And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. -1 Cor 13:13
Paul responds to the Corinthians' over-emphasis on certain spiritual gifts by showing them that all those gifts are worthless and temporary if not practiced through godly love. Paul tells the Corinthians that three principal graces – faith, hope, and love – are superior to all the spiritual gifts which are permanent.
“Faith” is the belief in the divinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and the living of one’s soul in Him. Faith is essential to Christianity. Only by faith in Christ is possible to come into relationship with God.
“Hope” is the expectation of future happiness through one’s reliance on God. Hope is the Christian conviction that God will keep His promises about the future. Without faith and hope, Christianity does not make sense. They are built-in.
“Love” in this context is a choice to be truly devoted to God and other humans and show kindness toward other Christians that grows out of that love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud”
Paul also insists that love is greater even than faith and hope. Because Love drives both faith and hope. It will abide, in a sense, even after our faith has become sight and our hope in eternity has been fully realized.
The graces of faith and hope are only for oneself, whereas love produces the service of others. The graces of faith and hope will cease when one dies, whereas love is eternal. In heaven, this Godly love will be in its perfect form and will be the principal characteristic of what we experience for all eternity.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, be with me and fill me with faith, hope, and love. Allow me to share my faith, hope, and love with everyone I see today. In the name of Jesus, Amen.