Those are the words I was given for today. However, the context they were applied to is a new concept for me.
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT
Most of the time this verse is taught on the message conveyed is one of friendship or marriage. Friend helping friend or husband, wife, and God forming a three-fold cord. I agree with both those teachings.
But this morning my thoughts went to I Corinthians 13.
” Love will never end. But all those gifts will come to an end—even the gift of prophecy, the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages, and the gift of knowledge. 9 These will all end because this knowledge and these prophecies we have are not complete. 10 But when perfection comes, the things that are not complete will end.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. 12 It is the same with us. Now we see God as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see him right before our eyes. Now I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as God has known me. 13 So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:8-13 ERV
The spiritual gifts we have been given will come to end one day. Their purpose will be complete. When we stand face to face with the Father there will no longer be any need for them because we will be complete in His presence.
Until then we need to continue to experience and share the gifts He has given us. These gifts aid us as we grow in our walk with Him from childhood to maturity. The more we learn of God the clearer we see Him and His wonderful love for us.
Three things should continually guide us in our walk; faith, hope and love.
In Christ we have hope, hope for a future and hope makes not ashamed. Then our faith gives life to what we hope for; faith gives hope substance. But without love faith doesn’t work.
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 NLT
“ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NLT
“Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 NLV
” I say this because our hope of being right with God comes through faith. And the Spirit helps us feel sure as we wait for that hope. 6 When someone belongs to Christ Jesus, it is not important if they are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.” Galatians 5:5-6 ERV
Father, I desire to see your love working in me today as I grow in you and to see your love working through me today so that others may see you more clearly. In Jesus name.
The strength we have for today can be found in the three-fold cord of faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love!