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Inspired by the Faith, Hope, and Love of Others
At this time of year, I spend time thinking of my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. I appreciate their love and the good news I receive through Facebook and other mediums.
I wish we could all be together, but we will have to wait until heaven to join with God in the ultimate reunion.
In the meantime, I leave you and encourage you with this verse about the love and hope that inspire us, from 1 Thes. 1:3.
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wait, hope, and expect
In Spanish and in Hebrew, there is a verb that can be translated three ways into English—wait, hope, or expect.
While each of those three words has their own nuances or unique connotations, let’s think about how much greater our hope would be if we wait, hope, and expect in the Lord.
Micah 7:7 gives a good example of all three concepts in the same verse:
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
If we watch in hope, we expect that his promises will be fulfilled. We wait, not knowing the time-frame, but expecting with hope.
What a blessing!
Now, let’s look at two more verses, inserting the three possible translations for new insight.
Those who wait, hope, and expect in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Be strong and take heart, all you who wait, hope, and expect in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)
