PAUL ENDS THE first Epistle to the Corinthians in the lovely words: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen” (16:24). They are beautiful words, but do not express the full Christian attitude. This is love to “all in Christ Jesus,” which is good, but not good enough. The full Christian attitude is to love also those who are not in Christ Jesus. It extends even to enemies. Jesus said: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32).
This circumscribed and restricted love is less than Christian love, for Christian love is love unlimited. The three greatest characters in the New Testament ended their careers with love and prayers for enemies. Jesus died with the most beautiful prayer ever uttered on His lips: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). That verse has gripped India more than any verse in any Scripture, Hindu or Christian. Hindus, sentenced by a British judge to prison during the noncooperation days, in the struggle for independence, would lift their hands and say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The next greatest man in Scripture was Stephen, who died amid a shower of stones with this prayer on his lips: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). Paul, after saying that the time for his departure was at hand, wrote: “At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!” (2 Tim. 4:16). These three greatest characters, one Divine and the other two human, were at their greatest when they showed love unlimited. There is no expression of greatness except the expression of a great love. We are great only as we are great in love. There is no other greatness. Without love, greatness is littleness. Love alone is great.
O God, our Father, as I go forth into this day make all my contacts love contacts, all my attitudes love attitudes, all my reactions love reactions. Then I will give out love and only love. Then I shall be like Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: If my love is restricted, it is constricted—less than Christian love.
