Service to Others

The Love of God

Source: Vignettes from the Life of Abdu’l Baha

Love of God – the Great Commandment and the Perfect Exemplar: Abdu’l Baha

Christ taught that the supreme human achievement is not any particular deed nor even any particular condition of mind: but a relation to God. To be completely filled – heart – mind – soul – with love for God, such is the great ideal, the Great Commandment. In Abbas Effendi’s [Abdu’l Baha’s] character the dominant element was spirituality. 

Whatever was good in His life He attributed not to any separate source of virtue in Himself but to the power and beneficence of God. His single aim was servitude to God. He rejoiced in being denuded of all earthly possessions and in being rich only in His love for God. He surrendered His freedom that He might become the bondservant of God; was able at the close of His days to declare that He has spent all His strength upon the Cause of God. To Him God was the center of all existence here on earth as heretofore and hereafter. All things were in their degree mirrors of the bounty of God and outpourings of His power.” 

Abdu’l Baha wrote: “Souls are like unto mirrors, and the bounty of God is like unto the sun. When the mirrors pass beyond all coloring and attain purity and polish, and are confronted with the sun, they will reflect in full perfection its light and glory. In this condition one should not consider the mirror, but the power of the light of the sun, which hath penetrated the mirror, making it a reflector of the heavenly glory…with the love of God every bitterness is changed into sweetness and every gift becometh precious.”