Three words that are so powerful in the lives of people and especially for those who love the Lord! We find these three words together in 1 Corinthians 13. In verses 8-11, the focus is God’s love. Then we are told that all the mysteries of God will not all be revealed to us here on this earth, but what we do have are faith, hope, and love. Love is the most valuable.
“For now, we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” 1 Corinthians 13: 12-13
I looked at the order of these words and pondered the significance. God is intentional. Nothing with him is just a whim.
Let us look at love since it is the greatest. The Passion Translations writes in Matthew 22: 38-40, Jesus answered him, “Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’ Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.”
We are to love God with all that we are and receive this tremendous love from him as well.
Read these verses about this incredible love.
Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance? Romans 2:4
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Love is powerful! This love of God means you are not required to tell people how to live, what not to do or do. Who of us likes that kind of pressure? It is the Holy Spirit who will lead people along a journey to freedom. Yes, God uses us! We are most effective for Him when we love people right where they are pointing them to Him! It is when we have a revelation from the Lord we see how much he truly does love us.
What about faith? Matthew 17:20 tells us, “I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!”
This is pretty impressive. A mustard seed is the smallest one and produces quite a large plant. Hebrews 11:6 declares, And without faith living within us, it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith, knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him.
I so appreciate that God meets us where we are. He moves in our lives to the level we have the faith. It doesn’t take very much faith to become a child of God. Once we believe Jesus died for us, our faith produces the action to declare that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and instantly our names are written in the Book of Life in Heaven.
Faith is vital in our life. Yet, God says love is the most important.
Now, let’s look at hope. Hebrews 10:39- Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “But we are certainly not those who are held back by fear and perish; we are among those who have faith and experience true life! Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.”
It is faith that brings our hopes into reality. Hope and faith are intimately connected and vital. When I listen to those around me use the word hope, its meaning is often watered down. Plenty of people from all walks of life are downcast, depressed, hopeless, doubtful, and ultimately have bought into what our society says about them. God has been removed from so much of our country’s culture, the effects are very evident. The definition of hope has lost its punch, it is more like if I am lucky.
The true definition of hope is a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief of fulfillment. It is a confident expectation! Take a moment and examine your heart and mind. How do you use the word hope? Do you need to adjust the way you use this word? I know there was a time where the Lord challenged me. I had to change my perspective. What a difference it has made in my journey.
When we are hopeless, we often carry the weight of accomplishing our desires and longings. When you put hope in its proper place, it actually will change your dependency. As a child of God, our hope is in God, the precious sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, and the Word of God. When we begin to renew our minds in the Word of God and promises of God, our hope in our Savior will awaken. The ability to dream will reignite as well. When is the last time you took the time to dream? If it has been a while, take some time, and do it!
There are many verses on hope in the Word of God, look some up when you get the time. I chose the following.
Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you! Psalm 27:14
Read the following passage from Romans. Look at how faith and hope work together. (Highlight what stands out to you.)
Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. 2 Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!
3 But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble, we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. 4 And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. 5 And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!
6 For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves. Romans 5: 1-6
Jesus is showing us how to overcome. He is saying to us; faith, hope, and love are powerful. They are foundational for your victory. Believe the Word! Cling to it! God will never change it! Every day we are closer to our eternity and the last days. We are to be prepared, mature, rooted in truth, and so grounded nothing can move us from our God.
I believe the Lord wrote these words in the order of there importance in our lives. Coming in at number 3 is faith, number 2 is hope, and number 1 is love.
I encourage you to ponder these verses and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what he is saying. Ask Him to rekindle a passion for each one of them. He will!
