Devotion:
Read 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Imagine yourself in a competition with many other participants. It is obvious to everyone involved and observing that there is one who is clearly the best. You know you are not going to win. But when the announcement comes about who won, you and someone else are stated to be just as clearly tied for second place, closely behind the winner. The announcer says “these three have separated themselves from the rest of the field.” Though you didn’t win, you would feel rather good to be considered among this “top three.”
Being involved in the world of sports for much of my life, that is what I think of when I read this verse at the end of the “love chapter” in 1 Corinthians. Though the focus is on love, the writer includes two other of what I call “life-giving forces” to conclude this section: faith and hope. It is impressive and revealing to me that hope gets included here. Yes, love is the most vital of what it takes to live as the people of Christ, but hope is one of the worthy companions to be included as a “top three.”
This writer says that hope is one of those “life-giving forces” that is always available to us, no matter what happens in our life. It remains. Don’t ever forget: there is always hope.
Personal Worship Option:
Think about some of the situations in your life in which you were given hope that carried you through. Offer a prayer of thanks to God for all who helped give you that hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment