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A Gift

7/9/2020

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Picture
Does "practice makes perfect" apply to love?

I used to think that I could “improve” how I love, looking for ways to make myself “more loving,” as though it were simply a matter of exercise and eating more vegetables.

But when it comes to God's pure love, how can we possibly improve or increase what is already perfect and eternal?

Charity is a Gift

Love is a gift of the Spirit. 

We are told to seek the gifts of the Spirit “earnestly,” and specifically to seek charity “with all the energy of heart” (Moro. 7:48).  

​A "gift" by definition cannot be earned, otherwise it would be called a wage.  

We cannot manipulate charity any more than we can our liver or pancreas.  

Jesus reminded us that we cannot make one hair of our heads black or white (Matt. 5:36), but in a day characterized by perfectionism and self-help (and hair dye), it feels strange to be completely dependent upon God for this gift.

Charity is Christ's Love, Not Mine

Can we see the difference between “I am going to love others with Christ-like love” and “I am going to love others with Christ’s love”? 

One is an approximation, or imitation (no matter how sincere)—the other is the genuine article. 

For example, I could dress up as a police officer and appear “police-like”, but I would not be able to arrest you because I do not have the authority. 

In fact, it is a crime to impersonate a police officer, and it is a sin when

          men preach
          and set themselves up
          for a light
          unto the world,

          That they may get
          gain and praise
          of the world.

(2 Nephi 26:29)

Which is essentially wanting credit for being Christ-like, and evidence of how unlike Him we are. 

So we do not want to “dress-up” like Christ—we want to take upon us His nature, and to be filled with His actual love. 

​Who doesn't like unwrapping gifts? 
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  • Home
  • Poetry
    • Seven Stations of the Cross >
      • Jesus Condemned to Die >
        • Life Signs
        • Fashionable Religion
        • Tithing Declaration
        • A Pretty Important Detail
        • Jesus is All
        • Salt Lake Temple
        • Zion in the Lion's Den
        • High Noon
        • Bookmark
      • Jesus Stumbles and Falls >
        • Unveil
      • Simon of Cyrene Bears the Cross
      • Women of Jerusalem Weep
      • Jesus Stripped of His Garment
      • Jesus Nailed to the Cross
      • Burial and Resurrection
    • Fleeing Egypt >
      • Tower of Babel
      • The Orchard
      • Tithing Settlement
      • Chastity for Churches
      • Sign
      • Cleaning House
      • Elijah
      • Rulers of Sodom
      • Beware
      • Two Churches
      • Beginning At My Sanctuary
      • Toll Road
      • Get it Strait
      • Corporation Sole
      • The Religion of the Circle R
      • Fig Tree
      • Eve
      • New Jerusalem
      • Shemlon's Shore
    • Ascending Sinai >
      • Ark
      • Sin of the Calf
      • An Idol Observation
      • Dew from Heaven
      • I love you, Elder Holland
      • Easter
      • How Sweet
      • Haiku
      • The Barn
      • Patron Saint
      • A Conversation with Brigham Young
      • Mine Testimony
      • The Meadow
      • The Gardens
      • Ice Fishing
      • Without End
      • Forest
      • Continental Divide
      • A Great Sacrifice
    • Promised Land >
      • Lanolin
      • Zion
      • Wisdom
      • Take Up Your Cross
      • Was the Sun the Same
      • Plain and Precious
      • Bridegroom
      • Faith
      • Amos
      • But First
      • Wax
      • Parable of the Piano
      • Repentance
      • Wake Up, Child
      • Cold Storage
      • Covered Wagon
      • Multiply and Replenish
      • Rollercoaster
      • The Baptist
  • Blog
    • Previous Posts >
      • 2023 Posts
      • 2022 Posts
      • 2021 Posts
      • 2020 Posts
  • About
  • Contact