Love to God and Love to Our Neighbor
By V. Morrow
There is no subject that is made more prominent in the Holy Scriptures than that of love—love to God and love to our fellow-men. John says, “He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.” In the first place, God requires the warmest and truest affections that we are capable of feeling. He must be loved above all other objects. We read that a certain one came to Jesus with this inquiry, “Master, what is the great commandment in the law.” The answer was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” If we say we love God, we must show our love by our works, and faith in his words. Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” And again, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” The child of God who sincerely loves him will willingly and cheerfully perform that which he has commanded. Then if we do not keep the commandments of God, we do not love him; for in this manner we are to show our love. If we have no feelings of love toward God, we may safely conclude that he does not dwell there; for “God is love,” and cannot dwell where there is no love. We must love God indeed and in truth; but our love must not end here. It should also extend to our brethren and sisters. It is impossible to love God without at the same time regarding his followers with some degree of affection. If ye love not those whom ye have seen, how can ye love God whom ye have not seen? Also, “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness, even until now.” We have an example, even Christ, and we are commanded to walk in his footsteps. Who of us can attain to such love as was manifested by him? Who but our great Pattern has ever exhibited perfect love? Oh! may we learn to imitate his example in all things. Let us examine our hearts carefully, and see whether we are in the faith. Are we not setting our affections too much on the world? Is there not some idol which we are loth to relinquish? Let us look well to ourselves. There is a test by which we may determine just where we stand, and that is the word of God. “Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him.” The Saviour is soon coming. Signs are multiplying fast around us. Do we, can we realize that his coming is so near at hand? How essential it is that we prepare for this great event! Soon he will descend to earth on the great white cloud, and all who love him enough to be waiting and watching for his coming will be “caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.” May we keep all his commandments, and not be found among that number who will call for rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” V. Morrow.