My good friend Dan Keating is one of the most accomplished charter boat captains for salmon and trout on Lake Michigan. Over the past 25-plus years, he’s averaged an astounding 17 fish caught per charter.

Captain Dan (not to be mistaken for Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump), knows that to survive in the charter-fishing business he must locate fish day in and day out. Locating salmon in the vast open waters of the Great Lakes boils down to paying attention to three key factors: cold water, baitfish, and structure. Decades of experience on the water has taught this master angler that the intersection of these three elements is where he will consistently find the fish.

The New Testament teaches that the Christian life is lived in the intersection of three basic elements: faith, hope, and love. For example, the apostle Paul spoke of this connection between the “big three” when he affirmed the Christians in Colosse: “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:4-5).

Paul also reminded the believers in Galatia that “we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait [i.e., hope] to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Galatians 5:5-6).

Faith, hope, and love are a powerful trio. They make up the essence and fruit of the “good news” of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:3-6). Working together, they sum up what life in Jesus is all about.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Daniel 2:25-49