I know it may seem odd to say that I as a human being can understand and relate to how we fall into a lot of the temptations that come our way. But when it comes to standing strong as the Body of Christ I cannot understand why there are such horrid feelings: anger, jealousy, self-righteousness....between God's children.
It hurts me so to see us like this.
We are supposed to be an example to those who have not accepted Christ into their heart. We are to show the "lost" why God is so important in our lives. But how can we do that when we cannot even love each other.
This loss of love and respect to each other not only sets a bad example for those outside of our congregation that are traveling the wrong road, but what about those inside our congregation? It isn't a secret why less and less people go to church anymore. Or why so many people call Christians hypocrites? Aren't we? Are we setting the example the Lord wants us to set for others? Are we loving each other as we should?
I see our relationship just like a husband and wife's relationship which is to be looked at as our relationship with the Lord. The Lord Jesus is the bridegroom of the church (the people). We accept Jesus and say we are followers of Christ - we are marrying into Him. As husband and wife we are to love and cherish one another in sickness and in health, richer or poorer, till death...If our relationships in church and in our households cannot live up to these expectations, how is our relationship with God doing?
We are to be united as one. We are His hands and His feet. We are to show the world why God is important in our life...
because He has shown us how to love....
Are we loving like the Lord?
- John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:11-13 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter) - John 15:17
This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:16-18 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter) - John 20:2
So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
John 20:1-3 (in Context) John 20 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 13:8
[ Love Fulfills the Law ] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:7-9 (in Context) Romans 13 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 13:9
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:8-10 (in Context) Romans 13 (Whole Chapter) - 2 Corinthians 8:8
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
2 Corinthians 8:7-9 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 8 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 3:12
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 3 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 4:9
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
1 Thessalonians 4:8-10 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 4 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 5:13
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter) - Philemon 1:9
yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
Philemon 1:8-10 (in Context) Philemon 1 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 1:21-23 (in Context) 1 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:7-9 (in Context) 1 Peter 4 (Whole Chapter) - 1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
1 John 3:13-15 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)
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