Steadfast in Love

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Faith, hope and love. We are called to remain steadfast in all three. Steadfast in faith when doubts and trials come. Steadfast in hope during dark seasons when it seems that our joy will never return. Steadfast in love for God and our neighbours when relationships get rocky and when our hearts threaten to go cold. All three of these things are challenging and all three are to abide in us, but the greatest of these is love.

Sometimes our faith feels weak, our hope feels unstable, and love feels like more effort and pain than it is worth, but we are called to be steadfast. The Holy Spirit is our Helper to strengthen our faith, give assurance to our hope, and warm the fires of our love. For as long as we are living, we are to abide in these three things but ultimately, love will outlive faith and hope. One day we will see our Saviour and King face-to-face, and our faith will be turned to sight. One day we will have all that we need and have hoped for when we come to our eternal home. Faith and hope are for this lifetime, while we wait, but love—perfect, unfailing, eternal, and steadfast love—will endure. Our love for God will be made perfect and his love for us will be fully realized.

While we wait for that day, let us continue in faith, hope, and love, calling on the Spirit to abide with us and to help us be steadfast.