February 13 - Faith, Hope, and Love

 The person who chose todays' passages covered much of the Christian journey with these three Scripture readings: Psalm 91, Romans 12:9-21, and 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13. While the Psalm speaks of God's incredible faithfulness and presence, even in times of trouble, Romans 12 challenges us to be authentic, faithful and loving in all we are and do, and 1 Corinthians both helps us understand that love is the critical element of our lives as God's children, and pushes us to a fuller understanding of what love is. Trust, truth, and love: a brief summary of who God is and who are called to be.

Psalm 91 is a lovely poem extolling God for being there whenever the psalmist needed help or protection. It draws on imagery like "camping in the Almighty's shade" (vs 1 CEB), and being protected under God's wings (vs 4). It speaks of assurance of protection from terrors and illness and destruction and other evil. What a glorious faith! To be so sure that God is by your side as you face life's challenges.  Feeling alone and vulnerable can make most difficulties even worse. Knowing God is with you can provide comfort and strength to face whatever challenges confront you.  The final verses (14-16) are written as God's reply, God's promise of protection, presence, salvation and long life. Can we, too, rest in these promises?  Can we believe God is with us, even when we face "troubling times" (vs15)? Do we have that faith in God, that hope in God's power and presence, that knowledge of God's love?

Romans 12:9-21 is a hopeful challenge to be so filled with God's love that we don't have to pretend. We can truly love what is good, in the world and in each other. This will lead us to treat all with honor and respect. This will fire us up to serve God and others: our church family; other siblings in Christ; strangers, including those "with no status" (vs16); and even people who don't like us ("people who harass you" - vs14 CEB). It will help us empathize with others and maybe even "live at peace with all people" (vs 18 CEB). There is also the assurance, once again, that God will be with us and will take care of  revenge, should it be called for.  We can focus on doing, and being, good. Faith in and love for God gives us the hope that there is good around us, and that it will triumph in the end.

1 Corinthians 13 is a well known love chapter.  It is often used as a wedding passage, and can be appropriate in that setting, but was actually written for a community divided by differing opinions of what was most important within their call to follow "the way". Previous chapters address some specific areas of disagreement - like whether social class should be relevant in the church, and which spiritual gifts were the most important (chapter 12), for example. Wherever we go there seem to be issues around which there is disagreement.  Sometimes it is disheartening to hear vigorous arguments for what may seem ignorant opinions. Sometimes it feels like truth and enlightened information are irrelevant to a discussion. It is hard not to grow discouraged, or lash out at those with whom we disagree. It is hard to treat all as equals (Romans 12:16). So we can hear these words as relevant to us today, as well.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 love is defined as that which gives the spiritual gifts (like speaking in tongues) and actions (like giving away one's possessions) value. In verses 4-8a the characteristics of true love are outlined, so we cannot get confused with the shallow imitations we sometimes find touted in social media and society. Verses 8b - 12 remind us of the durability of this kind of love which is not based on feelings or physical ability. The final conclusion of this chapter, this treatise on true love, concludes that though faith (like that shown in Psalm 91), hope, and love endure, (and should therefore be sought after), the greatest of these is love. 

So while we read scriptures to learn more about who God is and what God has done so our faith can grow, and while we remember God's faithfulness in the past and look for signs of God working in the present so our hope can grow, the most important thing to work on is love.  We need to remember God's love as shown throughout the ages, but especially through Jesus.  If we can truly believe and feel and know that we are the recipients of such amazing love, we can believe that God is with us, no matter what. If we can truly believe and feel and know that we are the recipients of such amazing love we can share that love with others, even those with whom we disagree.  If we can truly believe and feel and know that we are so deeply loved, everything falls into perspective and we can respond to life's challenges as beloved children of God. 

So let us go forward this week in faith, hope, and love, thanking God for all the times we have been reminded of how much God loves us, and praying we will have the strength to share that love with others through all we say and do.




  

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