Practical Religion: A Daily Life of the Christian Faith (Grapevine Press)

by J.C. Ryle

The heart in which love grows is a heart changed, renewed, and transformed by the Holy Spirit. The image and likeness of God, which Adam lost at the fall, has been restored to it, however feeble and imperfect the restoration may appear. It is to "participate in the Divine nature" by union with Christ and Sonship to God; and one of the first features of that nature is love. (2 Peter 1:4) Such a heart is deeply convinced of sin, hates it, flees from it, and fights with it from day to day. And one of the prime elements of sin which it daily labors to overcome, is selfishness and lack of love. Such a heart is deeply aware of its mighty debt to our Lord Jesus Christ. It feels continually that it owes to Him who died for us on the cross, all its present comfort, hope, and peace. How can it show forth its gratitude? What can it render to its Redeemer? If it can do nothing else, it strives to be like Him, to walk in His footsteps, and, like Him, to be full of love. The fact that, "God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit" is the surest fountain of Christian love. Love will produce love.