"Whom having not seen, ye love!" Love for another person is often tied up in our seeing them, appreciating their looks. That is why a pretty person often captures our heart. Even in politics, a good-looking person has the advantage of being admired for his appearance. We are more likely to vote for a good-looking person than for a plain person, much less an ugly one! Isaiah had warned Israel that Messiah would have no attraction to them when He came, and there was no beauty that they would desire Him. When Jesus was crucified, He was mutilated, as the devil provoked wicked men to abuse and torture Jesus with thorns and nails and horrible floggings and a spear in His side. No doubt Satan wished to strip Christ of being made in the likeness of man, to take away His dignity and humanity. In this text, Peter is noting how remarkable it is that the saints love Jesus, even though we have never met Him or seen Him! This illustrates the miraculous faith that the Holy Ghost works in our hearts, to cause us to believe Jesus, and love Him with all our hearts! No one can truly love Jesus except by the faith God has granted to us! "Though now ye see Him not, yet believing!" Peter stresses anew that our love for Christ and our faith in Christ are strongly tied together. We love that sacred Man Whom we trust! We believe and love in Jesus, though we have not yet seen Him! Peter notes this fact as proof of our Gospel faith! We love a Savior we have never seen, and we believe His promises to us! Contrast this truth with idolatry, and the external beauty of false religion. Mankind is captivated by beauty and looks, and false religions cater to that carnal desire.