Love cannot be . . . ( 15 )
Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .
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The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, "with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:2. Desire of Ages, page 22.1 |
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Said Jesus: "Love one another, as I have loved you." How much? His love cannot be told. He left the glory that He had with the Father before the world was. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." He patiently bore every indignity and scorn. Behold His agony in the garden, when He prayed that the cup might pass from Him! Behold His sufferings on Calvary! All this for guilty, lost man. And Jesus says: "Love one another, as I have loved you." How much? Well enough to give your life for a brother. But has it come to this, that self must be gratified, and the word of God neglected? The world is their God. They serve it, they love it, and the love of God has departed. If ye love the world, the love of the Father is not in you. {1T 150.4} |
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The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, "with healing in his wings" (Mal. 4:2). {RC 23.3} |
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If we love one another God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us; and that love cannot be restrained. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Only by becoming a partaker of the divine nature can the law of God be fulfilled by men. Only he who loves God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and his neighbor as himself, can give glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will to men. This was the work of Christ; and when his work is appreciated and represented by his followers, the great result will be achieved in the "joy that was set before him" in the saving of the souls for whom He gave His life. {PC 95.4} |
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Did Christ take upon Himself our nature? It was to give us unmistakable evidence that a great work may be wrought through the human agent who cooperates with God in bringing fallen man into close fellowship and union with divinity. We cannot be happy without Jesus, and He in His great love cannot be satisfied without us. God has done everything that God could do to reclaim the human race. They are like the lost sheep who once rejected the shepherd's voice, but now they are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their soul, and He attaches them to Himself {19MR 211.2} |
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This love must be manifested by God's workers. Love for God and for those for whom Christ has died will do a work that we can scarcely comprehend. Those who do not cherish and cultivate this love cannot be successful missionaries. {6T 84.3} |
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"Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." From Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, beam forth rays of life and light. Would you have Jesus lift upon you the health and light of his countenance?--Then turn your face toward him, and look and live. Talk of Jesus; dwell on his matchless charms; eat of the bread of life; take of the water of life freely. Do you desire to love God supremely and your fellow-men as Jesus loved them?-- Keep your heart in meditation upon the spotless character of Christ. His divine heart was moved with compassion and love for suffering humanity. His love cannot be fathomed, except as we take in the sacrifice made on Calvary. Through the renunciation of all selfishness, we need to be able to comprehend what is the height and depth and length and breadth of the love of God, which passeth knowledge. {ST, February 5, 1894 par. 1} |
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Chap. 112 - True Love Cannot Be Hidden
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. 7:20. {UL 126.1}
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Let no one be discouraged, for Jesus lives to make intercession for us. There is a heaven to gain, and a hell to escape, and Christ is interested in our welfare. He will help all those who call upon him. We must mingle faith with all our prayers. We cannot bring Christ down, but, through faith, we can lift ourselves up into unity and harmony with the perfect standard of righteousness. We have a wily foe to meet and to conquer, but we can do it in the name of the Mighty One. I am glad we have a Saviour whose love cannot be measured, except as we look to the cross of Calvary with comprehensive faith. The light that streams from Calvary shows us the value of the soul and of eternal life. If we, then, lift up Jesus, and humble ourselves, we shall finally receive honor, glory, and eternal life. {RH, October 30, 1888 par. 16} |
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The infinite treasures of truth have been accumulating from age to age. No representation could adequately impress us with the extent, the richness, of these vast resources. They are awaiting the demand of those who appreciate them. These gems of truth are to be gathered up by God's remnant people, to be given by them to the world; but self-confidence and obduracy of soul refuse the blessed treasure. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Such love cannot be measured, neither can it be expressed. John calls upon the world to "behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God." It is a love that passeth knowledge. In the fullness of the sacrifice, nothing was withheld: Jesus gave himself. God designs that his people shall love one another as Christ loved us. They are to educate and train the soul for this love. They are to reflect this love in their own character, to reflect it to the world. Each should look upon this as his work. In his prayer to the Father, Jesus said: "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." Christ's fullness is to be presented to the world by those who have become partakers of his grace. They are to do that for Christ which Christ did for the Father,-- represent his character. {1888 764.8} |
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The infinite treasures of truth have been accumulating from age to age. No representation could adequately impress us with the extent, the richness, of these vast resources. They are awaiting the demand of those who appreciate them. These gems of truth are to be gathered up by God's remnant people, to be given by them to the world; but self-confidence and obduracy of soul refuse the blessed treasure. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Such love cannot be measured, neither can it be expressed. John calls upon the world to behold "what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." It is a love that passeth knowledge. {RC 290.5} |
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"The infinite treasures of truth have been accumulating from age to age. No representation could adequately impress us with the extent, the richness of those vast resources. Whey are waiting the demand of those who appreciate them. These gems of truth are to be gathered up by God's remnant people, to be given by them to the world; but self confidence and obduracy of soul refuse the blessed treasure. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Such love cannot be measured, neither can it be expressed. John calls upon the world to "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God." It is a love that passeth knowledge. In the fulness of the sacrifice nothing was withheld. Jesus gave himself. God designs that his people should love one another as Christ love us. They are to educate and train the soul for his love. They are to reflect this love in their own character, to reflect it to the world. Each should look upon this as his work. In his prayer to the Father, Jesus said, "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world." Christ's fullness is to be presented to the world by those who have become partakers of his grace. They are to do that for Christ which Christ did for the Father, represent his character. {PC 339.3} |
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