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Love One Another

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 3, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 16.

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Love One Another.

By Josephine Mott

It is said that when the apostle John had become so aged and infirm as to be unable to go to the place of worship without being carried by his disciples, being too weak to make long discourses, he would always repeat these words to the church: “Little children, love one another.” How deeply this exhortation of their beloved pastor must have sunk into their hearts as they saw the one who had labored and prayed for them, and endured afflictions, and imprisonment on the desolate isle of Patmos until he had almost reached the grave, stand up and say, “Little children, love one another”! Yet it is said that they wondered at the frequent repetition of this exhortation, and his answer to their question was, “This is what the Lord commands you; and this, if you do it, is sufficient.”
Does the Lord require less of his people now, in these last evil days? Can they get along with less love now than in John's day? From the actions of God's professed people now-a-days, it would seem as though they thought so; but is it true? Paul says, “Love is the fulfilling of the law;” and if we profess to keep the commandments of God we must surely love one another. It is our duty to love every one, even our enemies.
What! says one, love our enemies? that is n't man-like. I know it is n't man-like, but I’ll tell you what it is like; it is Christ-like. The blessed Saviour died for his enemies—loved them even to the death of the cross. Yes; and while hanging on the cruel tree, he prayed for his persecutors, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” Even in his dying agony Jesus loved his enemies, and prayed for their forgiveness. This was love. And if he loved his enemies so much, with what tenderness his heart must have yearned over his followers.
If we would be like Jesus, we must love like him. Oh! that there were more Christian love among Sabbath-keepers, less jealousies, slanders and backbiting, surmisings this thing and that thing until many a heart aches, and feels, as a dear friend said to me a few days ago, “I am sick of the world.” Oh! we might so live that it could be said of us, See how these Christians love! Love is strong as death. Jealousy is cruel as the grave. Little children, love one another.
JOSEPHINE MOTT.