The Love That Christ Commands
Plutarch
“No one should permit himself to hate even his enemies. If you give way to this feeling on some occasions, it will arise of its own accord on others. If you hate your enemies, you will acquire a nasty habit of mind which, by degrees, will break forth on your friends, or on those who have no feelings for you one way or the other.”
Thomas Watson
“Love is the Queen of the Graces. It outshines all the others, as the sun outshines the lesser planets.”
Thomas a Kempis
“Without love, an outward deed has no value, but anything that is done from love, even if it is tiny and trivial, is entirely profitable, because God measures the love behind a person's act rather than the act itself. He does a great deal, who loves a great deal. He does a great deal, who does something well. He does well who works for the good of all, rather than his own private interests.”
C. H. Spurgeon
“Christian love is by no means so plentiful as it might be, nor holy living, either. Is not this the thing that weakens the preaching of the gospel – the want of living the gospel? If all the professed Christians really walked as Christ walked, would not the salt have more effect upon the corrupt mass? We preach here in the pulpit; but what can we do, unless you preach yonder at home? It is you preaching in your shops, in your kitchens, in your nurseries, in your parlours, in the streets, which will tell on the masses. This is true preaching, the best preaching in the world, for it is seen as well as heard. I heard one say he liked to see men preach with their feet; and this is it, “they ought also so to walk even as Christ walked.‘ No testimony excels that which is borne in ordinary life.’”
Martin Luther
“Many say that Christ, having by force driven the buyers and sellers out of the temple, we also may use force against the enemies of God's Word. But Christ did many things which we neither may nor can do after Him. He walked upon the water, He fasted forty days and forty nights, He raised Lazarus from death, etc.; suchlike we must leave undone. Much less will Christ consent that we by force attack the enemies of the truth; He commands the contrary: ‘Love your enemies, pray for them that vex and persecute you.’”
D. L. Moody
“No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak comforting words to you; not treat you coldly or spurn you, as perhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words: words of love, affection and kindness. Just come at once. He is a faithful friend, a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
The Apostle Paul in Romans 5:6-8
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 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.