PASTOR’S CORNER, Phillip Dow, New Beginnings Church, Liberal
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
—1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
When life gets stripped down to its essentials—when the noise dies down, the titles fade, and the dust settles—what are we left with? Paul answers that question with stunning clarity in this single verse from 1 Corinthians 13: “These three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
In a world obsessed with “what’s next” and “what’s trending,” this verse calls us back to what will always matter. Faith. Hope. Love. These aren’t just Christian buzzwords or decorative phrases stitched into pillows. They are the soul-deep anchors of a life rooted in God.
Faith is our trust in who God is and what He has done. It’s the hand that reaches out when nothing makes sense, the whisper of “I still believe” when the storm hasn’t passed. Faith gives us the courage to walk forward even when we don’t know where the road ends.
Hope looks ahead. It’s not wishful thinking—it’s confident expectation in God’s promises. Hope says, “This isn’t the end. God is still writing the story.” In a time when despair feels like it’s always knocking, hope is our holy refusal to give up.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says that even greater than faith and hope is love. Why? Because love is what God is. 1 John 4:8 tells us, “God is love.” It’s not just what He does—it’s who He is. And when we love, we reflect Him more clearly than in any sermon or spiritual gift.
Love is eternal. One day, faith will become sight. Hope will be fulfilled. But love? Love will carry into eternity. When we stand before Jesus face to face, we won’t need to believe anymore—we’ll see. We won’t have to hope anymore—we’ll be home. But we will love—perfectly, fully, forever.
So here’s the question I want you to wrestle with this week: Are you investing in what lasts? The world tells us to chase comfort, security, popularity, and possessions. But none of those things will make it past the grave. Faith, hope, and love will.
This week, I challenge you to do one intentional act that builds each of these three virtues:
• Strengthen your faith by starting each morning in prayer or reading one chapter of the Gospels.
• Feed your hope by encouraging someone else who’s in a tough season. Remind them of God’s promises.
• Practice love by serving someone who can’t repay you. It doesn’t have to be flashy. Just make it sincere.
And if you can only do one? Choose love.
As a pastor and fellow neighbor, I believe God is stirring something fresh in our community. Not just louder opinions—but deeper compassion. Not just bigger events—but stronger hearts. If we want our homes, our churches, and our neighborhoods to truly reflect heaven, then we must become people who live out 1 Corinthians 13:13 daily. Because when the world sees a people marked by faith, anchored in hope, and overflowing with love—they see Jesus.
If you need ideas or desire prayer, members of the Liberal Ministerial Alliance stand ready to offer hope and resources to you. If you find yourself in spiritual need and without a home church, I would love for you to come with me to New Beginnings Church.
