Growing in Christ and the Principle of Charity

Growing your relationship with Jesus is a lifelong journey of daily communion, self-surrender, and active faith that transforms your entire characterULe 205.3+1. By making Christ your daily companion and seeking Him through prayer and the study of His Word, you will be changed into His divine imagePr 78.3+2.

Seek Daily Communion and Prayer

• Prioritize Secret Prayer: Spending quiet time alone with God is essential for spiritual growth, as the Father who sees in secret will reward you openly Matthew 6:6Pr 82.1+1.

• Make Christ Your Companion: As you make Jesus your daily friend, you will feel the presence of the unseen world around you, which softens and ennobles your character for the heavenly kingdomPr 78.3+1.

• Earnest Intercession: Like Jesus, who received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit every morning, we should pray with fervor and sincerity to receive strength for our daily dutiesPaM 283.1+1.

Engage Deeply with the Word of God

• Study the Scriptures: A familiar acquaintance with the Bible sharpens your discernment and fortifies your soul against the attacks of the enemyMYP 397.1+1.

• Focus on Christ: A religious experience that is not founded solely on Christ and His sacrifice is worthless, so we must lift Him up as our only hope5MR 252.4+1.

• Internalize the Truth: Feeding upon the important truths of God's Word allows the Holy Spirit to sanctify your heart and life John 17:17PrT December 29, 1892, par. 3+1.

Abide in Christ Through Faith and Obedience

• Constant Connection: Just as a branch must remain in the vine to bear fruit, you must maintain a vital connection with Jesus because without Him you can do nothing John 15:4-5HLv 453.2+1.

• Total Surrender: God requires the whole heart, and as you yield your will to Him, you will grow in grace and the knowledge of His divine natureRH June 7, 1887, par. 6+1.

• Reflect His Character: True sanctification results in a life of purity, humility, and unselfish service to others, revealing the transforming influence of graceFW 87.2+2.

Active Service and Fellowship

• Be a Witness: Sharing what the Lord has done for you through your words and actions increases your spiritual strength and encourages those around youMM 127.3+2.

• Unselfish Action: Testifying to your interest in God's cause by giving of your substance and laboring for the salvation of others strengthens the bond of Christian brotherhood2SM 214.1+2.

• Community and Worship: Attending meetings with a sense of personal responsibility for their success helps to increase your piety and intellectual powerPaM 184.1+1.

Persevere Through Conflict

• Lifelong Discipline: Sanctification is not the work of a moment but a lifetime of constantly dying to sin and living for ChristULe 205.3+1.

• Look Away from Self: Do not fix your eyes on discouraging features or feelings; instead, keep your mind fixed on the Saviour and His matchless love4MR 158.6+2.

• Victory Through Grace: Even the weakest saint can win the crown of glory by bringing their life into conformity with the will of Christ through divine powerAA 313.2+1.

As you walk in every ray of light provided to you, your love for Jesus will take deeper possession of your heart, mind, and soul John 12:35RH June 26, 1888, par. 6. By beholding Him, you will reflect His meekness and love to the worldPr 78.3+1. 🌟

To let all things be done with love or charity is to allow the unselfish, principle-based affection of Christ to become the governing power of the entire life 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. This divine charity is not a mere fitful feeling or impulse, but a living principle that springs spontaneously from a heart where self has been merged in ChristCOL 384.2+1.

The Nature of Christlike Charity

True charity is the "bond of perfectness," representing the highest attainment of the Christian character Colossians 3:141888 1509.2+1. It is described as being "suffereth long and is kind," envying not, and thinking no evil 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. This love is not restricted to a specific class of people but identifies with every child of humanity, recognizing that we are all part of the same great web of humanityHvn 98.2+1. When the love of Jesus is an abiding principle in the soul, it kills selfishness and prevents the exhibition of personal peculiarities or a sharp, domineering spiritPaM 53.3+2. It is the "gold tried in the fire" that enables the believer to withstand the fierce trials and temptations of lifeST July 1, 1886, par. 12.

Charity in Personal Relationships and Church Life

Practicing charity means moving beyond self-love and the tendency to judge or suspect others15MR 144.4+1. If we truly love our brethren, we will be pitiful, courteous, and willing to sacrifice our own wishes to clear away the "rubbish of suspicion"9T 192.4. This love leads to:

• Forgiveness: Just as God has freely forgiven us, we are to cherish a forgiving spirit toward those who err, realizing that without this spirit, we cannot receive God's forgiveness Colossians 3:1315MR 185.1+1.

• Restoration: Instead of turning away from the erring with cold eyes, Christian charity is quick to detect penitence and ready to encourage the wanderer back to the path of virtue Galatians 6:12SP 353.2+1.

• Speech: Charity sanctifies the talent of speech, ensuring that words are like "apples of gold in pictures of silver," free from harshness, severity, or ungenerous criticism4MR 285.1+2.

• Harmony: When real politeness and the golden rule are the cornerstones of character, church trials and animosity disappear, replaced by a Christlike harmony that gives the world a glimpse of heavenCCh 343.2+1.

Charity as Practical Benevolence

Biblical charity is inseparable from active deeds of kindness and the relief of suffering humanityCCh 309.5+1. It is the "gospel practiced," where we act as the Lord’s helping hand to uplift the oppressed and rescue those ready to perish16MR 73.4+1. Christ identifies Himself so closely with suffering humanity that any act of mercy done for the "least of these" is accepted as if done directly to Him Matthew 25:40RH November 21, 1878, par. 19+1. This practical benevolence includes:

• Liberality: Spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality; the sower multiplies his seed by casting it away, and so those who impart God’s gifts increase their own blessings Proverbs 11:24TT 181.5+1.

• Care for the Needy: God has placed the poor and the orphan among us to test our hearts and develop our sympathy and loveMMis November 1, 1894, par. 2+1.

• Missionary Labor: Love is the most powerful tool in reaching souls; five words spoken privately in love and kindness often accomplish more than a whole discourse2SAT 83.5+1.

The Requirement for Perfection of Character

No matter how high one's profession or how great their faith, if the heart is not imbued with love for God and man, that person is not a disciple of Christ 1 Corinthians 13:1-35T 168.2. We cannot come into possession of this spirit by merely trying to love others; we must have the love of Christ in the heart through the work of the Holy Spirit13MR 78.3+1. This love is the only power that can transform the character, making it "holy and without blemish" Ephesians 5:2719MR 32.3+1. As we cultivate the attributes of His character, we elevate and gladden the lives of those around us, leaving the impress of Christ upon everyone we meetChL 36.1+1.

In summary, to do all things with charity is to reflect the perfection of Christ’s character in every word and deed, demonstrating that the truth is a living principle in the soulBTS October 1, 1916, par. 4+1. It is a transformational experience that prepares us for the society of heavenly angels, where no harsh or unkind words are ever spokenST February 18, 1903, par. 8+1.