Faith, Hope, and Love
‘Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.’ 1 Corinthians 13:13
This is one of my favorite verses.
I was listening to a message, and this verse was brought up to me in a different manner that made my mind explode; I pray that I can put this in words that make sense.
As we go through our day, it is best to be in one of these areas, faith, hope, and love. And there are opposites that we can find ourselves in that will not serve God or us.
Let’s take a look at these attributes and their corresponding opposites:
1. Faith – This addresses our past. When through faith, we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, our sins were forgiven. We now live in Jesus Christ. When God looks at us, he now sees us as His Son, Jesus Christ.
Faith has me looking at the cross with reverence for the work that Jesus Christ did when He went to the cross to die for my sins. Sins that are covered by His blood. Sins that we do not have to die for.
Faith is not digging up our sins to relive them over and over again.
Psalm 103:12 NLT
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
Micah 7:19 NLT
Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
The opposite of faith is depression.
It’s looking back on our lives and thinking to ourselves; God can never forgive me for what I have done. Worse than that, we think, “how can God forgive us for that” putting ourselves above His grace.
Faith says I am forgiven, and the grace of God saves me! Amen!!
Living in faith creates a condition in our hearts that changes how we live and how we see ourselves and others.
We will not be perfect until He takes us home or comes to get us so His work on the cross continues to clean us when we do find ourselves in sin, and we acknowledge that sin, confess, and repent.
1 John 2:1-2 NLT
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
2. Hope – This addresses our future. Hope says that God is in control and that He is working all things out for His glory.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Hope says that I don’t have to understand everything, but I know that God will reveal to me what is next when I step out.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Peter 5:10 NLT
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Hope says that if I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord, everything will be ok.
The opposite of hope is anxiety or worrying about the future.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 40:31 NLT
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Living with faith and hope end up leading to the last attribute that Paul calls the “greatest:”
3. Love – Love brings us to the present, this very moment, the only thing that we have any level of control over is this second, and that time should be spent in love.
In the KJV version, “love” is translated as “charity,” which means love in action.
When we live with faith and hope with Jesus centered in our hearts, the result is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
The opposite of love is fear.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Mark 5:36 NLT
But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”
When we live our lives fearfully, we are not living with faith, hope, or love.
But this is the way we are called to live:
1 John 4:17-18 NLT
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Why?
1 John 4:19 NLT
We love each other because He loved us first.
Heavenly Father, Thank You, Lord, for Your perfect example of love. I pray that You continue to work in my heart to give me the spirit of love and compassion for those around me.
Lord, please, help me to see the areas in my life that are not glorifying to You and help me to make the changes that correct them.
I thank You for the people that You have put in my life, I pray that I serve them with a willing and compassionate spirit.
I thank You for Your love, mercy, and forgiveness.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!!