Your love for one another will prove
to the world that you are My
disciples. (John 13:35 NLT)

Love - not the presence of a lot of
understanding and teaching and
truth, and not the absence of all sorts
of things - is the governing
matter with the Lord. It is not that He
Himself in His heart accepts
the wrong things, but He sees through
them, He sees differently from
ourselves.... You can see there is no
hope of building up unless there
is love - and love for all men. You and
I ought to be greatly
concerned with this matter of building
up. Oh, God only knows how much
of spiritual increase and building is
needed! It is a paralyzing
situation that faces us if we look at our
own limitations. I am sure
nothing is going to be done unless we
have a very large heart to look
over and in and through and beyond,
refusing to be held by the thing
that is glaring at us, striking us and
hurting us, and reaching
through to that which is true in the
heart. It is love that builds.
Moreover, it makes differences in
those who exercise it, it brings
them into rest. Truth alone may bring
a strained look into the face
and eyes. Love ought to bring into the
countenance some suggestion of
quiet strength and restful
confidence....
Well, let us sit down in the armchair of
His love and be at rest, and
then get to work. You cannot work
unless you have a background rest,
and rest does not spring firstly from
truth. It comes from love, God's
love. Whatever else He gives us and
adds to us, may the Lord make us a
people who are characterized
supremely by this love for one
another
and forall men.