There are days when we read something and it strikes us in a totally different way.
Yesterday I was reading about the matter of the great three of Christianity – at least as set forth in I Corinthians 13 – at the very end of the chapter.
Faith, hope and love.
Having memorized this chapter as a teen (although 40 years later my memory is not as good), I remembered the next part of this verse.
And the greatest of these is love.
A group of people have just come back from a short term missions project in Romania. There life is very minimal – with little money or prospects for the future. One of the team mentioned that the great need was for hope.
I have found myself involved in seeking for greater faith. Both in our church life and in my personal life. I want more than ever to believe for all that God has for us.
So how does love trump these two very strong impulses? What makes love greater than faith and hope? When an old thought hits me in a new way, I begin to gather my thoughts and to think. If you have some thoughts, please comment!
Sounds like a sermon seed has been planted deep deep in the soul.
I have often pondered on ‘the greatest of these is love’ and yet I pray for more faith and more hope — longing for His love to be felt stronger —
Yet, what is faith or hope without love — So for now to me ‘Love” is the glue that keeps the other two in motion – faith spurs action, and hope carries us upward – but it all because of Love that is there.
Sure would love to hear the sermon when you are ready to deliver.
MaryAnne – great thoughts. Faith spurs action – hope carries us upward. Love surrounds all. And perhaps, love is what allows us to see God’s desire to be a part of a community – as compared to merely being a loner who figures they can do it all on their own? My mind is starting to whirl!!