Faith, Love and Hope

When I read the letters of Paul I notice that he is looking for signs of growth in the people to whom he is ministering. And what are those signs? He speaks often of faith, love and hope. If Paul wanted to be encouraged that the gospel was bearing fruit he looked for faith, love and hope.
In our readings today we saw evidence that those characteristics were very important as well.
Asaph in Psalm 78 spoke really of the lack of faith in the people of Israel. They had seen God do so much. He led them from place to place (ala Numbers 33) with a pillar of cloud and fire. He daily provided manna. He produces water from a rock. He produced an abundance of meat in the desert. He opened up the Red Sea and allowed the people to pass through on dry ground. All those marvelous works which should have bolstered the faith of the people, which should have given them confidence in God's power to save, but for some reason did not have a faith building effect. In fact, God's work should have given them hope for the future, propelling them to take full possession of the land God had promised to give them. Truly God seeks to produce faith in His people!
John, too, speaks of these important characteristics. He reminds his readers that they are children of God; those born of God possessing the very Spirit of God. As evidence that this Spirit dwelling in them he reminds them that this Spirit will produce belief (tust) in the Lord Jesus Christ and love of the brethren. In 1 John 3:232-4 he says, "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of the Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandment abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us."
Besides faith and love, we saw a wonderful glimpse of hope through the pen of Isaiah. In Isaiah 25:9 we read, "It will be said on that day, 'Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." And what is that day to which Isaiah refers? Verse 8 suggests it is the day the death is swallowed up forever. It is the day that the Lord wipes away every tear from our eyes, when our reproach is finally and fully removed. It is that hope for which the people waited and which ordered the way they lived each day.
What about you? Is the gospel bearing the fruit of faith, love and hope in your life? Can you look back at your life and see that your faith, love and hope is increasing? Do you think often about the works of God and allow that to propel you to faithful service to the Lord? Are you actively loving your brothers and sisters? Do you see glimpses of the Lord as you lay down your life for others? Do you have a secure hope? When troubles hit you are you able to look beyond the troubles to a day when there will be no more death? Take stock this morning, and if you see growth, be sure to offer praise to God for His blessed gospel in Jesus Christ.