These Three: Faith, Hope, And Love.

| Spiry Tee

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
I Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

July 15, 2021 | Spiry Tee

Mankind has this innate desire to pursue things that lasts, build things that endure, and do things that have a lasting impact. Everyone wants that. Whether or not many achieve it is a discussion for another day

When it comes to spiritual things, some graces are temporal, meaning they have a season. Knowledge despite its importance will vanish away, prophecies will fail, and tongues will cease.

But there are graces that will abide. The word "abide" in 1 Corinthians 13:13 is from the Greek word "meno" which means to remain or to continue. And as believers we should be motivated to pursue things which remain after everything is said and done.

As eternal new creatures, it must be natural to want things eternal. And the Bible says faith, hope and love are three virtues that will remain. What is faith? Faith is the title deed of things hoped for. Faith perceives as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.

By faith you can see divine health in the midst of the pain; you talk life and immortality even when the deadly plague is still raging. It is faith that made Sarah conceive a child at eighty-nine years old. It is faith that made Enoch not see death. Only faith can take you through the fire like three friends of Daniel and still come back alive. Hold on to faith, you will live and remain unto the coming of Lord Jesus for faith endures.

What about love? It is an attitude of endearment towards God and others. It is from the the greek word "agape".  E. W Vine writes: "In respect of "agapao" as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.

Hope is the confident expectation of good in your future. It is from the Greek word "elpis" which is from elpo meaning anticipating with pleasure. Hope remains. When you have hope you are unshakable no matter the present circumstances.  You can take faith, hope and love through the fire and come out alive and stronger. These three remain.

Faith gives you access into the Godlife (Romans 1:17); love is the essence and proof of the Godlife in you(1 John 3:14-15); and only hope helps you enjoy the Godlife now nomatter the present circumstances (Romans 5:2). 

SPEAK LIFE.
I pursue things that last. I have faith that gives me the Godlife, love that proves my Godlife, and hope that makes me enjoy my Godlife now.