The Grace of Love by Mrs. B. J. Cady

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 12, 1906

The Grace of Love

By Mrs. B. J. Cady

MRS. B. J. CADY

As workers together with God, how desirous we are of seeing souls converted to the truth, that they may enjoy the blessings promised to the obedient. But as we seek to turn them to the Lord, we must be prompted by love, or our efforts will be in vain.

Even though we may be able to present the truth with great eloquence, and to make it so plain that all can see it, yet if we have no charity, our words are to others only as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. They hear them, and may see that they are the truth, but their hearts are not stirred to obedience.

We may have a perfect understanding of the truth, and of things in general, so that our judgment is considered almost infallible, yet if we do not love the souls for whom our Saviour gave his life, our wisdom will profit us nothing. And we may even have great faith such as is seldom seen in the world to-day, and by that faith perform great miracles, yet if we do not love the Lord with all the might, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, then we are nothing.

We might be very generous and give all that we have to help the poor and needy, yet if our good works are not prompted by love, but only by a desire to appear good, we shall have no credit for it. Some may be so zealous in upholding a cherished doctrine that they will allow themselves to be burned to death rather than to retract. If they are prompted by love, then all is well; but if they are devoid of love, and it is some selfish motive which leads them to make such a sacrifice, it will profit them nothing.

Then how necessary love is. It behooves us to see that we have that grace in our hearts. If we are not certain that we have it, let us read 1 Cor. 13: 4-7 and find out. These verses tell us how true love will feel and act. If it is in us, we shall suffer long and be kind. We shall not be envious of others’ success. We shall not feel puffed up, neither shall we exalt or praise ourselves. We shall be willing to yield our natural rights for others’ good, because we love them as we love ourselves. We shall not be easily provoked by what others say or do, but shall bear all things patiently and kindly. Instead of taking delight in those things which God’s Word condemns, we shall abhor them. But we shall appreciate the truth, and shall be happy in obeying it.

Since we are nothing without this grace, how earnestly we should seek for it. If we have had our hearts filled with hatred, envy, and strife, we can not of ourselves change them. But the Lord has promised to take away our hard, stony hearts, and give us hearts that will feel. Eze. 36: 26. So let us plead with him to fill our hearts with his love, that we may live the life of Christ here on earth, and so save ourselves and others.