Love Hopes All Things
13: 7c
Even when belief in a loved one’s goodness or repentance is shattered, love still hopes in all things. This is not the hope that is directed to God in expectation of good gifts from Him, but the hope that is directed toward others which expects what is best from, and for, them. When all seems lost, we hold on to hope.422 Hope is the attitude that good will eventually come to those who may now be failing. Failure invades every believer’s life, and it often causes others to give up on the one who fails. Yet, believers who love, continue to hope for the best. This optimism, however, can also become foolishness and wishful thinking. For example, Paul did not believe that the incestuous man in Corinth would repent without undergoing church discipline (to see link click Ba – Failure to Discipline an Immoral Brother).423
Therefore, this hope is not based on us, but on Messiah. As long as God’s grace is available, human failure is never final. ADONAI would not take Isra’el’s failure as final. Yeshua would not take Peter’s failure as final (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Mn – Jesus Reinstates Peter), and Paul would not take the Corinthians’ failure as final. As the relationship with the Corinthian church became more and more strained, Paul kept firing off letters to them because he didn’t believe that they were a hopeless case. There are more than enough promises in the Bible to make love hopeful.
Dear Merciful Heavenly Father, You are so wonderful! Praise You that as long as God’s grace is available, human failure is never final. You always so graciously woo people to Yourself by Your fantastic love. The family member or friend that seems impossible for us to reach, is reachable by You. For You know the heart and You know just what is needed to cause them to change their minds so that they choose to love and to follow You. For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Praise You that You are ever seeking after lost ones and that Your ways to do things are so much higher and better than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).
We rejoice in laying our loved ones in Your hands for You to work in their hearts and we praise Your wisdom and mighty power. I am thinking of my family members and specific friends who need to seek after and to follow You. Please open the eyes of their hearts to see that You are the Best and the True source of joy. May they realize, “Things no eye has seen and no ear has heard, that have not entered the heart of mankind – these things God has prepared for those who love Him” (First Cor 2:9). We love You. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen
The parents of a backslidden child, the spouse of an unbelieving marriage partner, the congregation that has disciplined members who do not repent – all hope in love that the child, the spouse, or the erring brother or sister will be saved or restored. Love refuses to take failure as final. The rope of love’s hope has no end. As long as there is life, love does not lose hope. When our hope is weak, we know our love has become weak.424
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