Bible Reading: Exodus 9; Job 27; Luke 12; 1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The Bible word charity means love. So what is so great about love? Well, for one thing the Bible says that God is love 1 John 4:8. If we are to be godly, we will love. In this chapter, the Bible spells out love's greatness.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up…
Godly love can bear with someone for a long time. It is kind, even when others are not. There is no envy in charity. To love is to be content with who you are in Christ and to celebrate the differences and victories of others. There is no boasting or bragging pride where there is Biblical love. When you love, you are not competing with others.
1 Corinthians 13:5 [Charity]
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil…
The spiritual love that comes from the Holy Spirit of God is not inappropriate. It is not impure or sensual. (Love is not sex.) Charity is not selfish and ambitious. People who walk in love do not wear their feelings on their shoulder. God's kind of love is not a tit for tat kind of relationship. It wants the best for others.
1 Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth…
Love is never happy about sin but always wants to know the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity is endurance even in hard circumstances. It is not overly suspicious but always hopes for the best. Charity lasts for a long, long time.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth.
God wants a relationship with you. He is love and so this chapter spells out some of the attributes of our loving Heavenly Father. If God who is love lives in you, you will be able to love like God loves – that is charity. Think of a long-term relationship that is a good one - maybe a marriage or a daughter/mother or father/son relationship. What is necessary for it to last a lifetime? Charity.
You cannot do this on your own. God must do this in you.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In Christ,
Rody
