I was home alone this morning and I had been reading about Joy. My intention was to read scripture passages on Joy from my NIV concordance. I began to read scriptures above and below to get a better understanding. Sometimes I would read the entire chapter. I gained insight on the words, joy and joyful, but something happened to me when I began to read 1 Peter 1:8,9.

I read a couple of verses above it, but I felt like I had turned on a movie in the middle, wishing I had seen it from the beginning. So I started at 1 Peter 1:1 with the intention of stopping at verse 9. I stopped at verse 12. I turned the page to see how much further I had to read. I finished chapter 1, but it was like a cliff-hanger. I had to see what was next. I finally stopped at 1Peter 2:3. I then picked up my Parallel Bible and read in the Amplified Bible what I had just finished reading in my NIV Bible. I am done I thought, but no. I feel Holy spirit wants me to write out the entire passage of scripture that He had me read. You will see words capitalized and/or italicized as they jumped out of the pages at me and/or were underlined when read before. I will be copying from NIV and using the Amplified where and when needed.:

1 Peter 1:1,2 : “Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT, TO BE OBEDIENT TO JESUS CHRIST AND SPRINKLED WITH HIS BLOOD: GRACE AND PEACE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE.”

1 Peter 1:3-9: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His GREAT MERCY He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. THIS INHERITANCE IS KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, WHO THROUGH FAITH ARE SHIELDED BY GOD’S POWER UNTIL THE COMING OF THE SALVATION THAT IS READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. THESE HAVE COME SO THAT THE PROVEN GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH-OF GREATER WORTH THAN GOLD, WHICH PERISHES EVEN THOUGH REFINED BY FIRE-MAY RESULT IN PRAISE, GLORY AND HONOR WHEN JESUS IS REVEALED. 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 1:10-12: “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

1 Peter 1:13-2:3: “Therefore with minds that are alert and fully sober, SET YOUR HOPE ON THE GRACE TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED AT HIS COMING. AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN, DO NOT CONFORM TO THE EVIL DESIRES YOU HAD WHEN YOU LIVED IN IGNORANCE. BUT JUST AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY, SO BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO; FOR IT IS WRITTEN: “BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY.” Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. HE WAS CHOSEN BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, BUT WAS REVEALED IN THESE LAST TIMES FOR YOUR SAKE. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD. NOW THAT YOU HAVE PURIFIED YOURSELVES BY OBEYING THE TRUTH so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Peter 1:23, Amplified Bible: “You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God”). For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the Word that was preached to you. THEREFORE RID YOURSELVES OF ALL MALICE AND ALL DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY, AND SLANDER OF EVERY KIND. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may GROW UP IN YOUR SALVATION, NOW THAT YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD.” ( 1 Peter 2:1-3, Amplified Bible: So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind. Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord”).

UNDERSTAND THIS: I am not capitalizing/italicizing words in this scripture passage because one word is greater than another, but because this is what Holy Spirit was emphasizing to me, personally, as I was reading this passage: “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything in uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12,13.