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.
Thoughts
What do you think of when you think of "hope?" Is it wishing? Like, "I hope my team wins?" Or "I hope I get a good grade on this test even though I didn't study?"
Hope in the New Testament is translated from the word Greek word "elpidzo", which means “to hope or wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.” This word is used over 30 times in the New Testament. This kind of biblical hope is even more powerful than our normal hope.
Love always hopes. Think about that. Love always hopes and waits for salvation with joy and confidence. So how do we love people like that? When we love our friends and family like this, we become people in their lives who always believe the best for them. We become people who encourage them. We become people who speak words of life. We are full of confidence in the good that God is going to do in their lives, and we never give up believing that, even when we have to wait.
Wouldn't it be great to have someone in your life like that? Someone who was always reminding you of how much God loved you, how great God's plans were for you, and how valuable and gifted you are? That's what we can be when we love like this for other people. Let your love always be a love that brings hope to others.
Prayer
Thank you Jesus that we have true hope in you. Help me to love others like this!