I hope you read HOPE, my last post. If my hope is unfounded, and you did not read HOPE, I hope you will receive my encouragement to read HOPE now. HOPE is found here... (not that all hope is found in the post, but the post HOPE is found here:
https://davidmstanleykineticlife.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-stumblers-walk-set-hope.html. Anyway, this post is an addendum, so I hope you'll read HOPE for context.
Sorry about that, but onward - and I'm going to keep it short...
So now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith can move mountains. Hope gets us through the pitch-blackest of dark nights. But love trumps all. I don't think Paul is comparing the three. And it is possible my point here is not his point. But I have a thought.
Love is not dependent on the object of love. My faith is in a faithful God. But the strength and depth of my faith is dependent on me. My hope is in a God of hope. But my hope is dependent on my ability to hope. (I don't mean to diminish the Spirit's internal, empowering role - He makes all of this potential possible.) But faith and hope muscles are built through years of spiritually bench-pressing trials, struggles, joys, fears, etc.
My love is for a God of love. But there is a distinction here. You and I are objects of God's love (maybe subjects is better). And here is the point: God's love for us is in no way dependent on our reciprocation. He loves. He is love. We are loved.
No. Matter. What. Period.
We love because he first loved us.
- John 4:19
My love for God, or my children, or a puppy, stems from the love of God. My loving response is based on God's love that pervades everything - my being, nature around us, the Milky Way Galaxy, etc., etc., etc. (Have you every wondered why there are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies in the world? Pardon my naivete, but I think creation is a function of love. And God just can't help himself but to creatively love.)
Back on point: whether I choose to love God (back), in no way diminishes his love. I can love... because God is love. I can love God... because God loves me.
Faith requires response and action.
Hope requires response and action.
Love requires nothing. (Re-read that. I know I need to.)
But love propels us in all things.
We love because he first loved us.
Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
God, thank you for loving me.
For now...
D
