The Greatest of These

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity; these three, but the greatest of these is charity."  I Corinthians 13:13.  The foundation stones of Christianity, the teaching of Jesus Christ, are faith, hope, and charity.  Without these vital pieces, the teaching of Jesus is lost.  Faith gives birth to hope, and hope is cradled in charity.  We have faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  God through Christ has given us the hope of life.  We believe in the supreme nature of God and the divine nature of Jesus Christ.  God gave Christ to the world so that we might be saved.  God loves.  Christ loves.  Our faith and hope cause us to love.  We have charity toward God and toward ourselves.  Our charity must reach out to others.  As we know God and Christ, we love as they loved.  Our charity for others will inspire us to help and embrace.  When we fail to love, we have lost faith and hope.  Without charity toward others, we cannot have charity toward God.  Without charity toward ourselves, we will not embrace the promise of hope through Christ.  Faith, hope, and charity.  What a beautiful edifice is erected by these God-given stones.