Like The Most High

[Love] suffereth long, and is kind; [love] envieth not; [love] vaunted not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

It is without variableness or shadow of turning-the same yesterday, today, and forever. TM, p. 519.

God is love. MYP, p. 363.

When Adam’s sin plunged the race into hopeless misery, God might have cut Himself loose from fallen beings. He might have treated them as sinners deserved to be treated. He might have commanded the angels of heaven to pour out upon our world the vials of His wrath. He might have removed this dark blot from His universe. But He did not do this. SD, p. 11

Love can no more exist without revealing itself in outward acts than fire can be kept alive without fuel. 1T, p. 695.

Love cannot live without action, and every act increases, strengthens, and extends it. 2T, p. 135.

God’s law is the law of love. MB, p. 97

The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. PP, p. 63.

But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. DA, p. 37

Love imparts to its possessor grace, propriety, and comeliness of deportment. Love illuminates the countenance and subdues the voice; it refines and elevates the entire man. 4T, pp. 559, 560.

It refines our taste, sanctifies our judgement, and brings peace of mind, and, in the end, everlasting life. 1T, p. 310.

Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. MB, p. 18.

The law required righteousness–a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. DA, p. 762.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23, (The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. COL, p. 115)

But Christ, coming to earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. DA, p. 762.

Christ was the majesty of heaven, the Prince of life. 9T, p. 69. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:7.

Our Lord and Saviour laid aside His dominion, His riches and glory, and sought after us, that He might save us from misery and make us like Himself. 2T, p. 170

Love is the underlying principle of God’s government in heaven and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian’s character. COL, p. 49.

He has given in His law a transcript of His character. 8T, p. 63

The followers of Christ are to become like Him–by the grace of God to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. GC, p. 469.

It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love, a love that embraces all humanity. Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God’s Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for hate, they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit of God that gives love for hatred. MB, p. 75.

Jesus said, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” How much? 1T, p. 150. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7, 8. Christ consented to die in the sinner’s stead, that man, by a life of obedience, might escape the penalty of the law of God. 2T, pp. 200, 201. By giving His life for the life of men, He would win the world back to its loyalty. 8T, p. 208.

Oh, what an immense sacrifice was this for the fallen race! What love, what wonderous and matchless love! 2T, p. 73. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it everyday of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. 5T, p. 740.

And it is stronger than death; for He died to purchase our salvation, and make us one with Him, mystically and eternally one. So strong is His love that it controls all His powers, and employs the vast resources of heaven in doing His people good. It is without variableness or shadow of turning–the same yesterday, today, and forever. TM, p. 519.

And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:16. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. Ephesians 5:25.

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10
Amen.

Chester Cosby
Detroit, Michigan, USA