. . . constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor or love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you . . .

I Thessalonians 1:3-4

Faith

The bedrock of Christianity.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

~

Love

The heart and soul of Christianity.

Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:8

~

Hope

Our joyful and confident expectation.

Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Titus 2:13

~

Faith, love and hope are concepts that are really hard to define.  Paul makes them phrases that leave no doubt as their definition.

Work of faith – If our faith is in God we will do what He says!  Period.  That’s our work – obedience.  It’s not the other way around.  We don’t work to get faith.  You won’t find that anywhere in the scriptures.

Labor of love – When you love someone you labor over them.  You don’t mind doing whatever it takes to make them happy or healthy or whatever the situation requires.  Love compels us to act.

Steadfastness of hope – Steadfastness is the same thing as patience.  We Americans are not very patient people.  Everything is fast.  Fast cars, fast food, fast drying paint, etc.  God’s Word tells us that in order to have hope in what He has told us we must have patience.  Wait for it.

But now remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:13

Last night in class one lady said she was told that the reason love is the greatest is because it outlasts the other 2.  We won’t need faith or hope in heaven!  Think about it.  Our faith will be complete.  Our hope will be realized but love, well, God is love and that’s what we’ll be surrounded with.  That’s what will be our theme and song forever.

Don’t let this be the end of your study on faith, love and hope.  God has lots more to tell you about these 3 beautiful words.  Study!