Love Hopes All Things

What is love? 

The definition of love is found only once in the Bible: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). 

Let’s continue to give ourselves a biblical “love” test by looking closely at the words and phrases used to describe love.

The fourteenth biblical descriptor of love is “hopes all things.”

Note the word “all.”  All means all!  This love believes that if the sun rises in the morning, there continues to be reason to hope! 

Love that hopes all things steadfastly believes that our sovereign, all-powerful, great God can change a life, a situation, or an event as quickly as the blink of an eye.  

It rests in the knowledge that God alone is a way maker and miracle worker.  It waits expectantly, watching to see what He will do next, in His sovereign timing, and in His perfect ways. 

Agape love believes that nothing – absolutely nothing – is impossible for God.  Scripture says so many times.  “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).  “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17).                       

By adopting a mindset that God’s strength in us enables us to conquer our giants, we live out a love that hopes all things are possible with Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

How are you doing with this part of God’s love test?  

Before you answer, consider this: Do you believe that God can change anyone?  At any time?  Do you love others with this steadfast hope? 

I think now you are ready to answer.

“Love hopes all things…”