[August 31]
Keep yourselves in the love of God. Jude 21
WHETHER I am something or nothing in God's estimation
is to be measured by my love for him, for his
brethren, for his cause, for the world in general, and
even for my enemies, rather than by my knowledge,
or fame, or oratory! Yet we are not to understand that
one could have a knowledge of the deep mysteries of
God without having been begotten by the Holy Spirit
of love; for the deep things of God knoweth no man,
but by the Spirit of God; but one might lose the Spirit
before losing the knowledge it brought him. In the
measure of character, therefore, we are to put love
first, and to consider it the chief test of our nearness to
and acceptance with the Lord. Z'11-422 R4917:6(Hymn
166)