“You shall love the Lord you God with you whole heart and you whole soul and your whole mind. This is the greatest of the commandments and the first. And the second, is like this, you shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22, 37-39).

Love is the law of everything. And Christ links love of God and love of one’s fellowman so closely that it is not possible to love God truly without loving others; and it is not possible to love others truly without loving God.

Our poor world today is torn by quarrels, hatred and injustice which produce the most inhuman misery. Our world is hungry for love, starving for love – and this is our story at the international level where nation hates nation. It is our story at the national level where rivalries, corruption and greed wreck our plans for a happier society. It is the story of my own neighbour-hood, my own family – of my own heart.

Unless I am ruled by this great command of love – love of God which brings truth and order into my own life and love of my fellowmen, especially where he is poorest and most in need – unless I am ruled by love, my life is selfish, my god is self, and I shall only add to the selfishness of sin that destroys human life and peace.

If I understand what religion really is, if I have encountered the true God and have caught a glimpse of His love and concern for every man, woman and child, if I know how far His love has taken Him – so far as to send His only – begotten Son into the world to take on Himself the price of our sins – if I know this, then I see how I must love my neighbour and work for his welfare.

Lord, help me to build my life on

Your commands.

Teach me to forget my selfish self.

Teach me to love you, my God, with my whole heart and soul.

Teach me to love others, especially those who are in need.

THE END

One day I shall die. The certainty of my death is a healthy reminder that I have no lasting dwelling in this world.

A most terrible moment for me will be that instant after my death when I stand before God, my Judge. It will be a moment of absolute clarity. Nothing will be hidden; there will be no need of witness, no need of pleaders. I shall simply stand revealed for what I am. If I have lived and died in the friendship of God, He will take me into His friendship and company forever and ever. If I have lived and died refusing His love for me, if I have died in the chains of my own selfishness, then I shall live separated from Him forever – and that separation is Hell. I shall have failed in the one test and purpose for which God created me. I shall be a never ending failure.