An ancient legend concerning the Apostle John tells us that when he became too old to preach and too feeble to walk to church, his friends carried him to the assembly on a litter. As he lay there on the floor looking up at the rest of them, he would say over and over to each one who passed by his stretcher, "Little children, love one another!" Finally, the early Christians grew weary of his ceaseless repetition and asked him why he always said the same thing. "Because," he replied, "it is the Lord's most urgent command, and if only this be done, it is enough."
Some years ago, when a bridge was being built, the workmen came to a crucial point where the two sides were supposed to meet, but the iron girders refused to contact each other by several inches. Therefore the bolts and rivets could not be driven through to secure the whole together. Every mechanical method to bring them into union was tried, but to no avail. Finally, in despair, all further effort was abandoned for the night. The following morning the sun came up bright and warm, and gradually the great mass of metal, expanding beneath its genial rays, came together in a perfect union. Quickly the workmen inserted the bolts and rivets and the great span was completed. Such, too, is the warming power of the Sun of Righteousness if it is shed abroad in our hearts toward others. Things that cannot be knit in artificial ways by ritual or "religion" are then blended into a perfect fellowship. How blessed is the communion when by love we "serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).
God, make me kind!
So many hearts are needing
The balm to stop the bleeding
That my kind words can bring
God make me kind!
"If you are not very kind, you are not very spiritual !"
Be imitators of God, therefore,
as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave himself up
for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1, 2
