Article December 4, 1937 Issue

"Love one another"

HELEN JEANNE COX

Many centuries ago the Apostle John wrote in his first epistle, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" It seems quite as difficult today to reconcile the differences which sometimes seem to exist between those of the same household of faith with their profession of Christianity, as it must have been when John penned this keen rebuke. The apostle was emphasizing the truth which Jesus had so clearly taught and demonstrated—that because God is Love, men can find and know God only through loving. If they do not have love in their hearts for their brother, how can they be conscious of the Love which is God Himself?

In Deuteronomy the command is given, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might;" and in Leviticus we read, "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

Such was the law that was to be given a higher meaning, a clearer interpretation, in the gospel of Christ Jesus, as seen in the tender words of consolation and comfort with which the Master sought to prepare his disciples for the approaching test of their faith. They were to love one another as he had loved them. Through his understanding of divine Love he had faced the opposition of the carnal mind, and in his charity for those who would persecute him, his tenderness and patience with the dullness of his followers, his forgiveness of his enemies, he showed the way for all mankind. Who could hope to equal such compassionate love! Yet this was the command laid upon all those who in all time to come were to exemplify his teachings and emulate his works. They were to be known as his disciples, if they had "love one to another."

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