Daily Bread 12-5-17

1 Corinthians 13:11-13

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

ref. - 2 Cor 3:18 - But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Ph 3:12 - Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Mt 22:38,39 - This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

In the kingdom of God there are many great things to be had. We need to realize that growth is a requirement in order to achieve or receive these things. So many promises but we must understand what and why we are desirous of these things. Why are they important to us? Some feel that their purpose is to lead, some to instruct, some to heal, some to teach, etc....but in order for these callings to be manifest or brought to life, we must understand the purpose behind them. These gifts are not out of necessity in order for us to get to heaven, they are not for us to be seen and heard or for us to gain power over others. They are not for our own bellies. No, these gifts and offerings we are given when we follow Christ are given us to help others to receive the same or more than we have received. In order for us to desire even better things than we have received we must love those souls. Let us put it this way; It is all right to see another persons child to prosper but our greatest desire is to see our own prosper. We spend time and money on so many things so that "they don't have to live the way we lived". Because we truly love them and in our hearts we want better for them than we ourselves have. This is love or charity. God has given us our neighbors and this does not necessarily mean the ones who live next door. He has drawn us into a brotherhood of followers of him in Jesus Christ. A body of Christ or a Church. As Jesus said, Who are my brothers and who is my mother? It is them that do the will of God. We need to draw on the understanding that has been given us from Christ and not man to understand that God puts together families in Christ just as he puts together carnal families. Just as a follower of Christ and his teachings we must understand that our Spiritual family does not necessarily include our carnal family. This is God's choice and not ours and we need to become accepting of this. Returning to our scripture; We are offered all of these gifts and all of this purpose but we must understand that they will benefit us in the end but the main purpose of these gifts is to help others exceed what the world has given them and to receive what God has for them. We must use what we have because we love others. We give our time, our gifts, our knowledge........all that God has provided us to benefit this body of Christ that God has given us. This will help us to see closer and more clearly who He is and also who we are. But without charity or love we are not in it for the right reason and therefore it will eventually fade away. So let us first pray for understanding and take responsibility for that understanding. It will be in this that we find our great love for others as Christ has loved us. It will be then that God will bless us beyond belief and that his presence will be there for us unending! God is a Spirit and that Spirit is what fires the believer's soul! Follow Christ and know what charity really is. Charity is love, and God is love!! Have a great day!!!