Is this your religion?
(John Angell James, "Christian Love")
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"If I have the gift of prophecy and can
fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing!"
1 Corinthians 13:2
LOVE is a grace which many professing
Christians think far too little about; but
it is of infinite value in the eyes of GOD.
Love is the most characteristic feature
of CHRIST'S image in a renewed man.
Love is the most precious fruit of grace;
and yet the fruit which too many of HIS
professed followers seem to think themselves
hardly under any obligation to cultivate.
Christian love is that benevolent disposition
or kindness, which consists in good-will to all
creatures, and which leads us as we have
opportunity, to promote their happiness.
The apostle has given us a description
of the exercises of this noble and
god-like principle:
"LOVE is patient"
(1 Corinthians 13:4a)
and forbearing under injuries and
annoyances; and does not revile,
revenge, or retaliate.
"LOVE is kind,"
(1 Corinthians 13:4a)
not harsh or crude--
but ever ready, willing, and pleased
by looks, words, and actions,
to promote the comfort of others.
"LOVE does not envy."
(1 Corinthians 13:4b)
It does not pine and grieve at the sight
of another's superior possessions,
fame, happiness, or piety--
or dislike him on that account.
"LOVE does not boast. Love is not proud."
(1 Corinthians 13:4c)
It neither boasts its own gifts, achievements,
and possessions; nor despises others,
nor makes insulting comparisons--
but is humble and gentle.
"LOVE does not behave unseemly."
(1 Corinthians 13:5)
It modestly keeps its place, and does
nothing to offend by what is unfitting
its rank, station, or circumstances.
"LOVE seeks not her own."
(1 Corinthians 13:5b)
It does not selfishly want to have its
own way, or promote its own interest--
to the neglect of others.
"LOVE is not easily provoked."
(1 Corinthians 13:5c)
It governs its temper, controls
its passions, and is not soon or
unreasonably irritable or petulant.
"LOVE thinks no evil."
(1 Corinthians 13:5d)
It is not censorious, nor forward to
impute a bad motive to a doubtful action--
but is disposed to put the best construction
on the actions and words of others.
"LOVE rejoices not in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth."
(1 Corinthians 13:6)
It does not delight in the sins--
but in the excellences of an opponent.
"LOVE bears (or covers) all things."
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
It does not divulge, proclaim,
aggravate faults--
but hides them as far as it can,
and it is right to do so.
"LOVE believes all things,"
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
that are to the advantage of another.
"LOVE hopes all things,"
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
where there is not sufficient
evidence to authorize belief.
"LOVE endures all things,"
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
bears hardships, sustains labor,
makes sacrifices--
in order to accomplish its purposes
of good-will.
Such is love in exercise and act.
This is benevolence--
this is a regard to the happiness
of others. Whoever acts thus, must
promote happiness. He must bless all
around him. All things smile in his presence.
Beautiful description!
Heavenly temper!
Godlike mind!
Now, dear friends, look at love!
Gaze upon . . .
its lovely form,
its beautiful countenance,
its graceful actings.
Observe its seraphic glow, its divine
temper, until you are all enamored
with its charms. But look at it not
only as something to be admired--
but to be possessed and practiced.
Unless this is your temperament,
you are not Christians.
I do not say you cannot be Christians
unless you have love in perfection.
But you must have the principle of love,
and must be living in its exercise. You are
Christians no further than you live under
its influence.
No matter what knowledge you may have
of the doctrines of the gospel; what seeming
faith you may possess; what zeal you may manifest;
what liberality you may exercise; what regularity,
and punctuality in attendance upon the means
of grace you may maintain--
if love is lacking, all this is of no avail.
Nothing can be a substitute for love.
Christianity is love . . .
not a slavish attendance on ceremonies,
not receiving the sacraments,
not zeal for orthodoxy,
not a form of church government,
not belonging to any particular church.
GOD'S eternal thoughts and purposes
in election, CHRIST'S redeeming work
upon the cross, the SPIRIT'S omnipotent
agency in regeneration, are not merely to bring
us under a particular ecclesiastical regimen--
but to deliver us from the dominion of selfishness,
and place us under the reign of love, and thus
make us like GOD!
If an individual is destitute of love,
he has no saving religion. He may be
zealous for the forms of Christianity,
but he is destitute of its living spirit.
And now, my dear friends, let me
entreat you to examine yourselves
concerning this great essential
of the Christian character:
Are you experimentally acquainted
with this disposition?
Is this your religion?
Is your temperament thus molded?
Is that one word 'love' characteristic
of your spirit?
Has GOD'S love to you, changed
you into its own likeness?
Do you know what it is to have pride,
passion, envy, malice, selfishness--
subdued, repressed, resisted--
by a meek, gentle, lowly, forgiving,
forbearing, generous, self-denying temper?
Are the harshness, hardness,
asperity of the fallen nature--
displaced by the softness, sweetness,
and kindness of true love?
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