July 20

"Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered and fed Thee?"—Matthew 25:37.

IF Faith introduces me to salvation at first, Love is salvation itself. Faith is the gateway, and Love is the palace within. Faith is the fountain, and Love is the brimming and victorious river. Faith admits Christ into my heart, and, once Christ lives and reigns there, the result, the history, the harvest, is Love. He saves me from the power of sin and self, and in the degree in which I am saved, I love, love, am everywhere and ever loving.

It is by Love that I am to be tested at last—by my love to men and women and children round about me. And it is right that it should be so. For, while it is my attitude towards God that is the main thing, is not this attitude best revealed by my feelings and actions towards men? Religion, creed, experience—these all must have their fruits in Love. "There is nothing out of Love hath perpetual worth."

But then, while others may see my love, I cannot easily see it myself. Those whom the King approves, welcomes, crowns in the end of the days, are quite unable themselves to remember any service of theirs worthy of such amazing commendation. I would fain have this modesty and sweet humility. I would be like Moses, who wist not that his face shone. I would keep in my age the charm of childhood, which is unconscious of the good it is doing and the happiness it is conferring.

Because only the heart of love goes to the heaven of love, Lord, create this heart in me, and give it day by day a more thriving vigour and a more tireless energy.