Legend tells us that The Twelve Days of Christmas
was a secret catechism during times of persecution.
For these twelve days let’s focus on twelve teachings:
The Third Day of Christmas
Three French Hens
One of the most beautiful passages of scriptures is 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient and kind; never jealous or boastful; never arrogant or rude.”
We read it all the time at weddings as one of life’s highest ideals.
This wonderful chapter ends with these gracious principles: “faith, hope, and love.” “And the greatest of these,” says Scripture, “is love.”
These are the three French hens, that the song sings about.
These are the Three Great Theological Virtues.
Indeed, our lives will be most sure and most blessed when our foundation is these three principles.
When we come to Christ, we are transferred into a new kingdom, a new reality. But this new kingdom is not simply a destination; it’s a journey. Faith is trust – growing trust. Hope is desire – an increasingly holy desire. And both help us step further and further into the blessings of eternal life.
Faith and hope are indeed beautiful blessings. And yet love far surpasses these two majestic companions. Why? Because love is the character of God! And as we grow in faith and journey forward in hope, we discover that we love because Christ first loved us.
Yes, some forms of love are natural. We tend to love those who love us. But a kingdom version of love is greater. It is patient with annoyance and it forgives even enemies. Kingdom love forsakes self as the highest goal of life and causes one to lay down their lives on behalf of others.
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who once had three red hens,
but I think I prefer Faith, Hope, and Love
to Iris, Rose, and Daisy
No comments:
Post a Comment