing, “in this you rejoice right now.” This is striking because Peter adds, “even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials” (v. 7). The precise nature of these trials is not explained in this passage, presumably because the letter recipients know exactly what Peter is talking about here. Later in the letter he refers to “the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you” (4:12). About this ordeal Peter adds, “But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed” (4:13). Once again, the letter points to the future, to the time when the glory of Christ is fully revealed.

So, verse 6 of chapter 1 mentions the joy of the letter recipients, even in the midst of their painful trials. Verse 8 paints a vivid picture of their joy. The letter recipients “rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.” This is not a description of their future joy. Rather, it is something that they are experiencing in the present moment. Why are they so exceedingly joyful now? According to Peter, because they “are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1:9). Though full salvation remains in the future, they are beginning to receive it in the present, and for this reason, they rejoice exuberantly.

1 Peter 1:3-9 wonderfully captures the spirit of Advent. This passage looks to the future, recognizing the “living hope” of Christians who affirm the truth of the resurrection and look forward to their “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” inheritance. At the same time, Peter celebrates what we experience in the present time, in light of the future. Even when suffering earthly difficulties, we rejoice because of what is coming in the future. In fact, our joy is off the charts. We express “indescribable and glorious joy” now because we are beginning to experience the salvation that will be complete in God’s future.

I’d like to close this devotion by encouraging you to experience the multifaceted joy of Advent. If you’re looking for a way to lean into the Advent season, be sure to download our free devotional guide, Longing for Advent: A Guide for Prayer, Practice, and Reflection.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: How God’s Grace Helped Me to Have Faith.