And now these three remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13
Taken from The Love Chapter, a well known passage of scripture, this verse is the sum of all that really matters, the only thing that lasts when the dust settles and time has done as much damage as it can.
It is always difficult when ideologies or attributes are ordered for importance, because all three of these, faith, hope and love, are vital, and not given greater or lesser worthiness. Here’s why Paul states this, not as instruction, but as fact. There will be a day when our faith shall become sight and our hope is reality in a world of nothing but love for God and for one another.
The Corinthian community was wealthy, diverse and cosmopolitan, a hub of trade, but also immoral. These early believers struggled with issues of every sort you can imagine, trying to find their way forward with many voices vying to be the loudest. Paul silences this. Faith that gives hope must persevere and rest in the Love, the origin of Grace and Mercy through Jesus, Lord and Savior.
Love,
Gretchen