O come, let us adore Him - Day 13

Charity and Love

Charity is the pure love of Christ and it is the third attribute.  It is a Christlike attribute I desire to more fully develop. What better time of year than the month of the Savior's birth to strive to show more charity and love towards people?  Reaching out to show more love and kindness brings such rich blessings to the giver and to the receiver.  There is no better feeling than helping someone carry their burdens or in carrying the burden for them for a time while they rest and regain strength.  

I love these verses from the scriptures. 

Matthew 25:31-46

31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

We all have the tradition of giving gifts to people on their birthdays.  Why not give a gift to the Savior on His birthday by doing "giving" unto another and thereby doing or "giving" it unto Him?

• Do we know someone who is hungered, either of body or spirit?  Can we give them meat in the physical sense or in the spiritual sense?  Can we feed with with the good word of God or share with them an actual meal? Are they lonely and discourage, depressed and scared?  How can we "feed" them?
• Do we know someone who is thirsty to whom we could give a drink?  Maybe it will be an actual drink of some sort, but maybe we could provide them with something else that they are in need of and for which they thirst or desire?
• Do we know any strangers who we might take in, provide them with shelter, peace and comfort? If not actually, then in helping to provide for their needs so that they have sufficient shelter and food?
• Do we know anyone who is naked that we night be able to provide some sort of clothing to them?  A new coat, warm boots, gloves and necessaries.
• Do we remember the sick at this time of year?  Could we pay them a visit and offer them some comfort and cheer?  Do we know people who have recently lost loved ones?  Can we bring them some hope and comfort spiritually or emotionally?
• Do we know anyone who is literally in prison?  What a dreary place to be during Christmas.  We could visit them and offer them some cheer.  Do we know people who are in prisons of their own making because of poor choices or addictions? Can we provide some charity towards them and give them a piece of our Saviors love?

If we don't do it, who will?  

I hope we can strive to do something this year in our celebrations to bring a little comfort and cheer to someone who needs to feel the love of the Savior.  The possibilities are endless, and the motivations are pure Christlike.  We strive to "do it unto Him" whose birth we celebrate.   Verse 45 is a motivating reminder to me:

 Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.