Faith, Hope, and Love

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 10:39-11:1)

Every human being lives by faith. Each of us believes in something, or someone.

Faith is what we anchor our hope to. What we anchor our lives to.

Sometimes we place our faith in family members, friends, political candidates, government policies, or wealth. We place our faith in our jobs, comfort, security, or education. We place our faith in our own abilities. Sometimes we even place our faith in our own spirituality or religiosity. We place our faith in things or people (even ourselves) who ultimately will fail. They will always come up short. We know this, don’t we? We’ve experienced the letdown that comes with their failure.

Our world doesn’t need anymore of this kind of faith – watered down, subjective, hyper-individualized, misplaced trust in failing things. It has no staying power! Our world desperately, urgently needs genuine, biblical faith. 

Hebrews 11 tells us what true biblical faith has been, is, and always will be. Biblical faith is assurance of things hoped for. It is conviction – undying belief – in what is real. This chapter gives us name after name after name of those who had faith that endured suffering, which sustained them through feast and famine, and led to lasting life. The strength of their faith wasn't what sustained them; rather the object of their faith sustained them.

James 1:3 says that the testing of true faith produces perseverance. This perseverance – this steadfastness – makes us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Does the object of your faith make you perfect and complete, lacking in nothing? 

According to Romans 5:1-5, faith produces peace, joy in suffering, endurance, character, and ultimately hope. This hope dismisses shame and replaces shame with love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Does the object of your faith produce peace, give lasting hope, and fill you with love for those around you?

Galatians 5:6 says that God values faith working through love. This is what He cherishes. 

Genuine faith is a loving, working, faith. If we have not love, we have nothing. 

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

Do you struggle to love? Examine what you’ve anchored your hope to. 

Do you lack hope? Examine the object of your faith.

Have you placed your faith in that which will not save? Believe in Jesus, and Him alone, and be saved. Trust in the only Messiah who brings life. 

This is the only faith that will change the world. Church, we need more of this.

May we be those who unapologetically believe in and cling to the only One who brings life, hope and love, and may this faith radically transform our lives and our world. 

With great joy and love,
Erika