It seems impossible to describe love itself; the best we can do
is to describe its conduct. Those who possess a love with such
characteristics are able to appreciate it, but not able
otherwise to explain it—it is of God, Godlikeness in heart, in
the tongue, in the hands, in the thoughts, supervising all the
human attributes and seeking fully to control them. As disciples
or pupils of Christ, we are in His school; and the great lesson
which He is teaching us day by day, and the lesson which we must
learn thoroughly, if we would attain the mark of the prize of
our calling in all its various features and ramifications, is
the lesson of love. It takes hold upon and relates to all the
words and thoughts and doings of our daily lives. As the poet
has said:
"As every lovely hue is light—so every grace is love."
By the love of Christ we may understand three things: the love that our Lord Jesus has in His heart; the love that we have in our hearts for Him; and the love that we have in our hearts like that which He has in His heart. The latter two meanings apply in this verse. Our love for Christ animates us to do and suffer. Loving Him we keep His teachings. In even a fuller sense a Christlike love for God, Jesus, the brethren, the world of mankind and our enemies prompts us in our conduct. Beautiful indeed is the heart in which such a love reigns supreme! And rich and choice blessings indeed does it receive and bestow unto God's glory!
John 14:15, 21, 23, 28; 15:9; Rom. 5:5; 8:28; 1 Cor. 8:3; Gal. 5:6, 22; Eph. 3:17-19; Phil. 1:9; Col. 3:14; 2 Thes. 3:5; Heb. 6:10; 1 John 2:5, 15; 3:16-18; 4:12, 16-21; 5:1-3; 2 John 6.
