p. 8 | LOVE AND HUMILITY by J. G. Matteson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 19.

LOVE AND HUMILITY.

By J. G. Matteson

BY ELDER J. G. MATTESON.

LOVE is the principle element in Christianity, but it does not appear except in company with humility. These two, love and humility, always go together. Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. He is also love; for God is love. Jesus manifested his love to us when he gave up his glory and joy in heaven, and went about on the earth as a poor, humble man, doing good to those who were rebels against his government, and despised and hated him. At last he gave his life on the cross for his enemies. He gave his life for us and loved us before we cared at all about him.

Jesus died for me; therefore I know that he loves me. He rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, and intercedes before the throne of God for me as my high priest and advocate; therefore I know that he loves me. He went after me with his word and spirit when I was a straying sheep; therefore I know that he loves me. He caused the rays of eternal love to enter my soul and melt my heart in order that I, with a spirit of repentance and humble submission, might turn to him; therefore I know that he loves me.

Jesus continues every day to speak to me by his word and remind me by his Spirit; therefore I know that he loves me. Oh, how strong and unchangeable is the love of Jesus! Then I turned, and now I turn, to my crucified Redeemer. By faith I see his noble, holy, gentle face. I see his head crowned with thorns bowed down for me on the cross in anguish and death. I see in his dim eyes the heavenly flame of love, whose light was extinguished in death for me, and I see that Jesus loves me.

Was the light of love extinguished?—Yes, on earth, but not in heaven. Extinguished on earth a little while in order that it afterward might shine on earth with everlasting glory. Oh, wonderful revelation of Him who is love! God became man and dwelt among us. God was in Christ, and reconciled the world to himself. This is the great mystery of godliness. Divine love and humility united into one wonderful heavenly light which shines on the narrow way from earth to heaven; from the impure mire and abyss of sin, to the bright mansions of holiness; from the dark pit of vice, to the eternal kingdom of glory; from the sad land of misery and death, to the heavenly home, of bliss and immortality.

God is revealed to us in Christ. He loves us. He loves you, dear reader, whosoever you are, young or old, rich or poor, well or sick. He loves you with an eternal love. Do you believe this? Do you think of it? Then you will also love him again. You will humble yourselves before the Lord, since he humbled himself for your sake. You will serve him, because he served you, and gave his life a ransom for you. Matt. 20:28.

But if you do not believe that God loves you, then he does love you, nevertheless. Your unbelief does not change God's faithfulness. He does not love you because you despise him and his holy commandments, neither does he love you because you serve him and obey him, but he loves you because he himself is love. You cannot, by your sin or virtue, diminish or increase the love of God. Do not cherish the idea that God becomes more loving and kind when you have done his will one day or one year. No, no; God cannot be filled with more love than he had six thousand years ago, or a thousand times six thousand years ago. God has always been, is now, and will always be love.

And this divine love is in Christ united with the greatest humility which ever has been and ever can be shown. May this great gospel truth shine clearly into our hearts. God loves you because he is love. He also loves me for the same reason. And he has proved this to us by giving his only-begotten Son to die for our sins and give us eternal life. He has united humility with divine love. Let us then call God our Father in Christ, and love him as our Father, and serve him as our Father, and ask him every day to teach us how we may unite humility with love in our everyday life, that we may love all, without any respect of persons, just as God has loved us.

College View, Neb.