CHRISTIAN LOVE
BY ELDER EMMETT ALLEN

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another (I Thes. 4:9). Every Spirit filled saint in all the world knows that we MUST love everybody in spite of all their evil sayings and deeds. This is why we must have the ever abiding presence of the Holy Ghost in our life as the love of God is shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost(Rom. 5:5.) In this old world of hate, strife, wars and terror, we need more real old-time Holy Ghost filled saints who will stand out as a beacon to those in darkness, pointing them to the one and only source of genuine happiness, that is in Christ our redeemer. Remember, Jesus said, by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35). Real Christian love in our lives will attract the attention of those who pass by above anything else in all the world. There is something about the love of God that will speak in silence with more and greater power than any sermon or song. There are many signs and marks that follow the person that is wholly surrendered to Jesus, but one thing in particular is commanded above all things and that is to have fervent charity (love)among yourselves: for charity shall cover a multitude of sins (1st.Peter 4:8). Where the love of God prevails among His people you will find victory and power, where those supposed to be saints shun one another and speak evil and backbite, you will find division and coldness; then many times we will wonder, why are there no shouts and blessings? Above all THINGS we are commanded to love one another. If we should speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have the gift of prophesy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge; if we had the faith to remove mountains, and bestow all our goods to feed the poor, and even give our bodies to be burned, and have not the love of God in our hearts it would profit nothing (1st Cor.13:1-3). Oh! That Jesus would give us more love for one another, more love for our enemies and for those who persecute and condemn. We are commanded to love our enemies (Mat.5:44). It takes a changed and Spirit-filled life to love all people. Nothing shorter than a sanctified and baptized soul can possibly do it. Then we are told to not love in word and tongue; but in deed and in truth (1st. John 3:18). In other words, we are to not only say we love, but by our actions and works show to those who care to watch that our lives are filled and dominated by the wonderful and glorious love of Jesus our King. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1^st John 3:8). True love is the one thing that the devil cannot counterfeit.