Have you ever wondered why these three things, faith, hope, love, all abide within man but that the greatest of them is declared to be love?
The Word tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please God," Hebrews 11:6, and it says further that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.
If faith and hope go hand-in-hand to please God, how can they be less important than love?
We are admonished to "walk by faith, not by sight," II Corinthians 5:7.
The significance of that scripture cannot be diminished. Faith will
take us where our vision may tremble to go. That faith can move
mountains.
The Word further tells us, "Hope in God," Psalm 42:5. What greater place can we put our expectation for tomorrow than in the One who fulls all time and space?
Yet, love is the greatest.
How can that be?
Perhaps it is because of what the Word does NOT say.
It doesn't say that God is faith.
It doesn't say that God is hope.
God may extol these virtues, but they are not His identity.
But the Bible does say that "God is love," I John 4:8.
Love is the greatest virtue because love is the virtue that exemplifies who God is.
"No man has seen God at any time," John 1:18, but God has given man a clear picture of Himself. It is found in JESUS, who personifies LOVE.
The Word further tells us, "Hope in God," Psalm 42:5. What greater place can we put our expectation for tomorrow than in the One who fulls all time and space?
Yet, love is the greatest.
How can that be?
Perhaps it is because of what the Word does NOT say.
It doesn't say that God is faith.
It doesn't say that God is hope.
God may extol these virtues, but they are not His identity.
But the Bible does say that "God is love," I John 4:8.
Love is the greatest virtue because love is the virtue that exemplifies who God is.
"No man has seen God at any time," John 1:18, but God has given man a clear picture of Himself. It is found in JESUS, who personifies LOVE.
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