Faith, Hope and Love

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Apostle Paul taught about the three virtues that abide. The word abideth in the Greek is menó and means to stay, to remain, to dwell and to continue. These three virtues will continue forever and should remain in our lives as we become more like Jesus.

Faith, the first of the three virtues, is the start of our relationship with God. Faith is cultivated through hearing the Word regularly, receiving the Word of God immediately, believing that it is so, speaking what the Word says, and acting on God’s Word. Genuine faith is a confident and fervent trust in God’s promises and character. Our faith enables us to walk confidently in the assurance that God will always be faithful even when life is full of uncertainties.

Hope is staying in the attitude of constant, confident expectation. It is the outlook that even when you don’t see an answer immediately, you act as if you know He is doing something behind the scenes. You can tell a hopeful person by the countenance of their face and how they use their words. They have accepted the fact that God is preparing something for them.

Love, however, is the greatest or the largest and biggest of them all. Why? Because God is love. His Love compels us to love Him and love others. Love, however, is not a feeling. Love is a verb that is demonstrated in our actions. Our sacrificial acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness are how we show God’s love to those in the family of God as well as those in the world.

Practical Application

How is your hope today? Hope is about our attitude and our outlook that focus more on the eternal perspective of God and not the natural perspective of our problems. In every circumstance, it is love that will compel you to reflect God’s heart.

1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:3

Unfailing Love

[Charity] hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (1 Corinthians 13:7b-8)

Love will last forever. In eternities yet to come, love will continue to endure and exist. When our languages no longer exist, when prophesies cease to exist and knowledge is no longer acquired, love will still operate powerfully. We are called to learn to walk in love as we fulfill our calling as children of God. Paul gives three aspects for us to remember about love.

The first is that charity hopeth all things; hope is the attitude of positive expectation. Love endures long because it is willing to see with hope into the future. Love, agape love, God’s love, maintains an unwavering hope that is positive in word and action.

The second is that charity endureth all things. Endurance is the ability to continue to go through difficulty and hardship while remaining steadfast in what you believe.

The third is that charity never faileth. That means love never stops; it never sees a loss. Love will see everything through and where God’s love is sown with God’s power, there will always be a victory.

Learning how to walk in love is vitally important for believers. Sowing God’s love means I must extend mercy and compassion to those around me, even when it seems most challenging. Love demands that I love my neighbor as myself, to forgive as I have been forgiven, and to bear one another's burdens when they need the help and support.

Practical Application

How can you actively sow love today? Is it a kind word and refusing to change your attitude because someone else has one? Is it giving to someone you know who has a need? Decide today to follow the Holy Spirit about how you can act on the love that is within you toward others.

Romans 8:24; 2 Timothy 2:10

Your Words Make a Difference

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:23-24)

Proverbs 16:23-24 says those who are wise teach their mouth.

What does it mean if something needs to be taught? It doesn’t have the knowledge, insight, and experience to think otherwise. Your mouth will not automatically speak faith, appreciation, and or hope. Without teaching your mouth, it will automatically complain, talk about the negative, and doubt. It must be trained to speak right.

When you train your mouth, Proverbs 16:24 says that your words will be like a honeycomb. Not only are they sweet, but they also bring health and strength.

It’s very important for married people to understand this truth. Both husband and wife need to have words that are edifying and encouraging sown into them.

A woman needs to hear that she is desired, safe, and loved from her husband. This helps her feel secure and protected by a man.

However, many wives fail to realize how much a man needs to be poured into by words every single day. He wants to feel appreciated and seen. Every young man wants those in their life to tell them they are good enough. They are constantly searching for this to be poured into them. In my own life, I know firsthand how much the words of my wife affect me and her positive words change me for the better.

If you do not purposely pour encouraging words into your husband or wife, someone else will. That is how affairs start.

Practical Application

Your words should bring health, faith, and life to those around you. What are the words you are known for speaking? Decide to be known as someone who speaks words of faith. Evaluate your speech today and adjust your words to match your beliefs.

Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 15:23