The Law of Love

Now, “Master,” said a Pharisee,

Thus tempting Him again:

“Which commandment is the greatest

That the law doth contain?”

* * *

Jesus said: “Thou shalt love the Lord

Thy God with all thy heart,

And all thy soul and all thy mind-

This is the first great part.

* * *

“And the second is like to it:

Thou shalt thy neighbor love

In the same way thou lov’st thyself;

By deeds this new law prove.

* * *

“Upon these two commandments-

Within the spirit wrought-

Hang all the law that Moses wrote,

And all the prophets taught.”

The Hypocrites

Jesus spoke to the multitude,

That gathered at His feet :

“The scribes and Pharisees do sit

In Moses’ sacred seat.

 * * *

“Do, therefore, what they bid you do,

But follow not their way;

For they, themselves, keep not the law,

Nor do they what they say.

* * *

“For they bind heavy burdens

For other men to bear;

But will not give a helping hand

To ease another’s care.

* * *

“And love the upper rooms at feasts,

And greetings in the crowd;

And the chief seats in synagogues

And titles make them proud.

* * *

“But be not ye called ‘Rabbi,’ for

To Christ that name is given;

And call no man father on earth;

Your Father is in heaven.

* * *

“Nor be ye masters called, for One,

Even Christ, your Master is,

And he that would be greatest, let

The servant’s place be his.

 * * *

“And whoso shall exalt himself

Shall be low and abased,

And he that humbles himself shall

To lofty seat be raised.”

Willing Service

A musician is not recommended for playing long, but for playing well; it is obeying God willingly, that is accepted: the Lord hates that which is forced, it is rather a tax than an offering. Cain served God grudgingly; he brought his sacrifice, not his heart. To obey God’s commandments unwillingly is like the devils who came out of the man possessed, at Christ’s command, but with reluctance and against their will. Good duties must not be pressed and beaten out of us, as the waters came out of the rock when Moses smote it with his rod; but must freely drop from us, as myrrh from the tree, or honey from the comb. If a willing mind be wanting, there wants that flower which should perfume our obedience, and make it a sweet-smelling savor unto God. by T. Watson.

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Jesus Only

by Rev. Carl J. Segerhammer

        “And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only.” Jesus had taken His three disciple, Peter, James, and John, with Him up on the Mount of Transfiguration, and there He had been glorified in their sight. “His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.” Everything was so inspiring, so glorious. The disciples would gladly have remained there indefinitely, as we can draw from the words of the impulsive Peter; “Lord let us make here three tabernacles,” etc. But in a moment all the splendor had vanished. Moses and Elias were gone; the conditions of everyday life had returned, “and when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only.” But was not that enough? Surely.

This incident from the life of Jesus and the disciples comes to our mind not because we have lately celebrated that day, the “Day of Transfiguration,” — that is still many weeks hence, — but because we have had lately in our church a season of more than ordinary significance — the Iowa Conference Convention. May we not say that those days were to us as a season of transfiguration? Who among us did not feel as though he were looking upon life, not as usual, form the vale of toilsome everyday experiences, but from the lofty summit of the Mount of Transfiguration? Did we not see our dear Savior glorified? For in the many beautiful sermons and addresses to which we listened, He was presented to us in all His glory and power, in all His love and mercy. There were also the “servants of God” “talking with Him” and of Him. How beautiful! How inspiring! But, alas, soon was the splendor vanished; the servants of God, whose fellowship we had enjoyed for a time, had gone, “and when we had lifted up our eyes, we saw no man save Jesus only.” That, dear reader, is at least our earnest hope and prayer. God grant that it may be said of each and every one of us, now that the convention, that season of refreshing, is over, as it was said of the disciples when the hour of transfiguration was past: “They was no man save Jesus only.” They saw Him. He was still with them, their Comforter, their all. May it be so with us! May His image have been implanted in our hearts, His Spirit in our soul! Then we have need of nothing more, for as Asaph says: “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

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Drawn from the water…

Drawn from the water… by Kathy Grimm

 

Word of God or “The Two Trees”

The Word of God or "Two Trees" by Kathy Grimm

“What if Moses did not write the Pentateuch? What if it were written by another man named Moses? When a child is hungry, it is not interested in a dispute whether John Smith or James Smith planted the apple tree. What it wants is the apple, because it is hungry. The patient has suffered a grievous accident, and the surgeon must operate. In that hour ether must be used, or the heart will not survive the agony. In such a critical moment, who cares whether Dr. Morton or Dr. Simpson discovered the saving remedy? It is ease from pain that the feeble heart demands. Your friend is in trouble in Europe, and you must send him a cable of relief. The English people claim that two Englishmen laid the Atlantic cable, and that Cyrus Field was only their American agent, occupying a very subordinate place, while Americans say that Mr. Field was the father of the Atlantic cable. When an emergency comes, and the child is in trouble in a foreign land, the father does not care to dispute over the precedency of inventors. What he wants to do is to send a message under the sea. Don’t dispute over the Bible, therefore, but use the Bible. He who analyzes a flower must lose the sweet rose. When a pilgrim is crossing the desert, one handful of wheat for hunger is worth a bushel of diamonds. Remember the use and purpose for which the Bible was written. It is a guide to right living. It shows the path to God’s throne.” –N. D. Hillis.

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This is Holy Ground

This is Holy Ground by Kathy Grimm

Jesus is our “Good Samaritan”

Jesus is our "Good Samarian" by Kathy Grimm

“A musician is not recommended for playing long, but for playing well; it is obeying God willingly, that is accepted: the Lord hates that which is forced, it is rather a tax than an offering. Cain served God grudgingly; he brought his sacrifice, not his heart. To obey God’s commandments unwillingly is like the devils who came out of the man possessed, at Christ’s command, but with reluctancy and against their will. Good duties must not be pressed and beaten out of us, as the waters came out of the rock when Moses smote it with his rod; but must freely drop from us, as myrrh from the tree, or honey from the comb. If a willing mind be wanting, there wants that flower which should perfume our obedience, and make it a sweet-smelling savor unto God.” by T. Watson.

I love the meaning of and the implications of “sacrifice,” however, in this quote the term is used differently. The meaning behind the quote is important I think. Many people give sacrificially from their hearts.

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The Ten Commandments

“The law is love, the law is a mirror” by Kathy Grimm