Preeminent Love
True love is a warm and abundant love that comes from God and is demonstrated by doing His will and seeking all good for all men.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the commandment to love God and love others, emphasizing that true proficiency of the soul lies in much and warm loving rather than intellectual pursuits. She highlights that acquiring this love involves resolving to do God's will and seeking good for all. Those who truly love God exhibit qualities such as commendation, defense of good, absence of quarrels, and lack of envy, ultimately finding comfort in the love of God in life and in death.
Text
This commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
--1 JOHN 4:21
HE who loves God all else above,
His own shall also clasp
In circles ampler far of love
Than weaker arms can grasp;
And farther down through space and time
His sympathies descend and climb.
--SIR AUBREY DE VERE
THE true proficiency of the soul consists not so much in deep thinking, or eloquent speaking, or beautiful writing; as in much and warm loving. Now, if you ask me in what way this much and warm love may be acquired, I answer,--By resolving to do the will of God, and by watching to do His will as often as occasion offers. Those who truly love God love all good wherever they find it. They seek all good to all men. They commend all good, they always acknowledge and defend all good. They have no quarrels. They bear no envy. O Lord, give me more and more of this blessed love! It will be a magnificent comfort in the hour of death to know that we are on our way to be judged by Him whom we have loved above all things. We are not going to a strange country, since it is His country whom we love and who loves us.
--ST. TERESA
Sermon Outline
- The Source of Love
- The Nature of Love
- Characteristics of True Love
- The Comfort of Love
- In the hour of death
- Knowing we are loved by God
- No quarrels or envy
Key Quotes
“HE who loves God all else above, His own shall also clasp In circles ampler far of love Than weaker arms can grasp;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“THE true proficiency of the soul consists not so much in deep thinking, or eloquent speaking, or beautiful writing; as in much and warm loving.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“O Lord, give me more and more of this blessed love!” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Resolve to do the will of God and watch to do His will as often as occasion offers to acquire more love.
- Seek all good for all men and commend, acknowledge, and defend all good to demonstrate true love.
- Cultivate a warm and abundant love that brings comfort in the hour of death.