The Love of God by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1874

The Love of God.

By Joseph Clarke

“He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.” Much is written in the Bible to inculcate the importance of love in the formation of character. The Old Testament is as clearly outspoken on this point as the New. Deut. 6: 5; 10: 12.

All the writings of holy men breathe an influence of holy love, some to a greater degree than others. “Without this holy, divine love, the most self-sacrificing devotion is empty as the sounding brass or the tinkling cymbal;” 1 Cor. 13: 1–3; and with it the smallest act of charity becomes acceptable to God. Mark 12: 41–44.

To gain possession of this love, and to hold it pure, is the great object and aim of all who would serve God acceptably. It is the gift of God, as was the manna of the wilderness; and it needs to be renewed every day, or it dies out in our own hearts. Our corrupt natures and corrupt world are not favorable to the growth of this love; therefore it needs to be daily renewed, as was the manna of the wilderness.

This love is not to be gained by our personal efforts alone, but by prayer and supplication. It is retained by obeying its dictates; for the love of God impels and prompts to obedience, duty, and active, self-sacrificing benevolence; and he who would not grieve away the Holy Spirit of love must daily and hourly cherish the heavenly gift. Prov. 8: 34.

The young and the old who seek this love will be careful to see that no vain or trifling subject engrosses the mind or the tongue, but that all is consistent and becoming those professing godliness.

This love is elevating and refining in its nature, and tends to clearness of mind and health of body, and is capable (when it has free course) of subduing all the evil passions, and causing men to become angelic and heavenly in their character and influence. It was this which imparted wisdom to Solomon; to Christ and his followers it gave power and goodness; and all good men have triumphed only through this influence of love.

To the martyrs this love gave patience and endurance, fortitude and firmness, and to the apostles it gave eloquence and holy fire, so that they spake with power, and men said of them as the Roman officers said of Christ, “Never man spake like this man.”

To the child this love imparts industry and prompt, cheerful obedience. To the parent it gives skill and consistency in instructing and training; and to the household it gives quiet and happiness. To the community it speaks of prosperity and security; and to the rulers, aid and support in all that is good.

But to the church especially this holy love speaks the language of Heaven, and reminds us of Eden, and points to the epoch of the apostles and the Pentecost, when the truth went forth conquering and to conquer. The work of God can be propelled only by means of this love; all other means alone are clumsy and powerless. To talk of this love is easy and smooth; but to pray so as attain to this love, and to live so as to retain it, is our every-day work; and if we have lost this precious gift, let us set about the work to regain it immediately though we labor long to recover it. Joseph Clarke.