Lesson 100. What Not to Do

Having set out on the path of God’s love, I become the object of God’s special care and attract the close attention of all spiritual powers. I responded to the counsel of the Faithful Witness and became the owner of all Heaven’s goods. The process of learning began. But along with the blessings came trials. The enemy of souls activates his full potential to discourage me or turn my eyes away from Jesus. His attacks upon me become stronger than before, and they do not weaken, but constantly change their form.

Yet the path of love surpasses every idea and expectation I have in its depth and simplicity. Love is God’s original plan for my soul and my entire being. By uniting with eternal Agape love, I come into harmony with nature, with God, and with all of God’s creation. When I unite with those who have tasted God’s love and opened their hearts to change and to the influence of the Holy Spirit, then the heavenly harmony of unity is present in our relationships.

But there are things I should not do or try, no matter what happens, even if the trials are beyond my strength. Below I will share some counsel that I myself follow.

Do not expect quick results in the fulfillment of God’s plans for my transformation. Through my prayers and faith, this process is set in motion, and my whole nature begins to change. The seed has been sown, and it needs time to spring up and begin bearing fruit.

Do not give up because you do not understand the nature of love. I have not lived in this condition of soul before and therefore do not know what I will encounter, but I believe that all things work together for good. Romans 8:28.

Do not ignore Christ’s counsel to Laodicea. Everyone needs to heed it and do as the Lord says. It is better to err on God’s side and make Him responsible for your life than to follow your own way, which seems right.

Do not expect others to return my love because of the way I treat them. Love seeketh not her own, but gives me strength to manifest this quality at all times toward every person whom I choose.

Do not be distressed when your love is rejected and you are ridiculed. Continue to love without expecting anything in return.

Do not neglect the study of God’s Word or the acceptance of the counsel it contains. Love hears God’s voice speaking to it from the pages of the Bible. Love reveals all of God’s actions and declarations in their true light.

Do not think that love is only mercy and sentimentality. Love is the union of mercy and justice; it contains a combination of tender feelings and firm principles. It knows when and by what to be guided.

Do not judge anyone in any way. Do not judge people who are learning love and taking steps in that direction. A person may still be only at the beginning of the path and know very little. Show him your love and help him, if he allows you to do so.

Do not expect that, once you have set out on the path of love, you will be able to perform difficult tenth-grade tasks while you are still in the first grade. This is a figure of speech, but there are trials that are not yet within your strength. Do not bring them closer.

Do not expect everyone to understand you when you begin sharing love, or that people will joyfully accept everything from you. Most likely, you will encounter complete misunderstanding, unbelief, and rejection. But Jesus was treated in the same way.

Do not think that you are better than Christ and will be able to avoid many problems and trials as you grow spiritually in love. Everything Jesus encountered awaits you as well.

Do not be afraid if God decides to work miracles of grace or cast out evil spirits through your hands. The very presence of the love you have invited into your heart will exert an unseen influence in any company. Pray for people, that when they see your good works, they may glorify the heavenly Father.

Do not be troubled if you remain completely alone with your love, which is from God, even among friends. While living on Earth, Jesus was the loneliest Person, for no one understood Him.

Do not expect the members of your family to accept your love and rejoice in its manifestation through you. Prepare for serious resistance, but continue to love. Perhaps you will be understood and appreciated only when you are no longer alive.

Do not use the services of the world and the flesh to reach your goal quickly. The path of love is very long and narrow. Sometimes, in order to accomplish something in love, it is worth spending an entire lifetime and seeing no visible result. But eternity will reveal the influence you exerted during your life and how much fruit it produced.

Do not concentrate your love upon one person. You are a member of God’s large family, in which many people need to be loved and need their love to be accepted as well. The commandment to love is mutual; therefore, rejoice in the presence in your life of those who love you in response to your love.

Do not fantasize or think of yourself more highly than you ought. Modesty adorns a person.

Do not be afraid to make new friends, even if you understand that you will have no opportunity to communicate with them. Let them settle in your heart forever. You can never have too many friends. Even if you have very many, you will still be lonely among them. But you will not be lonely with Christ; He fills life with meaning.

Do not confuse loneliness with solitude. Sometimes you need to remain alone, to spend time in a solitary place, simply to rest and regain your strength.

Do not be afraid to love people and tell them so. Words of love contain light and work miracles in the lives of many. Do not think that you are surrounded by people whom everyone loves. They are all waiting for you finally to notice them and help them believe that love exists, that it is alive, and that it is available through you.

Do not be ashamed of your love. Although it is modest, it is very powerful in its influence and strength. Remember that by loving your neighbor, you enter his territory to win his heart, and these victories will constantly accompany you.

Do not play at love. If you have decided to love someone, then love him always—for your whole life, in every situation, in every kind of weather, and through every trial. And the Lord will give you as much strength for this as you need.

Do not think that the enemy of the human soul is stronger than Jesus, Who is in you. Jesus defeated Satan, and by choosing Christ, I choose the path of love; by choosing love, I give Jesus authority to act in me and through me.

Do not be afraid to express your joy at the presence of love in your heart. It brings happiness and abundant light into your life.

Do not be afraid to be happy. Give love away; distribute it; empty your heart, which is overflowing with God; spread love everywhere; sing and speak about it, keeping nothing for yourself. The next morning you will have even more love than before. It will fill your vessel and flow over the rim of your lips. Give it freedom to act, and it will fulfill its purpose.

Do not think that without love you will achieve anything good or become somebody. Without love I am nothing, and nothing profits me. It is better to understand this now than when it is too late.

Do not give that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast it before swine. Sometimes you may also remain silent, but do so with love, while planning the next advance to conquer new territory in a place where the seed can be sown.

1. Did this lesson reveal anything new to you?

2. Do you see changes in your life over the past three months and more?

3. Can you see the seed of love growing in your heart?

4. Please share your victories in love.

5. Do you see how the lessons of this school benefit you?

6. What do you expect from this school in the future?

7. Do you have personal revelations about love that you would like to share?

8. Please pray for our school of love.

9. Please read 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 16:14, 24; Galatians 5:13; and Ephesians 4:1–2 in the light of our lesson.

Philippians 1:8–11: “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”