"A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU:" we are to love one another. Our Lord's new commandment was also His last, and most important. The root of all charitable service is love. Love springs from faith and produces all good. Nothing that we can do is good except it flows from love. Love is the chief thing in faith. We may have gifts, honours, and benevolence: but without love, we are only as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. The flesh desires to rule over others but grace is willing to serve. Look around you: are there not many whom you can serve, and serve effectually, without neglecting your other important duties? Are you willing to do so? If not, where is your love? If you have not love, where is your faith? Love is the fulfilling of the law, the chief fruit of the gospel. Love is Godlike, is Christlike. Love in action is heaven on earth. Love will visit the sick, cheer the sorrowing, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and become all things to all men, if by any means it may save some. Love will make our wilderness a garden, our divided church a haven of peace. What we do from love we do easily, cheerfully, heartily, constantly, and liberally. See then that you love one another with a pure heart fervently; thus you serve Christ and imitate and dignify His conduct toward His foes.

For Meditation:
Heirs of the same immortal bliss,
Our hopes and fears the same;
With bonds of love our hearts unite,
With mutual love inflame.