Faith Hope and Love

I remember a song about “Faith, hope and charity.” It has a line which says, “that’s the way to live successfully, how do I know the Bible tells me so.” Although in our language we have mostly replaced the word charity for the word love, the Bible encourages us to place these three characteristics as foundation blocks for our lives. Rooted in God, faith, hope and love are eternal. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, we can let faith, hope and love shine through as the building blocks of our lives.

Faith

First, faith connects us to the Almighty. He is the author and finisher of our faith. The lack of faith or the amount of it affected Jesus. People you would expect to have strong faith such as His disciples disappointed Him. In contrast, the Centurion with the sick servant caused Him to say, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” One woman reached out and touched His garment. It was her faith that made her well. She believed if only she could touch Him she would be well. As for the two blind men, their sight returned according to their faith.

Hope

Next we have hope. Hope stands hand in hand with faith. “Faith is the evidence of things hoped for.” It does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” We were “saved in hope,” we “rejoice in hope,” and we can “abound in hope.” We have hope of eternal life promised by God who cannot lie.

Love

Finally, love is the essence of God. Jesus made bold statements. “Love your enemies.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He also told clarifying stories such as the “Good Samaritan.” Jesus demanded this trait. All would know they were His disciples if they loved one another. Further in the gospels we learn that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit submit to love. The apostle John sums it up, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for love is of God.”

In summation, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy when writing to the Thessalonians, remember them for their work of faith, their labor of love and patient hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 13: 13 reads, “And now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Through the power of His Holy Spirit, we can let faith, hope and love shine through as the building blocks of our lives. They lead us into His presence today and throughout eternity.