[June 22]
And this commandment have we from him, That
he who loveth God love his brother also. I John 4:21
AS PERFECT love casts out fear, so also it casts
out false impressions of evil doing or intention toward
us. The benevolent heart, full of love for others, will
rather prefer to suppose that slights are unintentional
oversights, or to put some other similar good construction
upon the conduct of their friends, only yielding
to an appreciation of persecution when its intention is
unmistakable. Even then it should think generously
of the persecutor, realize his share in the fall, and be
disposed to pray for those who despitefully use them
and persecute them. Blessed are such ones who thus
hold to righteousness and the spirit of love toward
their enemies and persecutors, and who may be sure,
therefore, that they are being persecuted for the
fidelity to truth and righteousness and not for personal
idiosyncracies and peculiarities. Blessed are they, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Lord is looking
for those who are so faithful to the principles of righteousness
that they will exercise it toward their enemies
even when being persecuted by them and on its account.
If the kingdom of heaven is for such it is
assuredly but a little flock. Let us strive the more diligently
to be of that little flock—to make our calling
and election sure. Z'06-74 R3736:2(Hymn 296)