SECTION II
1. Love is the touchstone by which the
reality of truth is perceived, and by it shall all men know that ye are My
disciples (John xiii.35). I also make use of the sword of justice, so that at
first sight some are inclined to think that, like Solomon, I intend to finish
My work without mercy (1 Kings iii.16-28), but My object, like his, is to apply
the touchstone of love which will bring out the truth, and show that you are
the children of that God of Love who gave His life to save yours. You ought
therefore to abide in that love and serve one another, and even give your lives
to serve others, as I also gave My life for you. Then as I live ye shall live
also (John xiv.19).
2. If ye are My disciples indeed your service of
love will bear much fruit (John xv.8). And if men speak evil of you and pelt
you with reproaches, pray for them, and instead of reproaching them let them
taste the sweet fruit of your love.
Mischievous boys, when they catch sight of sweet
fruit on a tree, pelt it with stones, and the tree without a murmur drops upon
them, instead of stones, its charming fruit. For the tree has no stones to
throw, but what God has given it, it gives without complaining. Be not cast
down by ill treatment, for the fact that men fling abuse at you is full proof
that yours is a fruitful life. Though they treat you thus from envy and spite,
yet by that means the glory of your heavenly Father is made manifest. Do not
suppose that God hungers after glory, or that there is anything lacking in His
glory that man can supply. By no means! The object of His love is to lift that
mean creature man out of the sinful state into which he has fallen and bear him
upwards to His heaven of glory. Thus He gives not glory to Himself but to man
by cleansing and purifying him, and in this the wonder and majesty of His love
is made manifest.
3. To those who by their labours have enabled
many to turn from sin and find righteousness in Me, I will grant such glory
that they shall first of all shine like the stars, and then being made perfect
shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The stars fade and
disappear at the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, but the wish of My Father
is that His sons should be made perfect like Himself and shine with Him in
everlasting glory, rejoicing for ever in His boundless and eternal love.
4. There are little creatures far inferior to
man, like the firefly, with its flickering light, and certain small plants
among the vegetation in the Himalayas, which by their faint phosphorescent
radiance illuminate as far as they can the dark jungle where they live. Tiny
fish also that swim in the deep waters of the ocean give forth a glimmering
light which guides other fish and helps them to elude their enemies. How much
more ought My children to be lights in the world (Matt. v.14) and be eager in
self-sacrifice to bring into the way of truth, by means of their God-given
light, those who by reason of darkness are liable to become the prey of
Satan.
5. If they do not use these heaven-sent powers in
the service of God and His creatures they are in danger of losing for ever
those heavenly gifts. This is what has happened to certain fish that live in
the deep waters of dark caves, also to some hermits in Tibet, for both have
lived so long in darkness that they have entirely lost their sight. In like
manner the ostrich, through not using its wings, has lost altogether the power
of flight. Take heed, therefore, not to neglect whatever gifts or talents have
been entrusted to you, but make use of them that you may share in the bliss and
glory of your Master (Matt. xxv.14-30).
6. Sometimes when there is some great act of
service to be done, I choose for My purpose those who are little esteemed in
the eyes of the world, for they make no boast of their own power or wisdom, but
putting their entire trust in Me, and accounting what little ability they
possess as of no great value, they devote all they have and are to My work for
men (1 Cor. i.26-30). For instance, when I fed in the wilderness five thousand
men with five loaves and two fishes, you will remember that I did not perform
this miracle by the agency of My disciples, for they were full of doubt and
perplexity and wished to send the multitude away hungry (John vi.9). My servant
on that occasion was a little lad whom I had cured of the palsy. Filled with a
desire to hear My words he determined to follow Me. His poor mother wrapped up
in his clothes some barley cakes and dried fish, enough for two or three days
journey, so when inquiry was made for food for the multitude this faithful
little lad at once brought all that he had and laid it at the disciples feet.
Though there were wealthy people there who had with them much better food, such
as wheaten cakes, they were not prepared to give them up; so it was from the
barley cakes of this boy, My namesake, that by My blessing the multitude was
fed with the choicest food.
7. There are many who are so wanting in gratitude
that whatever blessings are bestowed upon them, even to the extent of miracles
being performed for their benefit, they still remain dissatisfied and
ungrateful. Such people can never be used for the service and blessing of
others, but are like the man whom I healed after he had suffered for
thirty-eight years from an incurable disease, for instead of being grateful and
believing on Me he did not even trouble to remember My name (John v.12-13).
From such people the world can hope for no blessing; it comes only from those
who, like the poor widow, are ready to give up all they have, even all their
living (Luke xxi.2-4).
8. For true service and the performance of duty
My servants must be ready to offer even life itself--like that faithful soldier
who remained at his post in the bitter cold and falling snow till he froze to
death, and like a statue still kept his place, though the others of the watch
went off to warm themselves at the fire. When the king came and saw him
standing fixed and faithful still in death, he took off his crown and placed it
for a space upon his head, saying: "Such a faithful soldier and servant is
worthy of the honour and glory of my diadem. Would that he had lived, for then
I would have made him the head of my kingdom!" Such must my faithful servants
be in the service to which I have appointed them, and to those who finish their
work with like faith and courage I will grant a fadeless crown of eternal
kingship (2 Tim. iv.4, 5-8).
9. Many there are who have wasted the precious
time given to them for My service, but even now there is an opportunity for
them to rouse themselves and make the best use of the time that remains to
them. They are like a hunter who, while wandering in the jungle, picked up some
pretty stones on the bank of a stream. Unaware of their value he used them one
by one in his sling to shoot at the birds seated on the trees near the river,
and so one by one they fell into the water and were lost. With one still in his
hand he returned to the city, and as he passed along the bazaar a jeweller
caught sight of it, and told the silly fellow that it was a valuable diamond
for which he could get thousands of rupees. When he heard this he began to
bewail himself and say, "Woe is me! I didn't know their value, and have been
using many of these diamonds to shoot at birds by the riverside, and they have
fallen into the river and are lost, otherwise I should have been a millionaire.
Still I have saved this one, and that is something gained." Every day is like a
precious diamond, and though many priceless days have been wasted in the
pursuit of fleeting pleasures, and are for ever sunk in the depths of the past,
you should awake to the value of what remains, and bringing it into the best
possible use gather for yourself spiritual riches. Use it in My service, who
have given to you life and all its priceless blessings, and by using them to
save others from sin and death you will obtain an everlasting and heavenly
reward.