Love Is The Greatest

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Love is the greatest. It seems obvious. We are told that God is love (1 Jn 4:8); He is not defined as faith or hope. He is the object of our faith, and He is the one we put our hope in, but He is not defined as either of those things—only love.

So that must be the end of the discussion, right? But there is another layer to it—an eternal layer. Let’s look at the definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Our faith is what sustains us through this life. It is our constant assurance of the resurrection of the body and the hope of seeing Christ face-to-face.

But neither faith nor hope are eternal. Faith dies. Hope dies. Why? Because when we are in the presence of God, what need do we have for faith? The object of our faith will surround us and fill our sight. We will have attained the life we have hoped for. God has no need for faith or hope, for He knows and sees all things.

By their definition, faith and hope are only temporary. That is why love is the greatest: it is eternal. The Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has existed from eternity past in a communion of perfect love, and this communion shall never fade.

Father, we thank You for Your eternal love. It is how we find mercy and forgiveness at the foot of the cross. May you sustain us and preserve our faith and hope in this life. Let not our faith and hope die before we do. Let us exhibit our eternal trait of love as we face the trials of this life.

Non Nobis Nati