Divine Love

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 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 12
True, the Lord's people are commanded by Him to love one another, but unbroken fellowship is not necessarily the measure of divine affection any more than an unclouded brow and smiling face are the only accompaniments of a father's love toward his child. True love to an erring child often demands stern discipline, for lack of which Eli brought sore affliction upon himself, his whole family, and the people of Israel.
But the sternest rebuke should be without "bitterness." "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:31, 3231Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31‑32).
Nevertheless, it is but a spurious affection to the members of Christ that can tolerate unholiness and disobedience to His Word. That Word warns us solemnly that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," and also exhorts us not to do evil that good may come.
The same Word says, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." Exod. 23:22Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: (Exodus 23:2). And, however great and sorrowful may be the declension and confusion around us, the admonition to Timothy still holds good to each one of us individually, "Keep thyself pure."