The Greatest!

And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 AMP

I am not sure if the world has equivalents for these three things - faith, hope and love. Only the Word of God speaks on this three. When you consider the Word's views on these three, you realise their importance in our Christian walk. Faith is an assurance that what you haven't even seen, touched or felt is already settled; faith doesn't settle first for the physical; it has an unshakeable confidence that if God said it, he is able to do it. Hope looks ahead, sees beyond the Now and focuses on the eternal. It does not ignore the present, but knows with deep confidence that whatever is now, is nothing compared to what God has in store.  Love too does not focus on the past and present, but keeps an eye on the big picture.

You then wonder why Love is presented as the greatest of these virtues. One very key difference between all three is that only one is defined from God's perspective and presented as God's own nature. The followers of Christ are encouraged to have Faith in God, and to hope for eternal life in God, but these 2 are only possible because of love. It is love that calls us to God, even when we were unworthy and unclean. It is love that washed us clean and gave us a new life and planted hope in our hearts that we will live forever with Him. Without love, nothing else will make sense.

I stand where I am because God came down to my level. He showed me mercy and grace when I didn't deserve it. Now, I have Faith that in Him, my future is secured, and my eternal hope is sealed because I am headed for that eternal rest he has promised. What of you? Can you say the same? His time of favour is here.