Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday November 26, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of I Corinthians, please read chapters 10-13 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-26

Today's Message: What is Charity?
When most people think of the word charity they think of it as giving money or something to help out the poor, needy, etc. However, in God's eyes charity goes beyond helping the needy.

To God the word charity means love, it is having kindness and compassion for one another, regardless of how you have been treated. It may seem surprising to the world, but from God's point of view it is more important to be known for one's loving kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, and consideration than being a famous evangelist or teacher. “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” - I Corinthians 12:1-7. We have all been given spiritual gifts which allow us to serve God in some way, some more than others. It is not important how many things we are able to do, but how we do the things we do. If we are not eager to serve the Lord we will never develop the gift of charity.

Paul expresses the importance of charity for one another and no matter how successful we are at teaching God's Word if we are not kind toward one another we do not get very far in life. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (I Corinthians 13:1-3). What Paul is saying here is that I have all these gifts, I am able to do all these things, but without charity every one of them is worthless. God will not honor anything we if we do not love what we do. Paul continues, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” - I Corinthains 13:4-8. We are to love as God loves, this God kind of love is very patient, never envious, or boastful, it does not brag to others or is rude to people. Neither is it self seeking, quick to take offense, or resentful.

Charity has a way of making us more concerned for the feelings and rights of others and less occupied with our own. The love of God causes us to stop trying to always grab the best for ourselves or taking advantage of others. Charity also has a way of keeping us from listening to people who are anxious to pass on the latest gossip about the faults and failure of others. We must all remember that love bears and endures all things without getting frustrated or angry. Charity never fails regardless of whether it is for friends, difficult people, or strangers. “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.” - I John 4:7,8.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and Happy Thanksgiving
God Bless You,
Christina

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