charity equals god's Love and divine nature
Charity equals God's love and divine nature. It is through His example how we learn and behave towards others in an unbelieving world.
When we study the character of God, we find this to be the basis of everything He is about. Many people out in the world may have a vague concept of God and perceive Him to be this giant figure of a being or spirit who somehow holds the universe together, but who is also ruthless and won't allow us to enjoy life as we want to, who loves to rain on our parade whenever something good comes along for us.
Before I was saved, I used to think some of these outlandish thoughts about God.
Could it be that perhaps some have seen and felt the wrath of God in their lives because of sin?
the magnitude of charity from god
As a believer, have you ever felt God's presence in your life before? There is that deep, abiding intimacy you share with the Lord when you truly know Him. We can find in many places of scripture where God's true heart is for His people, and for those who obey and follow Him. Here are a few verses that speak to this:
- Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour."
- Isaiah 43:4-7 says, "Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather them from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give up'; and to the south, 'Keep not back: bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.' Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
- 1 John 4:16 says, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us; God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him."
- 1 John 4:7-8 also reminds us, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." Furthermore there is,
- Ephesians 3:16-19 which says, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."
god's true charity
How does God's love speak to others through you? Does His love resonate in your life, in all that you say and do? Our Lord's plan and purpose for us is to not only go out and spread the gospel, making disciples for Him, but to do so with great compassion and love for those who do not know Him.
Jesus humbly demonstrated this during His short ministry on earth. Matthew 9:35-38 gives us the account, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest."
Love is one of the traits and characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit and is one of the marks of a true Christian. We are shown this in Galatians 5:22-23, where it tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
There are times when you may meet those who have never heard the gospel message before. You might be the only source of a "bible" they will ever know or come across. When you give your testimony to them about God's salvation, the hope and great charity He has bestowed upon your own life, living in accordance to His Word with faith and trust in Him, others will see the greatness of His love through you.
charity begins at home
This saying is so true because your home is where love should begin and reside always.
If you are a parent then you know how important it is to build good, solid character traits in your children. As believers in Christ, you will want them to begin the basics on a godly foundation.
As you teach your children, you do so with love in mind and as they grow older in their physical, emotional, and spiritual development, they will learn and understand that love will be the key element in everything they say and do. In doing so, you are demonstrating what true love is and should be. These passages of scripture give us a clear picture of this:
- Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us, "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
- 1 Corinthians 16:14 gives the instruction, "Let all your things be done with charity."
- Romans 5:6-9 encourages us, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet preadventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
- Romans 8:38-39 also reminds us "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." And finally,
- 1 Corinthians 13. In this complete chapter, Paul speaks with great emotion and conviction as to what love is and what it truly means in the life of a Christian. However the last verse (13) explains it all in a nutshell where it says, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
Let your life's testimony be for God wherever you go and through whatever you do, by showing His love toward others. You don't know who could be watching you in this world. Allow your thoughts, words, and deeds be the result of His love and charity in your life. After all, you and I are His ambassadors to those who have yet to hear the gospel and believe. May you be filled with his everlasting love as you continue forward in Him.
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