Love Hopes All Things

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (KJV)

As we further look at the glorious truths concerning Love (agape), we come to the word hope. The King James uses “hopeth (elpizo),” which means, in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence. It also can be understood to mean, hopefully to trust in. We have the same word used for “all” that we have dealt with in the first two uses in this verse of scripture. Therefore, we can turn our attention to the prisoners of hope who are in the bonds of love, the blood bought, redeemed of the Lord and the Lord of redemption Himself.

Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you. Zechariah 9:12 (Amp)

Love looks at the redeemed with excitement and in anticipation of the day when salvation will have had its complete work and His children are gathered to receive their reward.

Those who are the objects of His love look forward to the full manifestation of “salvation with joy and full confidence.”

Love also looks at the lost with eyes of compassion and waits for their “salvation with joy and full confidence.”

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 2:4 (KJV)

Both God and His own desire that none would be lost and do everything possible to keep and protect those who are in covenant with Him.

Both also desire to win the hearts of them who have yet to know God in Christ and experience the gift of inexhaustible love so freely offered. This common purpose is the fuel and fire of the Great Commission.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19 (KJV) (also see Matthew 28:20)