Now abide faith, hope, and love. The greatest is ?

I might get a bum rap for saying this, but I think Hope has often gotten a bum rap. Hear me out. I do not speak on behalf of everyone. That would be impossible. I am here to share personal conclusions.

I have found that believers in the Faith corner often look down on believers in the Hope corner. And! Believers in the Hope corner often look down on people in the Faith corner. At some point, we all need to mature, meet in the center, and join hands on the one thing that ultimately gets the prize. Love!

“Now abide faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

To continue the conversation, let me go on record. I am a person of strong Christian faith. I understand the importance of faith… when talking about faith. What pleases God? Faith. What can move mountains? Faith. What can cause a woman with an issue of blood to receive her healing? Faith. I could go on and on, because faith is absolutely central and necessary. Turn to Hebrews 11 and check out the Hall of Faith. It’s incredible.

The Bible also says a lot about Hope. Hebrews 11 opens in verse 1 by saying, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This is one verse where Hope can start to get a bum rap. (Again, this is my experience. I appreciate your patience.)

Hope has sometimes been portrayed as less than faith. Oh, it’s just hope. They are not really in faith. Such words (that I too have said), often come with an attitude… an opinion… that Hope has done something wrong… and when Hope becomes right… it will morph into Faith. Are the two interconnected. Yes. Are they the same? No. Is one greater and one lesser? I do not see that in Scripture. You cannot have true faith without true hope.

Hope has often been grasped as a whimsical, wish upon a star, fairytale. Well… I certainly do Not adhere to that, even though I’ve done it myself. No. The Hope I am talking about is rock solid. Immovable. It’s the stuff that holds you steady when the world around is falling apart. It is an iron clad anchor for your soul, because it is based on the character of God that is good through and through. The Hope I speak of is grounded in God who remains faithful when we are faithless.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 NIV

This hope, that is an anchor, holds my soul in place as I rest in the presence of God… even when… life does not turn out the way I hoped… expected… or dreamed. How is that possible? My hope is strong enough to be flexible when I trust God. He remains good, when situations turn bad. If my hope was based solely on wants or needs, I would be up a creek. That is not the case, though. My hope is in God. I will be okay. No matter what.

I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11. God promised this when circumstances appeared hopeless.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

At the end of the day, we need all three Amigos; Faith Hope & Love. When it comes to competition as to who is the greatest, there is no contest. The greatest is Love!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13