The apostle Peter has been
sharing attributes for the Christian as we grow in our relationship
with the Lord Jesus. Thus far he has mentioned, faith, virtue,
knowledge, temperance, patience and godliness. In chapter 1 and verse
seven he adds two more characteristics. We read:
And to godliness
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
The verse begins, “And
to godliness brotherly kindness”.
We learned that “godliness” is
“reverence, respect and piety towards God”, and as we
learn to honor and respect the Lord we grow in our “brotherly
kindness”. The word used for “brotherly kindness” is
“philadelphia” which
means “brotherly love”
or “love of brothers or sisters”. Most of us know a city called
by this name. As we grow in our love, honor and respect of God, the
natural outflow is to grow in our love for others.
The
verse continues, “and to brotherly kindness charity.”
As we grow in our love for
others, “charity” which
is the word “agape”
which means “affection, good will, love, benevolence”. It is
“unconditional love” toward another. The love of others
unconditionally may seem to be an impossible task, but as we grow in
our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness and
brotherly kindness, we will advance in our “agape”
love for one another.
As
we consider these characteristics, once again we might think about
them as rungs on a ladder. Where would we be if we examined
ourselves? Where would we be if others examined us? The idea is to be
growing in each of these areas. We should have faith. We should be
advancing in moral goodness, growing in our personal knowledge of
God, having self-control, being filled with endurance, and developing
in our piety toward God. We should have love for our brothers and
sisters, and this love is to be like unto Jesus' love for us –
unconditional. Blessed be the Lord that He had Peter write that we
have been given “divine power” and
“exceeding great and precious promises”
that these might be obtained. May the Lord Jesus endue us with His
power and promises that we might be closer and closer to Him – and
to others.
Next
time we will see why these characteristics are important to the
Christian life, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
No comments:
Post a Comment