“love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1Cor. 13:7 NASB)

Today I used the NASB translation because it is a truer translation of the original Greek. This verse comes from Paul’s famous love chapter. This section is read at most wedding services around the world. Paul was winding down his discussion on love. As he drew to a close, he made the most profound statement, the verse above. He said that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” From Paul’s perspective, this love is a powerful thing. The reason that love can bear, believe, hope and endure all things is that it is rooted in Jesus, who did all those things. He bore everything that is broken and rejected. He believed in the plan for redemption, even if it was going to cost Him much pain and suffering. He hoped in a redeemed and transformed humanity that can live above its brokenness. He endured all that was necessary to win us back to Himself.

This is why we can have hope today. We anchor our hope in the same place that Jesus anchored His. We can be certain that our hope is not in vain, because it wasn’t in vain for Jesus. This hope we have is a living, breathing reality. It is something that God has placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit so that we might be certain of God’s gracious providence in our lives. Some people would read this verse and say we are living a pipe dream. Little do they know that it is absolutely true. We experience the fulfillment of this verse by simply contemplating the death and resurrection of Jesus. That alone gives us the courage to hope in a Heavenly future that Jesus promises is also ours.

Today, let’s hope big! May our hope be as big as God Himself, and as certain as all He has done for us in our lives thus far.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church