February 22

Second Thursday after Epiphany

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10.

LOVE gladly suffereth for one whom it loveth. It joys to suffer in proof of its love. Toil ceaseth to be toil; it is joy when it is to show its love. Love sweetens all bitter things, softens all hard words, smooths all which is toilsome, makes fasting a feast, self-denial for Christ's poor a joy; labour, rest; a rest out of God, weariness; waking early with Christ, refreshment. Bodily pain is hallowed to it by His Cross, and it receives each throb or pang from its loving Father's Hand, as distilling like the dew upon it from that precious cup which He for our sakes gave to His well-beloved Son. Love hath no other will than of what it loves. The very heathen said that "friendship is to will and not to will the same things."

Deep human love loves anything which belongs to what it loves. Love will love a plant, dumb animals, because they belong to the object of its love. How much more, if we love Jesus, must we love all for whom Jesus died! If we love God, must we not love man, who was made in the image of God, redeemed by His Blood, sanctified by His Spirit, made by His own Hands, remade by Him, and, though weak and wayward and rebellious against Himself, still the object of His love? How much more when He Whom we would love gave them to us in charge! "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you."

'Tis bliss for those whose path must be Through busy scenes, to feel How with the evil mingled He, In meekness, love and zeal.