F.E. Marsh
Love's Example

“Because He laid down His life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1Jo 3:16).

In George MacDonald’s Mary Marston, he represents Mary talking to Mr. Redmain, who is conscious of his past wicked life, as he is face to face with death. He asks her the question:

“You think God answers prayer, do you?”

“I do.”

“Then I wish you would ask Him to let me off—I mean, to let me die right out when I do die. What’s the good of making a body miserable?”

“That, I am sure it would be of no use to pray for. He certainly will not throw away a thing He has made because that thing may be foolish enough to prefer the dust-hole to the cabinet.”

“Wouldn’t you do it now, if I asked you?”

“I would not. I would leave you in God’s hands rather than inside the gate of heaven.”

“I don’t understand you. And you wouldn’t say so if you cared for me! Only, why should you care for me!”

“I would give my life for you.”

“Come now! I don’t believe that.”

“Why, I couldn’t be a Christian if I wouldn’t!”

“You are getting absurd!” he cried. But he did not look exactly as if he thought it.

“Absurd!” repeated Mary. “Isn’t it that what makes Him our Saviour? How could I be His disciple, if I wouldn’t do as He did?”

“You are saying a good deal!”

“Can’t you see that I have no choice?”

“I wouldn’t do that for anybody under the sun!”

“You are not His disciple; you have not been going about with Him.”

“And you have?”

“Yes, for many years. Besides, I cannot help thinking there is One for whom you would do it.”

“If you mean my wife, you never were more mistaken. I would do nothing of the sort.”

“I did not mean your wife. I mean Jesus Christ.”

“O, I daresay! Well, perhaps! if I knew Him as you do, and if I were quite sure He wanted it done for Him.”

“He does want it done for Him—always and every day—not for His own sake, though it does make Him very glad. To give up your way for His is to die for Him; and when anyone will do that, then He is able to do anything for him; for then, and not till then, He gets such a hold of him that He can lift him up, and set him down beside Himself.”

To act like Christ proves we are Christ’s.

• Love’s Walk—
  “Walk as He walked” (1Jo 2:6).
• Love’s Place—
  “Walk in the light as He is in the light” (1Jo 1:7).
• Love’s Grace—
  “Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32).
• Love’s Service—
  “I … washed your feet, ye ought to wash one another’s feet” (Jhn 13:14).
• Love’s Purity—
  “Purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1Jo 3:3).
• Love’s Endurance—
  “An Example, that ye should follow His steps” (1Pe 2:21).
• Love’s Love—
  “Love one another, as I have loved you” (Jhn 13:34).

When enthusiasm is kindled by the fire of Calvary’s love, it will find an outlet in ministering, as Christ did, to the need of others. The sun shines the sun because it is the sun that shines.