And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of them
is charity.
1Corinthians 13:13
I have been writing these blogs for over three years and the reason, the goal, the motive is to aid others to examine their faith, and if necessary to change, and this change can only be a change from the Inside/Out. The question always remains as to whether or not a person is willing to change if they have come to know that their faith is either not in a true Scriptural basis or in some other form that is self-satisfying, or even maybe just apathy not willing to "rock the boat" going on with little growth in your faith. I believe that if you are reading these blogs you do want to examine your faith and make whatever changes necessary to grow your faith and to continue to change into the image of Jesus Christ. I pray that is the case!
I must point out that the word "charity" is an English word meaning to be generous in your actions towards the ill, the poor, the needy or helpless. It is to have a benevolent feeling towards others, to even be lenient in judging others, to have forbearance. The Greek word "agape" means to have a love that is based on the principles of God. Charity is a good word but we must understand that the love of God is more than just charity, it is LOVE. What do I mean? God is LOVE, not just an attribute of God. I do not think we can fully realize or understand the depth of God's love. In English the word "love" means to have deep passion, to be profoundly tender, to have deep affection for another. This is what God is yet He is more than what our English word means: GOD IS LOVE! If God did not be LOVE then He would not have any concern for anything that He would create. If God was not LOVE then we would have no hope. To love is not just some sexual attraction, no, it is Love based on the principles of God that causes us to have deep affection for another, the poor, the helpless, the needy and is this not what God has done by His Love? Yes!
We are to have Authentic Christian Faith is we are to be pleasing to God but the Christian life is more than faith, it is a life to be lived in hope. What is hope? It is a feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out well. Hope is to believe, to desire, to feel that something will happen. Hope has a basis and that basis if your hope is to be true hope, to have more than just feelings, is a hope based on the truth of Scripture. Not some man-made doctrine, no some liturgy, some ceremony, rather it is based on the truth as found in Scripture. How do you get this truth? Simple! Read God's word! Apply God's word, first in your life, in the life of your spouse, your children, extending to your friends and to other around the world. No, you cannot be in another country necessarily, but you can aid those who are doing this work of spreading the Gospel, the truth of God's love.
Sunday Christians, they are everywhere! The Sunday Christian goes to Church but God has little with them during the week. The Sunday Christian does not even take time to read the Bible, or "God forbid" go to any Bible study (they find to much else to do for that time). Now, you do not have to go to every Bible study, but do you read the Bible? Do you pray with your spouse, with your children, and most important, do you pray alone?
This will be accepted by everyone: the world is full of trouble and you find often yourself being affected by this trouble. If you are not in the word of God building up your knowledge of what God has had recorded for you, well.... your chances of winning this war against your soul may be a lost war. Here then is where Authentic Christian Faith, Authentic Christian Hope comes into play: This hope which Jesus Christ has given to us is His victory over death, His intercession for all who believe in Him, and by this we can stand against the struggles of this world and this Authentic Christian Hope will lead to the glories of heaven. This Authentic Christian Hope will run all through your Christian life. The thought of eternity will engross your every being: nothing can touch you against the LOVE of God, the HOPE of God.
Well.....As it is with Christianity, your life, it is up to you to heed the call of God, to change from the Inside/Out. Will you?
For since the beginning of the world
men have not heard, nor perceivd
by the ear, neither hath the eye seen,
O God, beside Thee, what He hath
prepared for him that waiteth for Him.
Isaiah 64:4
Today is the day to make a decision
Richard L. Crumb
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