Colossians 1

Colossians 1:3 (ESV)

 [3] We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, [5] because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

 

Faith, hope and love. 1Corinthians 13 says that those are the only three things that last. Spiritual gifts will end, but faith, hope and love abide forever. Faith is foundational to all that we do as believers in Christ. We are saved through faith. We walk by faith. We are protected in spiritual warfare by faith. Faith is foundational. Hope brings clarity of purpose and meaning. We endure hardship because we have hope. We are willing to forgo personal peace and affluence for a higher calling because of our eternal hope. We understand that there is more to life than this life because of our hope in Christ. Hope brings clarity of purpose and meaning. Love is the greatest.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a; 13 (ESV)

[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [8] Love never ends...[13] So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

These verses in themselves could take volumes to expound. Love is what unites. Impatience, unkindest, envy and boasting divide. Love is what builds up and encourages. Irritability and resentment tear down and destroy. Love does wink at sin but seeks to restore a fallen brother because we truly care for them. Selfishness and impatience allows sin to continue unchecked. Love lives in the realm of truth, not personal comfort. Loves never quits.

Faith, hope and love, these three are the reasons for which the Apostle Paul gives thanks for the Christians in Colosse. Father, in this Christmas season and throughout the year may faith, hope and love dwell richly in me as well.

By His grace,

Rick Weinert