his “brother,” this must be under stood to mean only that he claims that Christians are his brothers; he makes a profession of being a be liever and thus counts believers his brothers, but his conduct proves that it is a false profession. He is one of the false brethren mentioned else where in the New Testament. HIS NAME The name of Jesus, Son of God— By saints for ages sung, Still lingers, and caressingly, Upon the Christian's tongue. It warms the heart, it cheers the soul, Brings comfort in the night; And when we walk through valleys dim— It is our only light. His Name w ill open gates of prayer, Give access to God's Throne; Believing in its saving power We never are alone. As years race by, our time on earth Seems but a moment's view, The world still seeks to hide His Name While we are passing through. But if we pause in trust awhile On the hill of Calvary— His Name is etched deep in our hearts For all eternity! Contented are those who don't want the things that they cannot get. * * * Success comes in "cans;" failure comes in "can'ts." * * * To solve one's spiritual problems he must remain spiritually solvent. * * * All men are born equal. It is what they are equal to later that makes the difference.
unto you.” “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” What power is so strong in drawing forth love from our hearts to Him and to one anoth er, as the power of love, the thought that we are “beloved” of Him. It is His love that constrains us. This new commandment is an old one. Folks always want something new. But in God’s economy the old thing is the new thing, for the blessed reason that it never grows old. After hav ing sung about the precious blood of Christ for ’many years down here, it is still the “new song” when we get home to glory. Verse 8: The darkness is passing for the believer and the true light shines. The darkness is not all past yet for the Christian, though some day it shall be — praise His name! — but as he walks in the light of the living Word, actuated by the love of Christ, the light shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Verse 9: The believer’s new nature ■is a nature that “loves,” for it is the divine nature. In contrast the sinner naturally hates. Once it was true of all of us, as Titus says — 3:3 — that we were at one time foolish, dis obedient, deceived, se rv ing divers lusts, and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one an other. And this is still true of the sinner, even though he may make a profession of being saved. Such an one is in darkness until now — has never been saved at all. Verse 10: He that loves his broth er (not merely says that he loves him) walks with God, and does not cause any dishonor to the name of Christ. Verse 11: But he that hates his brother is still in the darkness of sin; walks there, and is truly lost, for he does not know where he is going. Like a blind man, he gropes around in the darkness, away from God. What a pathetic picture of a sinner away from God! While it says of the sinner, in verses 9, 11, that he hates 32
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