When in his first epistle John voiced the great truth that the terms "Love" and "God" are synonymous, he was sharing with humanity a knowledge of God entirely in accord with the demonstrable teachings of the great Master, Christ Jesus. John implied by his statement that the nature of God is lovable, loving, beautiful, spiritual, satisfying, fatherly, motherly—wholly good.

The beloved disciple did not deal merely with abstractions when denominating God as Love, but also showed mankind how to become conscious of God as Love—how to avail themselves of the loving, infinite power which heals the sick and reforms the sinner. He stated (I John 4:12): "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

In "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, states (p. 234): "Love is the Principle of divine Science; and Love is not learned of the material senses, nor gained by a culpable attempt to seem what we have not lifted ourselves to be, namely, a Christian. In love for man, we gain a true sense of Love as God; and in no other way can we reach this spiritual sense, and rise—and still rise— to things most essential and divine."

As an individual knows the spiritual fact concerning any situation, he brings into activity in human experience the law of Love, the law of Principle. This law is the law of good, the law of omnipotence, the law of omniaction. Hence, through love, the correcting and healing power of God comes into action in a way that has no limits.

The love which one expresses through Christianly scientific thinking and acting forms for him the link between God's goodness and his daily experience. Christian Science teaches that what is accepted as real in one's consciousness determines one's human experience. The false thoughts as to what constitutes reality have seemingly produced inharmony. As these thoughts, however, are displaced by the health-giving and harmony-producing facts of true being, God's government and His omnipotent healing goodness are literally manifested in human affairs.

To be well and harmonious, mankind must learn to love as Jesus did. To love is to fill thought with the spiritual facts concerning one's true selfhood and that of one's neighbors. Each individual who loves scientifically and universally not only finds health and happiness accruing to himself, but also becomes humanity's benefactor. He brings in some degree to human consciousness that which uplifts, purifies, harmonizes, and thus heals sin, disease, and finally death itself.

One fulfills one's mission to express God aright and finds an improved sense of goodness in every direction in the proportion that one expresses love right where and when temptation to express hatred, resentment, or ill will seems to be. One may be tempted at times to feel that his understanding of the truth and his efforts to express love cannot heal certain unhappy situations because the trouble seems to be caused by someone else. If two persons are in a darkened room, and only one of them knows how to turn on the light, it is readily admitted that if the latter turns on the light for himself, he cannot help but bring light to the other at the same time. The one who knows and maintains the truth or who loves brings in some degree the light of Christ-healing to the consciousness of others.

We all desire to help gain a peaceful solution to the problems in the government of our own nation and in the world. As we begin where we are by bringing out love and improving conditions among those with whom we have daily contact, we shall find this day of peace dawning much more rapidly than we ever thought possible.

A student of Christian Science was called upon to perform a function that called for very close cooperation with one who had never worked harmoniously with him. As the student strove to translate the situation into terms of divine reality, he saw that God loved them both, and therefore that each one, as God's reflection, literally reflected God's love for both; hence there could be nothing but love in the experience.

As a result, there was a most wonderful sense of co-operation, love, and friendship throughout the entire time that the activity continued. And this friendly relationship was maintained from that time on. The true sense of love strengthened, enlightened, and benefited both. This fact shows that as an individual reflects Love, he brings into action the love of God not only for himself, but for all. Love is all-inclusive; it therefore includes each one of us, and each must in reality express love for everyone. All of God's children are literally bound together with bands of love. His children love one another because they reflect God, who loves all.

Our Leader tells us in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 189), "The government of divine Love derives its omnipotence from the love it creates in the heart of man; for love is allegiant, and there is no loyalty apart from love." How wonderful to know that by reflecting Love we literally bring into human experience that which creates love in the hearts of others. And nothing can resist the power of Love.

Error, hatred, sickness, and sin can be resisted effectively and overcome by Love because they are unreal and because Love is irresistible and real. It is eternal, changeless, omnipotent. When we love, we avail ourselves of the power Jesus promised in these words (Luke 10:19): "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."