Charity part 1
One day, I think it was last year, I was reading the Bible (as I often do), and I found myself in 1 Corinthians. Specifically I found myself in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. You know, "the love chapter." And, really, outside of the writings of John it probably IS the best specific discource on love in the Bible. But something struck me when I reading it: A distinct lack of the word, "love." It was all "charity this," and "charity that." My question, then, was why use THAT word? Why not just SAY love if love is what you're talking about? And almost immediately I heard Daddy speak to my Spirit. And He said, "Son, charity is love in action." It was like a lightbulb turning on. Of course Paul talks about charity. Because Paul was a pretty practical guy. He used the Old Testament to PROVE that Jesus was the Messiah. He had some ideas, sure, but the one thing he professed to KNOW was Christ... and Him crucified! Not just the idea of Jesus, not even just the person of Jesus, but what Jesus actually did, and what that finished work accomplished. And what the cross accomplished is (and I'm not saying this is ALL it accomplished, I'm just saying this is the focus for our Rant series), what the cross accomplished is that now we can know and believe the love of Christ. And by knowing and believing it we can receive it and release it. We can walk in it. We can put it in action! Because of God's love for us--expressed in it's greatest form when He gave His life for us and gave His life to us--we can love each other. We can talk the talk AND we can walk the walk. To me, walking the walk is much more important. I've had some of the best conversations with people about Jesus... without ever even saying the word, "Jesus." I just use His other name. Love. Because whether you "accept Jesus" or not... you crave love. It's like Paul (again) who said, "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). And in my own example, I think there will be a time for that. A time to speak the name of Jesus. But if I'm going to put love into action, I'm NOT going to try to force Jesus down people's throats. Because all that will come of that is people choking on Him. And that's the opposite of what we want, isn't it? We want to make Jesus inviting, so people will run TO Daddy instead of running FROM Daddy. And the best way to make Him inviting is to love people. Pure and simple. SHOW them who Jesus is rather than telling them ABOUT Jesus. It's so much more important to KNOW HIM (with a heart knowledge, through relationship) than it is to know ABOUT Him. Head knowledge will puff you up. But heart knowledge will FILL you up. And when you're full (to overflowing) with what you've already been filled with... that's when it comes out naturally. That's when the love you know (and believe) becomes the charity that you DO. We don't do in order to be, we do because we be. Faith without works is dead. Love that isn't charity doesn't really help anybody.