Let all things be done in charity, so that every part of conduct and work and action and all Christian service is governed and guided by love. The charge falls with special force on all who labor for the Master, above all gospel ministers and church elders and men in sacred trust, and on all who have joined Christ's army and serve Him, demanding loyalty to Christ shown in a different class of work and a solemn obligation to represent Him in character.
The command stands together with watching, standing fast in the faith, quitting like men in courage, and being strong, with firmness in the faith rather than in plans of human devising. Manly strength and steadfastness are to find their completion and expression in love governing all things, and the whole exhortation is to be kept continually in memory as a motto, never to be forgotten even for a moment.
Charity here is love greater than faith and hope, springing from a heart transformed by grace with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, drawing nourishment from Him as branches of the living vine. It suffers long and is kind, and is to be put on above all with mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, and forgiveness as Christ forgave, holding all virtues together as the bond of perfect completeness.
Without this precious love of Jesus brought into the life there is no abiding in Christ. Words of ministry, however good in themselves, become powerless and dry and Christless, dragging the standard into the dust and draining vitality from the churches, so that the churches would be better off without such unconverted workers.
Where the command is obeyed it becomes manifest that the workers possess genuine faith, for true faith works by love and purifies the soul. That faith is shown by loving one another as Christ loved, thereby manifesting Christ and bearing His likeness to the world.
Living in this love requires cleansed character and an end to biting and devouring one another, with practicing of Christ's words and mutual help by prayer, and conduct in simplicity and godly sincerity by the grace of God. It is seen in kindness and Christlike courtesy, respect and deference, tender sympathy and care for all, and thoughtfulness for the good of others rather than cold unsympathy. Even those whom others despise are to be valued as purchased by Christ's blood, and harsh dealing with them is to be refused.
The word is spoken to sons and daughters of God who continually behold Jesus, calling them to honor themselves as His property and His field and building, and to reveal God's wisdom and Christ's righteousness in life. It involves treading humbly before the Lord, gaining deeper insight into what it means to be a Christian, becoming ready for opportunity, no longer living for self but hidden with Christ in God, and never losing sight of the love with which Christ loved. Believers are on display as a spectacle before the world, and men judge Christ's mercy and tenderness and patience and love by what they see manifested in His followers.
Let all things be done in charity, so that every part of conduct and work and action and all Christian service is governed and guided by love. The charge falls with special force on all who labor for the Master, above all gospel ministers and church elders and men in sacred trust, and on all who have joined Christ's army and serve Him, demanding loyalty to Christ shown in a different class of work and a solemn obligation to represent Him in character.
The command stands together with watching, standing fast in the faith, quitting like men in courage, and being strong, with firmness in the faith rather than in plans of human devising. Manly strength and steadfastness are to find their completion and expression in love governing all things, and the whole exhortation is to be kept continually in memory as a motto, never to be forgotten even for a moment.
Charity here is love greater than faith and hope, springing from a heart transformed by grace with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, drawing nourishment from Him as branches of the living vine. It suffers long and is kind, and is to be put on above all with mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, and forgiveness as Christ forgave, holding all virtues together as the bond of perfect completeness.
Without this precious love of Jesus brought into the life there is no abiding in Christ. Words of ministry, however good in themselves, become powerless and dry and Christless, dragging the standard into the dust and draining vitality from the churches, so that the churches would be better off without such unconverted workers.
Where the command is obeyed it becomes manifest that the workers possess genuine faith, for true faith works by love and purifies the soul. That faith is shown by loving one another as Christ loved, thereby manifesting Christ and bearing His likeness to the world.
Living in this love requires cleansed character and an end to biting and devouring one another, with practicing of Christ's words and mutual help by prayer, and conduct in simplicity and godly sincerity by the grace of God. It is seen in kindness and Christlike courtesy, respect and deference, tender sympathy and care for all, and thoughtfulness for the good of others rather than cold unsympathy. Even those whom others despise are to be valued as purchased by Christ's blood, and harsh dealing with them is to be refused.
The word is spoken to sons and daughters of God who continually behold Jesus, calling them to honor themselves as His property and His field and building, and to reveal God's wisdom and Christ's righteousness in life. It involves treading humbly before the Lord, gaining deeper insight into what it means to be a Christian, becoming ready for opportunity, no longer living for self but hidden with Christ in God, and never losing sight of the love with which Christ loved. Believers are on display as a spectacle before the world, and men judge Christ's mercy and tenderness and patience and love by what they see manifested in His followers.