Let Us Love One Another
By F. M. W.
Writes the apostle John to the church in his day, and to the church in every age, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” As a reason why this love should exist in the church, the apostle cites the wonderful love of God manifested in the gift of his Son for the salvation of the world, and concludes his argument, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:7, 8, 11. The Great Teacher taught the same lesson to his disciples. “A new commandment give I unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34, 35. The church of God through all ages has afforded many beautiful instances of this love among brethren. Many have adorned the profession of Christ by lives of sacrifice in the ministry of loving service. This bond of love has kept alive the torch of truth in many dark, trying periods of church history. But how many in every age have refused to allow this blessed principle to control their relationship to their fellows! The disciples needed the admonition of the Master. The early church needed the exhortation of the apostle. The church of God in this age—the Seventh-day Adventist Church—needs the counsel as well. How the enemy delights to sow among brethren the seeds of doubt, distrust, jealousy, and malice. The most trivial incidents are magnified to bring about good alienation. A man is made an offender for a word. Let us today heed the divine admonition. Let us seek to come near to one another; to enter into one another’s hopes and plans and purposes; to bear one another’s burdens. Love will turn the words of criticism, gall, and bitterness into words fitly spoken, like unto “apples of gold in pictures of silver.” It will give us smiles instead of frowns; words of cheer and encouragement for our brethren instead of silence and coldness. True love is not a matter of sentiment, nor is it sentimental in its exercise. It does not condone sin nor excuse wrong-doing, but it says to the sinner, “Go, and sin no more;” it reaches down the hand to those fallen into the pit, and bids them rise in the name and strength of Jehovah; it seeks not only present pleasure, but, above all, the eternal good. The need of the church today is for this spirit of love in its members. “Beloved, let us love one another.” F. M. W.