Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Devotion
We all probably think of hope a little differently. Maybe you think of crossing your fingers and hoping for something to happen for you. Or maybe you think of it as a feeling, like an expectation or a desire. Hope in Greek is translated elpidzo, which means “to hope or wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.” (yes, I had to look that up) This word is used over 30 times in the New Testament. Hope expresses more than a wish or a simple desire for something. It’s a confident belief in what God is doing even though we can’t see it. Too often we put our hope in things that we shouldn’t by pursuing things that give us temporary joy but don’t give us that confident assurance that only God can give as we wait on him.
The hope we experience because of our relationship with God should overflow to our other relationships. Being full of hope for others is a clear way to show love for others. Believe in God’s grace and good plans for those in your life. Encourage and call out the good you see as a way to show that love always hopes.
Let’s confidently expect and hope for the long-term spiritual growth of ourselves and others. Let’s believe that no one’s story is beyond the grace and mercy of God. Let’s have the confident belief that our God is always working in our lives and others’ lives around us.
Prayer
We are so thankful that you are a God of love and hope. We pray that we can put our hope into action. Let us be an example of your love and hope to others. Your love for us and your promises bring hope even when we can’t see clearly. Help us to show others that Love always hopes.
Author: Josh Robinson
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