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The Gospel of Love

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 45.

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The Gospel of Love

By H. E. Sawyer-Hopkins

H. E. SAWYER-HOPKINS
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” “Walk in love.” “Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” “See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” “All are to be treated with refinement and delicacy, as the sons and daughters of God.”
Shall we have our favorites, manifesting our sympathy and love toward some particular persons whom we fancy, and not toward others? What matter if we do see things that do not meet our ideas? We all have some defect. Sometimes we are brought in contact with disagreeable people to try us, to see if we regard God’s words. We must remember that there is nothing placed between the lids of the Bible that is not to be heeded; there is nothing to be passed by indifferently. We read that Jesus was no respecter of persons. “If ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin.” Are not the apostle John’s exhortations to love needed to-day more than ever, when the trials of life are harder to bear?
How much happiness might be brought into the lives of our fellow beings if all cold formality were rooted out, and the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. Let us give way to one another, and put away our determination to have our way. Let love reign in the home. Paul says that in the last days many will be “without natural affection.” Not that we are to make an ado over our fellow creatures, but we should show an interest where it belongs. By a kindly greeting manifest sociability; perform deeds of love in the home and out of it,—these attentions cost nothing. Let us show a true, Christian spirit. “And the Lord make you increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.” 1 Thess. 3:12.
I believe the time is not far distant when this gospel of love will be revived in the hearts of God’s people. But shall we be compelled to wait until persecution comes?
Long Beach, Cal.