Christian brothers and sisters: Are we lacking the love for one another that God expects us to have?

Yes dear (((Brother))) love is *so* important! (Especially when we consider that the verses mentioned above are only *some* of the verses in the Bible that talk about love.) We could say that the Lord is really *into* love! ;-)

Love is like mortar—holding all believers around the cornerstone—who is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. True Godly love is what holds us all together through and in Him. For "If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2) And the reason we can love? "We love Him [and others] because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19). The Lord also promises us: "...if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." (1 John 4:12) Isn't that an amazing promise?!?

The Bible mentions that the lack of love (talked about in your question) is a sign of the end times: "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12) Yet the Lord tells us that Christians are to be known by their love and do all things in love... (1 Corinthians 16:14)

May it never be said that our love has grown cold! As we follow Him through the whisper of His Holy Spirit, let us always err on the side of love, because 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."

If we consider this verse (above) further, we can see how important love is... Especially when we remember all that Jesus did out of love for His (and our) heavenly Father, and for us. Jesus did something no other human could do. He kept the Law perfectly—never sinning even once. And yet, He yielded Himself up as a sacrifice for our sins. He died a horrible death on the cross (the death that each of us deserved) to pay our penalty for us so that we wouldn't have to. "He that was worthy (sinless) in every way, became unworthy (a sinner) on our behalf, so that through Him we can have everlasting life!" (2 Corinthians 5:21) Talk about love...

The first and greatest way we can love, is to share with others what the Lord has shared with us—namely the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. A second way we love others is to want what is very best for them and work towards this by teaching them what the Lord has taught us (Matthew 28:20) and telling the Truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15) The sad thing is that some see both of these things as the opposite of love... They see it as "pushing our religion on them." Not as us, in desperate love, trying to pull their soul away from the coals of hell... But that too is a sign that the end is near.

When God gave us the Ten Commandments and when He wrote the Law on our hearts, He did it—not out of anger & as a way to control us and keep us from having fun... No! He did it because He wants us to be protected and eternally happy. He did it so we can have the indescribable peace that passes all understanding! He loves us so much He only wants what is *very best* for our future! But the only way we can truly understand how very precious this is, is to surrender our lives to Him. To accept His amazing invitation to the wedding feast of The Lamb that will take place in heaven!

I can't wait!!! :-)

Wonderful to see you on here again, dear (((Brother Don))) ! :-) It will be even more wonderful to meet you and dear (((Sister Paula))) in heaven! :-)

Sending (((hugs))) and much love in Christ Jesus to (((you, Paula & your family))), I love you both bunches! :-) oooooolala!

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Hello Don, long time no see :-D its a bit hard to answer for the whole world, or the whole Christian family, but on evidence all around us, I think love is being replaced, by prejudice, intolerance, unforgiveness, bigotry, selfishness the list goes on....

I'm sure the fear generated by political correctness gone berserk, terrorist activity, and corporate greed at the expense of the average person, has much to do with it.

So has the word religion. I don't consider myself religious, I am a Christian, trying to live in a way that would make Jesus happy to be beside me all the time....

I wonder how God feels about our religious intolerance and judgementality, specially in your situation Northern.

If you love God and try to live the way he wants you to, whether your'e catholic or methodist or charismatic etc should have nothing to do with your faith in Jesus....

After that rabbit on, LOL I do try so hard to care about everyone I know or come into contact with. Sometimes its impossible to love someone, in a situation like that I care about that person through Jesus, and try to see them as He sees them......that makes a big difference in my ability to love the unloveable....

Yes, we are at each others throat. I posted a question earlier asking why people quote out-of-context scripture as arguments for moral arguments and a fellow Christian condemned me for being Catholic. I do get annoyed by fundamentalist Christians who tell me my faith is wrong, but I love and tolerate them as best as I can because I was taught to do that. Unfortunately I face a LOT of hatred because I am Catholic, even to the point where my ex-fiance's sister tried to convert me so we would get married in a Methodist Church because she didn't want her little brother to go to Hell for marrying a Catholic.

What is absolutely true is that we all have the capacity to love ourselves and each other more than we do. How we choose to utilize that capacity is an entirely different matter. From what I can tell, there is no inherent that comes from unconditionally loving ourselves, others and all of God's creation. Even people who claim they don't believe God exists are fully capable of unconditional love. Best wishes!

It can be hard to find time to read the Bible. I find I have to make time. I didn't have a great taste for it for awhile but after I had got into the habit of it, I found I looked forward to it, and I appreciate it and love God's word any time I study it.

Hello Brother Don S, Its been a long time hows every one in your family? Yes I believe we are, and what hurts even more is when its brothers and sisters in church who do it to each other. Its amazing to me that when you ask people Do you love Jesus Christ? and they answer Yes I do, and than I ask them If you love Jesus Christ than why do you hate your fellow brethren, when I Blessed the Name of the LORD, and I bless you, You snared at me and you were hateful to me. even though I love you anyway and I will pray for you my dear brother and sister and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ Amen

Amen! I love this quote I read years ago and it stuck, (I believe by Dag Hammarskjold): "Love the world through me, Lord; this world of broken men. Thou didst love through death, Lord; love in me again. Souls are in despair; make me know and care. When my life they see, may they behold Thee. Love the world through me."

We can never show enough love to each other; love as Christ has done.

in the world at present day, yes

Sadly, yes.

yes we are, even thou I love my brothers, I still harbor much hate, hidden most of the time, old hate, old reasons.