Brotherly Kindness and Love - 26 Sept 2008

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

Now we come to the last two additions in our list and surprisingly they both deal with our attitude toward others.  The first is brotherly affection.  It is interesting to note that until our relationship with God is right we cannot even attempt to care for others.  Until God is sitting on the throne of our hearts we cannot possibly know what it is to really love.

Think about the problems we could have in giving affection to our brothers (or sisters) if we are not behaving in a moral manner, are not knowledgeable of God’s intentions, do not have self-control, perseverance to keep on loving past human failings and a willingness to be as God in the lives of others.  And only as we master this ability to show affection in the lives of others can we come to know real Christian Love.  The Greeks had an awful lot of words to describe that one word but the one Peter uses here is a special word which means sacrificial love.  When we learn to put God first we can learn to put others second and to give ourselves as Christ gave himself.  Let’s just have another look at the passage which follows these instructions.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:8-9

Please don’t be discouraged if you are not perfect in these virtues, Peter says you must possess them in increasing measure.  If any are missing then ask God to provide them, Peter acknowledges that this provision comes from God.  But don’t be surprised if the Lord then gives you ample opportunity to exercise them.  And if you are struggling, don’t do it alone, find experienced Christians who can encourage you in your faith walk.  They were once where you are now.

Remember that the man who wrote these principles was a simple fisherman whose impetuosity frequently landed him in trouble.  See him as inspiration of what God can do in your life if you just allow Him.

Lord, help me to love as you loved and help me to see Peter’s vision of the Christian life unfolding in my own life as I follow you. Amen