The one who stands nearest to Christ will be he who on earth has drunk most deeply of the spirit of His self-sacrificing love,--love that "vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, . . . seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" (1 Cor. 13:4, 5),--love that moves the disciple, as it moved our Lord, to give all, to live and labor and sacrifice, even unto death, for the saving of humanity. This spirit was made manifest in the life of Paul. He said, "For to me to live is Christ;" for his life revealed Christ to men; "and to die is gain,"--gain to Christ; death itself would make manifest the power of His grace, and gather souls to Him. "Christ shall be magnified in my body," he said, "whether it be by life or by death." Phil. 1:21, 20.

Den, der står Kristus nærmest, vil blive den, der her på jorden har fået rigest del i hans selvopofrende kærligheds ånd, den kærlighed, som ikke praler, ikke opblæses, ..... ikke søger sit eget, ikke lader sig ophidse, ikke bærer nag (1Kor. 13,4-5), en kærlighed, der tilskynder disciplen, som den tilskyndede vor Herre, til at give alt, til at leve og arbejde og ofre, om det så er livet, for menneskers frelse. Denne ånd blev åbenbaret i Paulus liv. Han sagde: For mig er det at leve Kristus thi hans liv åbenbarede Kristus for mennesker; og det at dø en vinding, en vinding for Kristus. Selv døden ville åbenbare hans nådes magt og vinde sjæle for ham. At Kristus ..... må blive forherliget i mit legeme, sagde han, enten det bliver gennem liv eller død. Fil. 1,21. 20.