Faith, Hope, and Love are three words we find numerous times in the New Testament. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God. We know that love is a critical element in everything we do and we know that the promises of God should provide us with great hope if we will seize them.
I Corinthians 13 is ofter referred to as the passage on love. In this passage Paul mentions Faith, Hope, and Love and how that Love is the greatest.
When I think of passages where we find Faith, Hope, and Love mentioned at the same time I am drawn to I Thessalonians 1. Here Paul commends his fellow brethren for their Faith, Hope, and Love and mentions how he has them constantly in remembrance in his prayers. As Paul commends these three attributes of his fellow brothers he describes the actions that are being invoked. Paul mentions their "Work of Faith", "Labor of Love", and "Endurance of Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ". I only hope when others think of Faith, Hope, and Love they see those same attributes in me. We should be diligently serving our Father and others through Faith with all of our actions a Labor of Love. At the same time our Faith should provide us an Enduring Hope.
I challenge you to think about your Faith, Hope, and Love. Is your Faith at work so that you are seeking to serve God with you whole being? Is Love manifested in your actions? And does the Hope of Christ provide you the ability to endure and persevere in challenging circumstances?
These are challenging thoughts we should consider daily. We have a great Hope. Christ is our righteousness. Christ died for us to pay the price for sin so that we could be reconciled to God. Moreover, God has made us his children. How awesome. Because of this great sacrifice and great hope we should be manifesting works of faith and labors of love seeking to be pleasing to our Father.
We can praise God in all of our actions. At work we can be diligent and faithful workers who give a good days work with loyalty and honesty. At home we can be the example for our families that is needed. In the world we can be the light and the salt that shows the love of God to all those around us. May each of have a life full of works of faith and labors of love that are sustained by our endurance of Hope due to the love God has shown for us and the great promises He has provided to us.
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