DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
MAY 20, 2026
READ: 1 Corinthians 13 (Focus vs. 8-13)
MEMORY VERSE
“Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
BACKGROUND
Do you ever long for something you see glimpses of but can’t quite grasp?
C. S. Lewis longed for joy. He wrote, “Our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is . . . the truest index of our real situation.
And to be at last summoned inside would be . . . the healing of that old ache. . . . The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy.”
Lewis writes of the joy we’ll experience in full when we see Jesus face-to-face. As believers in Jesus, we have the joy of Christ through our relationship with Him and the work of His Spirit inside us. But sadly our joy is hampered by sin and death, the forces of evil, and the world’s brokenness.
Paul writes, “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In verse 10, Paul talks of the coming “completeness.” This is when we’ll know and experience joy fully because we’re with Jesus.
Although we wait expectantly for that day, He gives us a small foretaste now of the overflowing, unhindered joy of heaven!
Alyson Kieda
INSIGHT
As 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us, one day we’ll see clearly when we see Jesus “face to face.” Grand and glorious realities await us at death and with the return of Christ, but even now some of those good things are ours to experience.
Through the encouragement of Scripture, the life we share with believers in Jesus, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we get “sneak previews” and a “foretaste” of things to come. Such things are particularly meaningful to those undergoing trials.
The apostle Peter’s words included the following encouragement: “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).
Today, we can look for glimpses of joy around us as a reminder of the fullness of joy that’s yet to come.
Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
What do you think it will be like to see Jesus? What do you most look forward to in heaven?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“As believers in Jesus, we have the joy of Christ through our relationship with Him and the work of His Spirit inside us. But sadly our joy is hampered by sin and death, the forces of evil, and the world’s brokenness.”
PR’s TAKE
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the moments of joy I experience here on earth. I’m anticipating the day when I can know it in full.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“WE SHALL BEHOLD” Sandi Patty
The sky shall unfold
Preparing His entrance
The stars shall applaud Him
With thunders of praise
The sweet light in His eyes shall
Shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him
Then face to face
Oh, we shall behold Him
Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His Glory
Oh, we shall behold Him
Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face our Savior and Lord
And the angels shall sound
The shout of His coming
And the sleeping shall rise from
Their slumbering place
And those who remain shall
We shall be changed in a moment
And we shall behold Him
Then face to face
We shall behold Him
Oh yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His Glory
We shall behold Him
Oh yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face my Savior and Lord
And we shall behold Him
Our Savior and Lord!
Savior and Lord!!
