01.06. The River of Charity

THE RIVER OF CHARITY When Christ indwells the believer in sanctifying grace out of his inner being flows the River Charity. The greatest and most complete of all outward graces in action is love that is complete and not self-centered Out of the heart of the purified flows no river that is polluted with self-glory. Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. You will not find one boasting or even speaking much of his actions. The heart is not given to exalting the human, but speaks much of Jesus, and what he has done for him; little of what he has given but much of what he has received from Christ. Even this must be done with discretion that in all things Christ will have the preeminence. The believer that has this grace of Charity will be forbearing to others. He will not condone sin, and will contend for the faith, yet will not flaunt the imperfections. faults and slowness of spiritual growth of others. We cannot help but see marked defects in character, but we are not anxious to expose them. Would it not be more profitable to us and to them to pray for them? If we let these things cause us to fret and feel that we are appointed to expose another, we will find ourselves out of the grace of God and a fallen soul. The sanctified learns to grow in patience. Oh! dear heart, think of the infinite patience of Christ. How long he bore with us and how much we need his forbearance still! Charity suffers long and is kind. This River does not fluctuate with circumstances. It is always kind. It always is long suffering. In the home it flows calmly on. In school, at church, on the job, it remains the same. Flow on River of Charity. This world is dying of thirst; give them drink. One the outer evidences of the sanctified is the fact that charity doth not behave itself unseemly. One translation reads, “Doth not behave itself indecently.” The pure in heart does not act indecently or immodestly. Regardless of profession, a Christian will not wear immodest clothing. This mini-skirt craze found its origin with the ungodly, sensual and God defying womanhood. Woe to those that wear or sanction such! What has happened to womanhood? They fail to have the respect that should be theirs. Nudity and indecency has always been the trademark of the heathen, the fallen, the God defiers. No one could wear such and claim to be Godlike. Parading the body before the opposite sex to inflame passion and lust, is far from Christian. It is devilish, heathenish and rebellious against God’s Holy Word. Who could profess to love God and be filled with his spirit and behave indecently? That profession is false. Oh Jesus, let the love of God constrain us to discipline our lives, our outward actions, our dress, and all that this world sees, to align ourselves to the standard of God’s Word, of simplicity, modesty and holiness. Flow from us River of charity, out of a holy heart. Let our hearts burn in fervent love. With a deep compassion, that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, may we let this world know that Jesus loves them; that someone cares for their soul. Divine love that flows from a compassionate heart, will give all to reach the poorest for Christ. It will weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus who is mighty to save. Jesus prayed, “that the love wherewith thou hast loved me maybe in them, and I in them.” Charity never serves for praise. It finds its reward in being Christlike It acts not to please self, but to help others and please Him who loves most. God is love. We cannot be Godlike and do less than give ourselves for others. The follower must take up his cross, he must fall into the ground and die. He must be a servant of all. No task is too large or too small if it will rescue someone out of the hands of the enemy. We have already drunk of the fountain of Love but there must be an enlarging River flow from us. Far beyond the greatest of human love must be an abounding divine infilling and out flowing. Our thoughts must not be on self saving, but on self giving. We dare not have the spirit of the world, of survival, but out of our being will flow the spirit of giving or divine love in action and service.