I want to be humble.

And I want to be full of love.

That’s how I picture my Savior. (And, what I’ve learned about Him from the scriptures.)

Someone who didn’t get offended.

Someone who reacted with emotional maturity.

Someone who invited all to worship Him, and yet showed no pride.

Someone who wasn’t focused on all the injustices in his life.

Someone who noticed the “others”.

Someone who wasn’t focused on fitting in or making good friends.

He was just… a good friend to all.

He just loved and served.

And those are the kinds of servants the Lord wants. He wants humble people who are full of love.

But He’ll also take us as we are right now.

One thing I’ve learned about humility is that it is really only achieved in my life by getting rid of pride.

Whereas gaining love is mostly achieved by seeing others how they truly are.

Ultimately, it’s seeing ourselves and others exactly how Christ sees us.

Understanding our great worth and value, and understanding that we are surrounded by people with the same worth and value.

We aren’t more than or less than anyone else.

Treating everyone like the special Son or Daughter of God that they are.

That’s really what love and humility mean, right?

I know where I stand with God, that knowledge never wavers, and I extend that godly love to all of His children.

I’ll keep working on it!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Love and humility first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Never fails… whom?

I’ve been pondering on that this week.

And I really think that charity never fails US.

I think most of us can recite that “charity is the pure love of Christ”.

But then I hope I’m not alone in often picturing charity as an action. Reaching out. Making a call. Pulling weeds. Making beds. Being a listening ear.

(Which are all amazing actions to take, of course!)

But I think it’s important to remember that charity is actually just a feeling.

In fact, according to the Bible Dictionary, charity is “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love”.

In the scriptures, the word “charity” is never even used to refer to good deeds.

Instead, it is an emotion we feel inside of ourselves.

It can totally be the motivating factor for us to then reach out and perform acts of service for other people!

But charity is love.

Feeling love NEVER fails US.

I clarify “US” because our acts of service can certainly fail other people.

I may think I’m being a fantastic ministering sister, while someone complains that I don’t fulfill my assignment very well.

I may think I’m being a helpful volunteer, while someone thinks that I’m wasting my time.

I may think I’m being thoughtful, while someone thinks I’m being overbearing.

I can’t control how the pure love that I feel in my heart is then perceived by other people. (Of course, tact and sensitivity are always qualities I strive for, too! But at the end of the day, I can only do my best.)

But the Godly love that I try to cultivate can change me. It can save me.

What a timely message, right?!

The more love we feel for other people, the more Christlike we become. Because He loves everyone, too.

Everything else will fail in the end.

But feeling a deep love, a love that is kind, patient, and humble… THAT will sustain us through everything.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Highest, Noblest, and Strongest Love first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.