Article November 17, 1951 Issue

WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE

WILFRED S. THORPE

"Beloved , let us love one another," we are counseled in the first epistle of John (4:7): "for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

According to St. John, then, to know God and to show that we are born of Him we must love. This love which is of God must be a purer love than that commonly expressed by mortals; it must be more than a deep sense of devotion or great consideration that is shown to a cherished few. This Godlike love cannot be ruled by personal likes and dislikes; neither can it be possessive or limited in scope, but it must be felt for all. Furthermore, this pure love must be free from even a tinge of selfishness, for that which is impelled by personal gain could not originate in the ever-loving Father-Mother God. So we must endeavor to broaden our sphere of thought by purifying and widening our concept of love.

Humanly interpreted, love is a deep desire to be of service, a quality of thought from which helpfulness outwardly manifested springs, an ever-active mental force constantly emphasizing God's omnipotence and omnipresence. This love, proceeding directly from God, destroys the belief in evil and thus impels a joyous sense, regardless of conditions, irrespective of what men may do or think.

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