"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us."--Eph. v. 2.
"Jesus," says a writer, "came from heaven on the wings of love." It was
the element in which he moved and walked. He sought to baptize the world
afresh with it. When we find Him teaching us by love to vanquish an
_enemy_, we need not wonder at the tenderness of His appeals to the
_brethren_ to "love one another." Like a fond father impressing his
children, how the Divine Teacher lingers over the lesson, "This is _My_
commandment!"
If selfishness had guided His actions, we might have expected him to
demand all His people's love for himself. But He claims no such
monopoly. He not only encourages mutual affection, but He makes it the
badge of discipleship! He gives them at once its measure and motive.
"Love one another, as I have loved you!" What a love was that!--it
reached to the lowliest and humblest,--"Inasmuch as ye did it to the
_least_ of these, ye did it unto _Me_."
Ah! if such was the Elder Brother's love to His younger brethren, what
should the love of these younger brothers be for one another! How
humbling that there should be so much that is sadly and strangely unlike
the spirit which our blessed Master sought to inculcate alike by precept
and example! Individual Christians, why these bitter estrangements,
these censorious words, these harsh judgments, this want of kind
consideration of the feelings and failings of those who may differ from
you? Why are your friendships so often like the summer brook, soon
dried? You hope, ere long, to meet in glory. Doubtless when you enter on
that "sabbath of love," many a greeting will be this, "Alas! my
brother, that on earth I did not love thee more!"
Do you see the image of God in a professing believer? It is your duty to
love him for the sake of that image. No church, no outward livery, no
denominational creed, should prevent your owning and claiming him as a
fellow-pilgrim and fellow-heir. It has been said of a portrait, however
poor the painting, however unfinished the style, however faulty the
touches, however coarse and unseemly the frame, yet if the _likeness_ be
faithful, we overlook many subordinate defects. So it is with the
Christian: however plain the exterior, however rough the setting, or
even manifold the blemishes still found cleaving to a
partially-sanctified nature, yet if the Redeemer's _likeness_ be feebly
and faintly traced there, we should love the copy for the sake of the
Divine Original. There may be other bonds of association and intercourse
linking spirit with spirit; family ties, mental congenialities,
intellectual tastes, philanthropic pursuits; but that which ought to
take the precedence of all, is the love of God's image in the brethren.
What will heaven be but this love perfected--loving Christ, and beloved
by those who love Him?
Reader! seek to love _Him_ more, and you will love His people more. John
had more love than the other disciples. Why? He drank deepest of the
love within that Bosom on which he delighted to lean, every beat of
which was love. "Walk," then, "in love!" Let it be the very foot-road
you tread; let your way to heaven be paved with it. Soon shall we come
to look within the portal. Then shall every jarring and dissonant note
be merged into the sublime harmonies of "the new heavens and the new
earth," and we shall all "see eye to eye!"
"ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND."
Eleventh Day.