One of the most valuable lessons learned by the student of Christian Science is the true meaning of Love. According to the King James Version of the Bible, in the wonderful thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians, Paul indicates clearly the utter impotence of any activity which is not based on charity; and he adds, "Charity never faileth." In the Revised Version the word charity is replaced with love. We read, "Love never faileth." And our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, reveals to us definitely in her writings that to be successful in our work as practicing students of Christian Science we must understand and live the Love which is God.
In our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says (p. 454): "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way." Real love lives in giving, in pouring out the essence of loveliness, graciousness, patience, kindness, appreciation, gentleness, trustfulness. Man, God's image and likeness, lives always to bear witness to God's presence and power. Thus, as we ally ourselves to the qualities associated with true loving, we can surely say we are living the Life which is God.
To be loving, we must cast aside fear. John tells us (I John 4:18), "There is no fear in love." Fear always appears to be-some anticipation of evil and is therefore a denial of the omnipresence of Love. Love sees and knows only that which is good, Godlike; hence it never allows envy, jealousy, or mistrust to have place in thought. Love rejoices always in another's good. It follows that the more active we are in gaining some understanding of the love of God, the more we are protected from the false beliefs of the carnal mind, which is enmity against good. This so-called mind is never kind or loving, because it is always associated with the opposite of love—with some aspect of hate, loss, illness, doubt, discouragement, and so forth. How blessed will be our daily living when we see our brother as God's perfect idea, and the universe in which we live as spiritual and divinely mental. In the chapter of I John already-quoted is given the following wonderful promise (verse 17): "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
