The Church of Jesus Christ is a Chruch of Love. This is where the Principles of Charity is being taught correctly and seriously and has been applied by the members. This is where Pure Religion is practiced. For me, Charity is my ultimate covenant with the Lord even my baptismal covenant that qualifies me to be a member in the Fold of God. On the other hand the Principles of Charity helped me to stand in the midst of the greatest turmoil in my life today. By applying these principles it sustained me of endurance and see hope through faith...
The principles that I have learned last week Mar. 29 – Apr 4 was concluded in my Sunday classes which was Friday in the UAE Apr. 5, 2008 (days-off friday)
CHARITY is:
1 Corinthians 13
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 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.
Let me insert this passage about the pure RELIGION for additional insight.
James 1
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
It is suggested in the footnote to search for reference about Religion in the TG under Charity, So there is definitely a closeness of meaning between Religion and Charity and I notice that it commonly involves SERVICE and OBEDIENCE to God which is done out of LOVE. So to sum it up Charity or Religion is LOVE.
Now if you don’t have this in your heart what do you get?:
1 Corinthians 13:
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
Let me add this again:
James 1
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
That is just one of the treasured knowledge to help ourselves pass the test for the purpose of life.
1 Cor 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
And it has always been taught to us in the church
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. (Book of Morm 7: 46-47) which makes this book unique and the most correct book.
These insights from the scripture helped me gain a deeper understanding about Charity and I believe that charity isn't entirely about Generosity. (which most people outside the church believes) Giving donations and all that stuff. But that is stated clearly in the scripture that it is the PURE LOVE of CHRIST which is generally consisting of all the Good things in this world narrowed to Sacrifice, Service, Patience, Obedience, Forgiveness and Understanding. or we may say it consists of all RIGHTEOUSNESS there is in this world.
Our lesson in the Relief Society today is: "Patience is the Gateway to the Virtue of Forgiveness, Tolerance and Faith" still it is connected to charity... And how?
The example of the way I bear the turmoil at my work situation best shows how I learned and developed the virtue of Forgiveness, Tolerance and Faith by Patience because of the principles of Charity. This should help me remember what I learned from the tribulation I had in my work situation as my first job in the UAE.
I figured this out: Charity or Pure Religion-I consider this to be my ultimate covenant to the Lord to become more worthy and qualified to be a member in the fold of the Lord. Or should I say since charity is the pure love of Christ I should also be Charitable as we are called the children of God and Jesus Christ is our perfect example and for me, to receive Him means to follow His example and be given the power and rights to be a legitimate daughter of God. (John 1:12)
And the Lord Said:
Matt. 7
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
My message to YOU is to seek to be always CHARITABLE. Never stop that unconditional kindness, love and obedience to the laws and commandments you are showing to everybody to keep ourselves unspotted from the world and not behave unseemly in the sight of God... Let your example shine to everyone around you with all these virtue that you possess and you continue to nourish. In Matt. 5:16; 3Ne. 12:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let us be a window to His Love and a doorway to the Truth. Let us tell the world that we are Sons and Daughters of God by example and Love. That the world may know Him through Us that they may find His Kingdom on earth and will give them the desire to be called the Sons and Daughters of God too. So I should say this is our charge as LDS.... I suppose...if we don’t keep this covenant…if we don’t try our best. And I am more than happy to accept part and do my duty. What about you?
This builds a stronger testimony that I belong in the true church of God and what helped me realize it are the teachings and principles taught in the Church, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it is perfect, really really perfect as God is perfect who taught all His righteousness to his children and if we just apply every principle that we learn from him, I suppose we will become perfect in His sight as Christ commanded us "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" Matt. 5:48; 2 Nephi 12:48
In Jesus Name Amen..
Tags: Charity
I know that trial is something not to be refused of but it is there to serve the purpose of life. Sometimes we question ourselves though we seem to find no answer; why me? why do i have to go through all the pain--Like the Lord Jesus Christ-He also asked our Father if He could take away the bitter cup on Him--but of course as we learned through our Savior’s example we want the things in our life to happen according to our Father's will and not ours. And if we insist on the things to happen in our lives according to our will then I could have chosen to take the path with out pain and distress but later on find not the glory of God. Sometimes the trials and challenges in life isn't really our choice and I realized that as we are given the free agency, we never have the option what kind of obstacle do we have to encounter along the way. As the free agency gives us the freedom to choose between eternal life or eternal damnation, the fruit of trials and challenges offers only one option to get a relief and that is to feel the arms of the Lord around us. When we recognize it, there's no way for us to choose the other way around with the agency but eternal life.
The Lord really knows best, He never had to take the free agency away from us for Him to qualify as our savior but in one way or another we have no escape to choose the path going back to our Father in Heaven through trials and challenges in life that doesn't honor free agency!
And those of us who knows about this and the intelligence of our Lord-we might want to learn the smart ways to introduce the real purpose of challenges to those who do not know. We might want to show to others how we live in the midst of crisis in life and despair. How we get strength, joy and see hope though the future seems to be unsure.
Each one of us have our own struggles--sometimes we think our problems are light compared to others and sometimes we think we carry the world of burden alone. But i believe that if we are in pain and frustrated, as long as the situation is agonizing and distressing, as long as it causes us sleepless nights and tears the weight of the burden that the Lord sets on each one of us could be the same according to our capacity and capability to carry it, with the promise that He will send his agents and instruments to help us when we seem to fall apart. There are no bigger issues and smaller issues-there are no issues made bigger by the way we allow it to affect us or the way we frown on our burdens nor are there issues made smaller by the way we smile on it or on how tough or strong our hearts can become for such problems.
For me, the Lord's request to share one another's burden is all-time valid as members of His true church and it is emphasized in (Mosiah 18: 8-10). Again my Savior is my example and being His follower I want to be as gentle as He is to treat others-Saints or none LDS-Christians or none Christians, it doesn’t really matter. After all, the way we deal with other people demonstrates our capacity and willingness to love one another.
I found a better way to easily manage some circumstances beyond my control. In the middle of critical situation where patience is required I found out that I am motivated to move on if I hear the testimonies of the people who have gone through and overcame the trials and challenges they had. I am strengthened, when I feel your love through your gentle and kind words. I see hope and increase my faith if I share my testimonies and lessons I learned from my situation. I live longer if I talk about Christ. Like the other saints struggling in grief and pain that needs your love and care, I need you too-I need your love and care, your gentle and kind words. I need people who know the Gospel to talk to when things seems to be so out of control. Since not all have the time to go on home visiting and home teaching, sometimes it's really practical and easy to sit down and start typing our kind words to be sent to our friends who have access on the net. Cheers!
Tags: Trials
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